To display the supreme worth of His glory, God has chosen to save a
people and call them out of the world so that they might assemble themselves together in
local congregations or churches. Throughout history, these local, gathered communities of
the Lord have drawn up confessions of faith summarizing what they believed the Bible to be
teaching. They have also drawn up By-laws as a means to function corporately.
Therefore, this gathered church has drawn up this
Book of Faith and Order
as our Confession, Covenant, and Constitution, organizing ourselves under the name, Clearcreek
Chapel. We also will refer to ourselves as The
Chapel.
The Elders have developed The
Truths We Treasure as the basic statement of doctrine that each member of the church
must believe and affirm. It is worded simply so as to be accessible to all, including new
Christians, and can be affirmed by all with a clear conscience.
The Elders have developed The Truths We Teach as a more detailed,
confessional statement of doctrine. Affirming and submitting to these truths is required
of all teachers, elders, and deacons/deaconesses of the church. This document is not a
part of the Book of Faith and Order, but is
under regular review and development by the Elders who update it as needed.
The Elders have developed The
Principles that Govern Us as our
governing principles. These are necessary as we work out how we are to function as a
church and community. We have chosen, rather than writing extensive, detailed legislation,
to articulate the principles on which our order is based, to write what few applications
are necessary to establish order and guide governance, and to maintain what policies are
necessary for day-to-day governance. In order to achieve this, the Elders will maintain a Chapel Ministry Handbook
that is available to the congregation.
We believe that the Scriptures of the Old and
New Testament are verbally inspired of God, inerrant and infallible in the original
writings (2 Timothy 3:16; 1 Peter 1:20-21; 1 Corinthians
2:1-16), and are our supreme and final authority in all matters of life and
faith (2 Peter 1:1-11).
In The Truths We Treasure and The Truths We Teach we summarize what we
believe the Bible teaches. However, the Scriptures themselves are the final rule of faith
and order for this congregation and the ultimate authority to which we will appeal (2 Timothy 3:15-17; 2 Peter
1:19-21; Romans 15:4; 1 Thessalonians 2:13; 1 Corinthians 2:13).
The following statements
of truth must be affirmed by anyone desiring to become a member of the church.
We believe in the one true and
living God, eternally existing in three Persons: the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.
Our God exists to glorify and enjoy Himself forever. He is infinite in being and
perfection, a spirit invisible, personal, omnipresent, eternal, dependent on none,
unchanging, truthful, trustworthy, almighty, sovereign, omniscient, righteous, holy, good,
loving, merciful, long-suffering, and gracious. (Exodus 3:13-14; 34:4-7; Deuteronomy 6:1-9; 1 Kings 8:27;
Nehemiah 9:32-33; Job 22:2-3; Psalm 5:4-8; 90:1-2; 95:1-7; 115:1-7; 119:65-68; 145:17-20;
Proverbs 16:4; Isaiah 6:1-3; 40:10-31; 46:9-13; Jeremiah 10:10; 23:23-24; Daniel 4:34-35;
Malachi 3:6; Matthew 28:16-20; John 1:1-18; 4:21-24; 14:1-11; 15:26-27; Acts 7:2-50;
20:28; Romans 11:33-36; 1 Corinthians 8:5-6; 2 Corinthians 13:14; Galatians 4:4-7;
Hebrews 4:12-13; 11:6; Revelation 4:8; 5:11-14)
We believe that Almighty God
has revealed all that is necessary for life and faith in the sixty-six books of the Holy
Scripture, which are the Word of God. All Scripture was given by inspiration by God; that
is, it is God-breathed as holy men of old wrote, being borne along by the Holy Spirit. The
Scriptures are infallible and inerrant in the original writings and are the final arbiter
in all disputes. Its authority is derived from its Author and not from the opinions of
men. (Matthew 5:18; 24:35;
John 10:35;16:12 13; 17:17; 1 Corinthians 2:7-14; 1 Thessalonians 2:13; 2 Timothy 3:
15-17; Hebrews 4:12; 2 Peter 1:20-21; Revelation 1:1-3; 22:6,18-19)
We believe that God created
the universe from nothing and all that is in it in six literal days, declaring it all very
good. We further believe that God made Adam and Eve in His image — perfect, holy, and
upright — to exercise dominion over all creation. Adam was appointed representative
and head of the human race so that his obedience or disobedience to God’s commands
were imputed and transmitted to all his offspring. (Genesis 1:1-2:2; Psalm 19:1-6; 90:1-2; Isaiah 40:25-26; John
1:1-3; Romans 1:18-20; 2:14-15; Colossians 1:15-16; Hebrews 1:1-2)
We believe that Adam fell from
his original righteousness into sin and brought upon himself and all his offspring
physical and spiritual death, depravity, condemnation, and the state of being sinners. (Genesis 2:15-17; 3:1-24; 6:5-7;
Psalm 14:1-3; 51:1-5; Jeremiah 17:9-10; Romans 3:9-20; 5:12-21; 6:15-23; 1 Corinthians
15:20-49; Titus 1:15-16; Ephesians 2:1-3; Colossians 1:21-23; Hebrews 2:14-18)
We believe that it is utterly
beyond the power of fallen man to love God, to keep His laws, to understand the Gospel, to
repent of sin, or to trust in Christ. (Jeremiah 17:9; John 3:3-5; 8:43 Romans 3:9-19; Colossians
1:21-23; Ephesians 2:1-3; Titus 1:15-16)
We believe that God, before
the foundation of the world, decreed all that comes to pass, but in no way being the
author of sin and for His own glory, chose a host of men and women to eternal life as an
act of free and sovereign grace. This choice was in no way dependent upon God’s
foresight of human faith, decision, works, or merit. (Numbers 23:19; Isaiah 46:9-10; Matthew 25:34; Luke 10:17-20;
John 6:35-40; 10:22-30; 17:1-26; 19:8-11; Acts 4:27-28; 27:1-44; Romans 9:14-29; 11:1-6;
33-36; Ephesians 1:1-6; 1:3-14; 1 Thessalonians 1:4-6; 2 Thessalonians 2:13-15;
1 Timothy 5:21; Hebrews 6:16-17; James 1:13-15; 1 Peter 1:1-9; 2 Peter 1:10-11; Jude
3-4)
We believe that God sent His
Son, Jesus Christ into the world, conceived of the virgin Mary by the Holy Spirit,
unchangeably sinless, both God and man, born under the Law, to live a perfect life of
righteousness on behalf of His people. (Psalm 2:1-12; Isaiah 7:14; 9:6-8; 42:1-4; 52:13-53:12; Matthew
1:18-25; Luke 1:26-33; 1:26-56; John 1:1-18; 17:1-12; Acts 3:22-23; 17:29-31; Romans
3:21-26; 8:1-4, 28-30; Galatians 4:4; Ephesians 1:15-23; 1 Timothy 2:1-6; Hebrews
1:1-4; 2:14-18; 9:11-14; 1 Peter 1:17-20)
We believe that God’s Son
died on the cross to effect propitiation, reconciliation, redemption, and atonement for
His people. God bore testimony to His acceptance of His Son’s completed redemptive
work by raising Him from the dead. (Isaiah 53:4-5,10-12; Matthew 26:36-38; 27:45-46; John 10:14-18;
20:24-31; Romans 1:4)
We believe that God’s Son
ascended to the right hand of His Father and is enthroned in glory, where He intercedes on
behalf of His people and rules over all things as sovereign Lord for the praise of His
glory. (Acts 1:1-11; 10:39-43;
Romans 8:31-39; 1 Corinthians 15:1-8; 2 Corinthians 5:21; Philippians 2:5-11; Hebrews
9:23-28; 10:5-10; 1 Peter 3:18; 2 Peter 3:1-18)
We believe that God the Father
has poured out the Holy Spirit to work alongside the preached Word. The Spirit of God
regenerates the elect sinners, drawing them irresistibly to Himself by giving the gifts of
faith in Christ the Savior and repentance towards God. (John 1:12-13; 3:5-8; 10:25-30; Ephesians 2:4-10; James 1:18; 2
Timothy 2:9)
We believe that God calls to
Himself the elect in all ages. He justifies them solely on account of the imputed
righteousness of Jesus Christ, which they receive through faith alone. This faith must
always be accompanied by works, though these works do not merit salvation in any way. (Romans 3:24; 8:30; 4:5-8; 5:17-19
10:9-13; 1 Corinthians 1:30-31; 2 Corinthians 5:21; Ephesians 1:7; 2:8-10; Philippians
3:8-9)
We believe that those people
whom God calls, regenerates, and justifies will believe the gospel, repent of their sins,
and acknowledge Jesus Christ as Sovereign Lord. His grace causes them to persevere in
holiness by growing in sanctification and the putting off of sin by the Holy Spirit and
never finally falling away. (John
10:28-29; Romans 6:14; 7:18,23; 8:13, 28-30; 2 Corinthians 3:18; 7:1; Galatians 5:17;
Philippians 1:6; 2 Timothy 2:19; Hebrews 6:17-18; 1 Peter 1:3-9; 22-23; 2 Peter 3:18)
We believe that all those who
have been redeemed receive the adoption as sons and thus all the privileges of a parent
and child relationship with God, including being delivered from the slavery of the Old
Covenant, having the inner witness of the Spirit who enables them to recognize God as
their Father, receiving the glorified body, and being designated to jointly inherit all
that has been promised to God’s Son. (Psalm 103:13; Proverbs 14:26; Isaiah 54:8-9; John 1:10-13;
Romans 8:14-25; 2 Corinthians 6:18; Galatians 4:1-7; Ephesians 1:5; 4:30; Hebrews 12:4-6;
Revelation 3:11-13)
We believe that baptism by
immersion and the Lord’s Supper are gospel ordinances belonging only to regenerated
believers. The ordinances have no saving merit for they are emblems and types of spiritual
realities, not the realities themselves. Baptism is a responsibility of each believer to
declare one’s allegiance to Christ. (Matthew 3:16-17; 28:18-20; Acts 2:14-41; 8:12-40; 16:25-40;
18:7-8; Romans 6:1-4; 1 Corinthians 10:14-17; 11:26) The Lord’s
Table is an expression of our communion with Christ and with one another. (Matthew 26:17-30; 1 Corinthians
10:14-21; 11:17-34; Hebrews 9:11-28)
We believe that the local
church is under the authority of Christ alone who rules through His Word and is governed
by a plurality of men called elders who shepherd the church. The communion of saints,
however, requires recognition of and fellowship with other churches. (Matthew 20:24-28; Acts 20: 17,28;
Ephesians 4:12-14; 1 Peter 5:1-4)
We believe that the Lord Jesus
Christ shall come again to raise the dead, both the righteous and the unrighteous. The
righteous shall enjoy everlasting life with God, and the wicked shall endure everlasting,
conscious punishment away from the presence of God’s glory. (Genesis 3:17-19; Job 19:25-27;
Ecclesiastes 12:1-8; Isaiah 26:19; Daniel 12:1-4; Matthew 25:31-46; John 5:28-29; Luke
16:19-31; 23:32-43; Acts 24:14-16; Romans 9:19-26; 1 Corinthians 15:35-56; 2 Corinthians
5:1-8; Philippians 1:21-26; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; 2 Thessalonians 1:5-10; Hebrews
12:22-24; Jude 3-7; Revelation 22:12-21)
The members of Clearcreek Chapel constitute, establish, and willingly
submit themselves to the following articles. This Ohio nonprofit religious organization
has its principal offices in the proximity of Springboro, Ohio.
By God’s grace and through His Word, we will cultivate in the
hearts of God’s people a passion for the supremacy of God magnified in love for Him and manifested in love for one another.
The church exists to glorify God (Ephesians 3:21). The universal church is the
redeemed people of God placed into the Body of Christ. The local church is the people of
God gathered together in localities: to carry out the Great Commission (Matthew 28:18-20)
as the Kingdom of God in this world (Colossians 1:13-14), to meet regularly together in
an outward worship that expresses inward and spiritual truths (John 4:23-24; Hebrews 10:19-25; 12:18-29), and to
encourage, edify, and build up one another. Therefore,
we exist as a church for the following primary purposes:
Exaltation is all that we do in terms of pursuing God in worship. This
is the overarching purpose of the church. The church exists to glorify God and to enjoy
Him forever.
Edification is all that we do to know God better, to please Him in
every facet of life, to learn, to believe, to understand and to obey the Scriptures fully,
and to love God and one another in each sphere of life as we grow in Christ-likeness.
Evangelism is all that we do to proclaim the gospel to every people
group in order to see all of God’s elect brought into His Kingdom.
Our vision is to magnify God as the all-satisfying object of the
believer’s life in worship and service, here and forever.
Our vision is to work out both the large picture and the immediate
texts in Holy Spirit enabled exposition and application in the public and private ministry
of the Word of God.
Our vision is to see minds, affections, and wills transformed by the
Word of God so that God is magnified by an obeying faith in every sphere of life.
Our vision is to proclaim the gospel to all the people groups so that
God is glorified in every tribe, language, and people group.
We joyfully submit to Christ alone as the Head of His body, the church.
We acknowledge Him as our Chief Shepherd. We recognize that He governs His church through
the Holy Scriptures as the full and final authority in all matters of faith, church order,
and discipline. While we may also seek the
assistance and counsel of other churches when special concerns arise; we are neither
accountable to, nor under the jurisdiction of, nor under the direct supervision of, any
other ecclesiastical body. This congregation may never encourage, support, fellowship, or
cooperate with any church or group which permits the presence of apostasy or undermines
fundamental tenets of the Gospel by what it teaches or denies (Acts 15:1-35; Ephesians 1:22-23; Colossians 1:18;
2 Timothy 3:12-17; 2 Peter 1:19-21).
A plurality of elders shall lead this local church according to the
Scriptures. These men shall at all times and in all activities stand under the authority
of Christ and His Word. The Elders shall collectively and individually oversee, provide
for, and encourage the spiritual life, welfare and total ministry of the congregation by
equipping the saints for service so that they build up the body of Christ. This will
result in believers who are mature, Christ-like, stable in doctrine, and not susceptible
to false doctrine. The Elders, as a body, shall exercise authoritative and decisive
leadership, but they must do so as servant-leaders and faithful stewards in the community,
not as lords and dictators (Matthew
20:24-28; Acts 20: 17,28; Ephesians 4:12-14; 1 Peter 5:1-4).
The church itself is the ministering community (Ephesians 4:12-16).
The church identifies the men and women who will be in charge of the day-to-day ministry
and work of the church. They are appointed by the Elders to lead or serve in ministry,
serving as Deacons/Deaconesses (Acts
6:1-6) so as to free the Elders for their ministry of the Word.
The Scripture alone is the final and ultimate authority in all matters
related to the Christian life. Since God’s Word remains the final authority for this
community, statements of doctrine contained herein do not bind this congregation in a
strict and absolute sense but are confessed together to assist its leaders and members in
the event that controversy should arise.
All members of the Chapel shall confess their submission to the central
truths of Biblical Christianity as summarized in Section 2 Faith: The Truths We Treasure. All members shall
demonstrate both a willingness to abide by this Book of Faith and Order and a
sincere desire to grow in their understanding of the Scriptures and the truths we teach.
All teachers, all members of our deaconate, and all missionaries
commissioned by and sent out from the Clearcreek Chapel will confess their essential
agreement with The Truths We Teach and teach in
full harmony with it.
All elders of the Chapel will wholeheartedly confess their essential
agreement with and teach in full harmony with The
Truths We Teach. This statement has been adopted
by the Elders as a brief systematic theology, helping them to develop and communicate a
Biblical worldview that grounds the members of the church in the faith so that they will
mature spiritually and become better equipped to glorify and serve God (1 Peter 3:15).
All those who have been born of the Holy Spirit and have put their
faith in Jesus Christ are immediately placed into the universal church, the body of
Christ, of which He is the head (1 Corinthians 12:12-20; Ephesians 1:22). All
believers in Christ should join with a local church, thus becoming members of a clearly
defined local community of believers (Acts 2:41-47; 14:21-23; Hebrews 10:25).
Recognizing our responsibility to obey all the Scriptures and the need
to distinguish ourselves from the world as a community of believers, all members shall
affirm their commitment to please God in all areas of life by entering into this covenant:
Humbly depending on the Holy Spirit's
enabling and aiding us, and affirming The Truths
We Treasure, we
Covenant to Glorify God by striving:
Ø
To walk in obedience to the Scriptures
by loving the Lord God with all our heart, all our souls, and all our minds;
Ø
To walk in harmony with our fellow
Christians by loving them as we love ourselves;
Ø
To be faithful in our witnessing, to
uphold our testimony, to defend the doctrines of the Word of God, and to expand the
Kingdom of God;
Ø
To be faithful in edifying, exhorting,
rebuking, discipling, encouraging, praying for, and meeting the needs of the Body of
Christ;
Ø
To exercise our spiritual gifts to
build up and to serve one another;
Ø
To be submissive to one another in
Christian love;
Ø
To regularly attend the services of
the church and not forsake the assembling of ourselves together;
Ø
To be submissive to the God-ordained
elders as to those who give an account for our souls;
Ø
To give heed to the ministry of the
Word;
Ø
To attend the ordinances of the church
faithfully, approaching them in a serious, spiritual, and holy attitude;
Ø
To honor the Lord in our finances in
all things including regular, proportionate giving to the church;
Ø
To be consistent in our own study of
the Word;
Ø
To love our wives as Christ loved the
church or to submit to our husbands and to teach and train our children in the nurture and
admonition of the Lord;
Ø
To extend the Lordship of Christ into
all areas of our lives;
Ø
To abstain from practices harmful to
our physical bodies and injurious to our testimony;
Ø
To purpose that if we relocate we
will, as soon as possible, unite with another church of like faith, where we can carry out
the spirit of this Covenant and the principles of God's Word.
(Proverbs 13:24; 23:13; 29:15; Malachi 3:8-11; Acts 2:42, 47;
Romans 8:3-4; 1 Corinthians 15; 16:2; 2 Corinthians 5:11-21; 12:13; Ephesians 4:11-14;
5:23-24; 6:1-4; Philippians 1:3-6; Colossians 4:2-4; 2 Timothy 3:16-4:4; Hebrews 10:24,
25; 13:17; James 2:12; 5:13-14; 1 Peter 2:5,9; 3:7; 1 John 2:19).
Any person who desires to unite in membership with the Chapel must
profess repentance toward God and faith in Jesus Christ as Savior, submit to Him as Lord
and Sovereign, be Biblically baptized following this profession, and must not be under
Biblically administered church discipline. Having met these requirements, this person
shall joyfully enter into this Covenant with this people, expressing willingness to follow
the beliefs and practices of this community, and evidencing willingness to submit to its
Elders.
The Elders shall be responsible to receive applicants into membership.
This shall include reviewing the application, conducting an interview, and evaluating
their standing when coming from another church. Upon determining that the applicants meet
the requirements, the Elders shall present them to the church as members.
Resident Membership is for
those active, participating members who comprise the majority of the Chapel. Associate Membership, having all the privileges
and responsibilities of membership except that of voting, may be extended by the Elders to
those who will be absent for an extended period of time, or who are at the Chapel for a
short period of time and wish to minister while maintaining membership in their home
churches.
To be eligible to vote at congregational meetings, one must be a
resident member on the day of the vote, at least sixteen (16) years of age, in attendance
at the meeting and not have forfeited their voting privilege by being placed on the
inactive list or being subject to discipline. The Chapel may permit absentee ballots in
exceptional circumstances as requested of and granted by the Elders on a case-by-case
basis.
Membership will end by physical death, transfer of membership to
churches holding to Biblical doctrine, or by the process of corrective discipline ending
in excommunication. Members, who, for three months are absent willingly from the meetings
or the ministries of the Chapel, shall be placed on an inactive list and shall be subject
to removal.
The Scriptures require us to implement the Biblical steps in
discipline. The primary aim of all steps of discipline is the repentance and restoration
of the erring member. Failing that, the aim is to protect the purity of the church and the
reputation of Christ.
Any member of the Chapel having factual
knowledge of an erring member’s heresy, sin, or refusal to be reconciled must
approach that person in private, loving confrontation, and seek his or her restoration (Matthew 18:15; Galatians 6:1-2).
If, after repeated attempts, the erring member refuses to heed such
warnings, then the warning member should return, privately, with one or two witnesses.
These witnesses, after self-examination and prayer, should adjudicate the matter and seek
to reconcile the parties and/or to restore the erring member (Matthew 18:16, 19-20).
If the witnesses determine that the erring member refuses to heed such
warnings, they should report the matter to the Elders, who are responsible to keep watch
over the flock (Hebrews 13:17). At this stage, the witnesses along
with the Elders, after self-examination and prayer, should adjudicate the matter and seek
to reconcile the parties and/or to restore the erring member (Matthew 18:16, 19-20).
If the erring member continues to refuse to heed such warnings, the
Elders will report the matter to the members of the Chapel, requiring them to associate
with the erring member only to warn him or her of
their error. During this sobering time, the erring member will be excluded from
participation in the Lord’s Table and the privileges of membership, according to the
guidelines of Scripture (Matthew
18:17; 1 Corinthians 5:9-11; 2 Thessalonians 3:6, 14-15). Further,
according to 1 Corinthians 5:1-13, if the sin is public, known to the congregation, and
not repented of, the Elders may go immediately to this step when they have found it
impossible to implement the informal and private steps first.
If, after members of the Chapel have attempted to
restore the erring member, he or she still refuses to repent, he or she shall be publicly
dismissed from the Chapel, and the congregation will be instructed to treat him or her as
an unbeliever on the grounds of his or her unrepentance (Matthew 18:17-18; 1 Corinthians 5:4-5, 13; 1 Timothy
1:18-20). Any church that receives a member under discipline into their
number shall be informed of that person’s status.
If, during any of the steps of corrective discipline, the erring member
seeks to resign from the membership of the Chapel, the Elders shall accept the
resignation. The Elders shall in such instances report the reasons for the resignation to
the members, publicly disclosing any unresolved issues, and instructing the congregation
to treat the resigning member as an unbeliever on the grounds of his or her unrepentance (Matthew 18:17 and
1 Corinthians 5:9-11). Any church that receives a member under
discipline into their number shall be informed of that person’s status.
If the erring member repents at the informal and private level of
discipline (Section
3:Article 6.8.A and
Section 3:Article 6.8.B),
or the sin is not known publicly, then repentance, confession, and restoration shall be
private (Matthew 18:15-16;
Luke 17:3-4; Ephesians 4:32; Colossians 3:13).
If the discipline proceeds to the formal level of public disclosure
before the congregation, or if the sin of the erring person is public, then the
repentance, confession, and restoration must also be formal and before the congregation (2 Corinthians 2:5-11).
At whatever level restoration occurs, members must forgive the offender
upon his or her confession and repentance (Luke 17:3-4; 2 Corinthians 2:5-11; Ephesians 4:32).
The Scriptures have commanded only two ordinances in the church,
Baptism and the Lord's Table. No ordinance has saving efficacy, and both are commanded of
believers as deeply meaningful outward symbols of spiritual realities.
Baptism is the ordinance of the church whereby believers publicly
confess their allegiance to Christ. We practice baptism only by immersion. Any person who
wants to publicly profess faith in Christ or who has not been Biblically baptized may ask
for baptism. The Elders, upon ascertaining a credible profession, shall schedule the
person to be baptized.
The Lord's Table is the ordinance of the church whereby believers, in
Christian unity and harmony, look back to remember the Lord's death, look inward in
self-examination, look outward in proclaiming the gospel and look forward until the Lord
returns as those united in the New Covenant. The Lord's Table shall be scheduled as often
as the Elders wish. All believers and only believers present at its serving, shall be
invited to participate, being reminded of its Biblical characteristics and waiting on one
another for all to be served
(Mark 14:22-23; 1 Corinthians 11:23-33).
The Bible establishes two permanent offices in the local church, Elders
and Deacons/Deaconesses
(Philippians 1:1; 1 Timothy 3:1-13). The governance and oversight of
the church is the responsibility of the Elders who are to shepherd or pastor the church.
The Deacons/Deaconesses are responsible to serve God in the church and, under the Elders,
to lead the ministry teams doing the daily work of the ministry.
Jesus Christ alone is Lord of the church and her Chief Shepherd (1 Peter 5:4).
As the risen Lord, He rules the church from heaven by the Spirit, mediating that rule
through the Word of God, the Scriptures (Hebrews 13:20; 1 Peter 5:4).
Jesus Christ has ordained that the church shall be overseen by elders
who shall shepherd the church according to His will (Acts 20:28; 1 Peter 5:2). The Elders shall govern
the church (1 Timothy 5:17)
and the church shall lovingly and prayerfully submit to their authority (Hebrews 13:17).
The church shall at all times, in God’s providence, seek to have a
plurality of elders. There shall be no maximum number of elders, the number of which shall
be determined by men available who are qualified and who desire to serve (Acts 20:17; Titus 1:5,7).
The Elders of the Chapel shall constitute a body in which all members
shall be equal and shall have one vote. In the spirit of unity in the body, all decisions
shall be by unanimous vote of the Elders (Acts 15). Exceptions to the unanimous vote rule
include: when an issue needs to be voted on when an elder is incapacitated or the issue
would (or could) be construed as a conflict of interest.
From time to time, an item of business may require immediate attention.
Matters needing immediate attention may be resolved by not less than 2 elders and shall be
reviewed by the entire body at the first opportunity. Electronic means for meeting and
voting may be implemented according to guidelines established by the Elders. An elder
being removed or disciplined shall be ineligible to vote on decisions regarding himself.
The Elders are charged by God to shepherd the church (Acts 20:28; 1 Peter 5:1-4)
by:
1. Preaching
and teaching the Word of God (Colossians
1:28; 1 Timothy 5:17; 2 Timothy 4:1);
2. Establishing
the theological and doctrinal purity of the church and guarding the flock of God against
error and heresy (Acts
20:28-31);
3. Discipling,
counseling, and admonishing believers, confronting sin, and teaching individuals and
families as men who will give an account to God (Ezekiel 34; Acts 20:20; Colossians 1:28; 1 Thessalonians 5:12;
Hebrews 13:17);
4. Praying
for the congregation and the work of God (Acts 6:3-4);
5. Equipping
the membership for ministry (Ephesians
4:11-16; 2 Timothy 2:2).
The Elders are charged by God to oversee the church (Acts 20:28; 1 Timothy 3:1),
governing it as a father manages his family (1 Thessalonians 5:12-13; 1 Timothy 3:4-5; 5:17).
Therefore, the Elders shall govern the Chapel by:
1.
Providing for the public ministry of the
Word;
2.
Overseeing all the ministries of the Chapel
by being ex-officio members of all church ministry teams; designating all ministry teams
and their leaders; appointing those identified by the congregation to serve as Deacons and
assigning them their responsibilities.
3.
Leading in the correction or disciplining of
erring members; confronting any member or attendee who may create dissension that impairs
the doctrinal or spiritual unity of the church.
4. Reviewing
and approving any missionaries or organizations the Chapel will support, financially or
otherwise, and providing opportunities for congregational involvement in support, prayer,
communication, and fellowship with them.
5. Ensuring
that the financial offerings of the Chapel are used with integrity and accountability,
preparing a budget, overseeing the disbursement of funds, receiving regular reports from
those delegated with this responsibility and making report to the congregation.
Elders shall be men who meet the qualifications of 1 Timothy 3:1-7 and
Titus 1:5-9. They must be able to teach, have a desire for the privilege and
responsibility of the office, shall not seek the office for the sake of money or power (1 Peter 5:2-3), and
are in essential agreement with The Truths We Teach
statement.
Elders shall be appointed to an indefinite term of office. The term may
be ended by disqualification or resignation. The Elders shall arrange for sabbaticals to
be taken as needed. An elder may resign from office for reasons sufficient unto himself
after giving proper notice.
The Elders shall establish a process to identify, examine and qualify
men for the Eldership that culminates in their being publicly appointed to the office. The
Elders are responsible to identify those men whom God has given to the church to be an
elder. The Elders shall examine the prospective elder to determine Biblical
qualifications, fitness for the office, and affirmation of the church’s doctrine,
distinctives, and Mission and Vision Statement. They shall give the prospective elder
opportunity to teach as a way to begin to present the prospective elder to the church (1 Timothy 3:2; 5:22).
The Elders shall present the prospective elder to the church in a
Special Congregational Meeting. After the presentation, at least two weeks shall be
designated for members of the congregation to have the opportunity to resolve any personal
issues with the prospective elder regarding his qualifications by meeting with him
privately. If the issues cannot be resolved privately, a meeting shall be arranged with
the Elders. The prospective elder shall be present at all such meetings and shall have the
opportunity to respond to issues that are presented.
During these same two weeks, the congregation shall be called to a
season of prayer and fasting. At the end of the prescribed time the Elders shall meet
again with the prospective elder to review all the issues brought forth. Upon agreeing to
appoint the prospective elder to the office, the Elders shall set a date on which the
prospective elder will be publicly installed into office. They shall give notice during
regular worship services at least two weeks before the installation date.
An elder may be removed from office for the following Biblical reasons:
1.
Disqualification under 1 Timothy 3:1-7 and
Titus 1:5-9;
2.
Not holding to the doctrines clearly taught
in the Word (Acts 20:30;
1 John 2:19);
3.
Other unrepentant sin. No charge of sin may
be received against an elder except by two or more witnesses having factual knowledge of
the sin (1 Timothy
5:19-21);
4.
Inability to discharge the duties of their
office.
The Elders shall receive and consider an accusation that is brought by
no less than two members having factual knowledge of the sin or the false teaching. They
shall investigate and verify the charges. If the charges are verified and the elder does
not repent, then the Elders shall bring the unrepentant elder before the congregation,
shall rebuke him publicly, and dismiss him from the Eldership. If necessary, discipline
may be administered as outlined in
Section
3:Article 6.8
Corrective
Discipline on page
9.
An elder who has previously been dismissed from the Eldership, after an
appropriate time, shall be eligible to be identified, examined and re-qualified by the
Elders. Care should be taken to preserve the reputation of Christ and the purity of the
church in such a restoration to the Eldership.
The Elders shall meet regularly and as often as is necessary to fulfill
their responsibilities. Minutes of the meeting shall be kept and filed.
Recognizing the different gifts, abilities, and experience each elder
brings to the Eldership, the Elders recognize and will fill the following roles on the
Eldership.
This elder is responsible to moderate all meetings of the Elders and
special congregational meetings of the Chapel. He shall be responsible to prepare and
carry out the agenda for the meetings and to enforce Biblical order and decorum in
discussions, debate, and decisions of issues as well as all other responsibilities the
Elders deem appropriate.
This elder is responsible to assist the Chairman in his duties, to
moderate in the absence of the Chairman or when the Chairman is excused due to a conflict
of interest as well as all other responsibilities the Elders deem appropriate.
This elder is responsible to take accurate minutes of the meetings of
the Elders. He shall record the minutes, submit them to the Elders for approval, and
ensure that they are filed in the permanent records of the church. He shall also ensure
that all policies and procedures arising from the decisions by the Elders are compiled in The Chapel Ministry Handbook.
On the principle of first among equals, the Elders shall have among
their number at least one who is gifted and designated as a
Teaching Elder.
They will be primarily responsible for the doctrine and the public preaching of the Word
of God. These elders should be financially supported whenever possible.
The Elders shall assign ministry oversight responsibilities among
themselves according to their gifts, abilities, and experience. The Elders may create
other formal roles, assigning each role a specific set of responsibilities and appointing
elders to fill those roles, including non-elder staff positions.
To meet the legal requirements, the Trustees of Clearcreek Chapel shall
be the Chairman, Vice-Chairman, and Secretary of the Elders with their respective titles.
The Chapel family is responsible to provide generous financial support
to those men who devote all or large portions of their time and energy to their work as
vocational elders (1 Timothy
5:17-18; 1 Corinthians 9:9-11). When considering a vocational elder, the
Elders should look among themselves first. Then they may invite men from outside the local
congregation to come into its midst and serve in this capacity. The Elders shall establish
procedures for (1) the request by an elder for financial support, (2) the consideration of
a member or an elder for financial support, and (3) the consideration of a man from
outside the church for a vocational elder position. Any man called from outside the
congregation to be a vocational elder must be able to conscientiously affirm his essential
agreement with the
Book of Faith and
Order. Should he at any time move from this position, he is under obligation to
make this fact known to the Elders.
The Bible has charged the deacons/deaconesses with the ministry of
assisting the Elders and the congregation in the work of the ministry.
Deacons/Deaconesses assist the Eldership by assuming responsibility to
lead or to serve in those ministries assigned to them by the Elders so that such work will
not interfere with the Elders’ ministry of the Word and prayer (Acts 6:1-7). They
will be accountable to the elder overseeing the ministry area in which they are
ministering.
Deacons/Deaconesses shall be men or women who meet the qualifications
as set forth in Scripture, particularly in 1 Timothy 3:8-13, demonstrate a willingness and
ability to serve, and are in essential agreement with The Truths
We Teach statement.
Deacons/Deaconesses shall be appointed to an indefinite term of office.
The term may be ended by disqualification or by resignation. The Elders shall arrange for
sabbaticals to be taken as needed. Deacons/Deaconesses may resign from office for reasons
sufficient unto themselves after giving proper notice.
The Elders must carefully consider the needs of the church and seek to
add qualified people to serve as deacons. The members of the congregation shall identify
those who are qualified and willing to serve, recommending them to the Elders who shall
examine them regarding their qualifications. Those who are appointed to serve as deacons
shall be publicly installed into office.
A deacon/deaconess may be removed from office for the following
Biblical reasons:
1.
Disqualification under 1 Timothy 3:8-13;
2.
Not holding to the doctrines clearly taught
in the Word (Acts 20:30;
1 John 2:19);
3.
Other unrepentant sin;
4.
Inability to discharge the duties of their
office.
The Elders shall receive and consider an accusation that is brought by
no less than two members having factual knowledge of the sin. They shall investigate and
verify the charges. If the charges are verified and the deacon does not repent, then the
Elders shall remove the unrepentant deacon from office. If necessary, discipline may be
administered as outlined in
Section
3:Article 6.8
Corrective
Discipline on page
9.
A deacon/deaconess who has previously been removed from office, after
an appropriate time, shall be eligible to be identified, examined and re-qualified by the
Elders. Care should be taken to preserve the reputation of Christ and the purity of the
church in such a restoration to the office.
The Elders are responsible for the financial oversight of the church.
The Elders shall oversee the development and implementation of an annual budget as a
financial guideline. The budget shall be presented to the church for affirmation at the
Annual Congregational Meeting. At the Elder's discretion, unbudgeted expenditures may be
made.
The Chapel shall be supported by free-will offerings and sacrificial
giving. Special project fund-raising shall require Eldership approval. The disbursement of
all moneys including designated moneys shall be at the discretion of the Elders.
It is the intention of the Chapel to finance its growth as God provides
and not to incur indebtedness beyond accounts payable.
The Elders shall set the frequency and times of the regular meetings of
the Chapel, including worship on the Lord's Day and other services as is desirable to best
fulfill the Mission, Vision, and Purposes of the Chapel.
Major decisions such as those relating to finances, budget, and major
capital improvements, as well as other issues affecting the Chapel family as a whole, may
be presented to the congregation for affirmation. The Elders, in the spirit of not lording
over the church (Acts 6:5;
15:22; 1 Peter 5:1-4), shall openly communicate with the congregation,
teaching relevant truths, receiving input, and carefully considering the responses and
counsel of the Body. To foster cooperation and unity for the sake of the Kingdom, the
Elders will be ever mindful of being servant leaders who set an example (1 Peter 5:1-4) and
the congregation of being wisely and lovingly submissive to its leaders (Hebrews 13:7,17).
The Annual Congregational Meeting of the Chapel shall be held each
ministry year at a time set by the Elders for the presentation and adoption of a budget,
giving of ministry reports, and any other business scheduled by the Elders.
The Elders may call special congregational meetings to bring before the
Chapel family matters needing the support or input of the congregation.
Special Congregational Meetings may also be called by written request
to the Elders that states the reasons for the meeting. At least twenty-five percent (25%)
of the active resident members of the Chapel in good standing must sign such request. The
Elders shall take the concerns expressed under careful and prayerful consideration.
At their discretion, the Elders may ask for a Congregational
Affirmation/Vote at any Special Congregational Meeting on an issue before them.
Twenty-five percent (25%) of the active resident members in good standing shall constitute
a quorum. All members who are in good standing as described in
Section 3:Article 6.6
Congregational Voting Privilege
are eligible to participate. Affirmation/Vote shall be conducted by a show of hands or by
ballot. Ballots are valid only when a member has written his or her name on it. Except
when otherwise stated, a two-thirds (2/3) majority of valid votes received are required to
pass an issue.
The Chapel Book of Faith and
Order may be amended by a three-fourths (3/4) majority affirmation of the eligible
members voting at a duly called Special Congregational Meeting. The proposed amendments
must be presented to and approved by the Elders. The proposed changes will be presented in
written form at least two Sundays prior to the congregational meeting.
Only the Trustees, acting upon the recommendation of the Elders, may
recommend the dissolution of this corporation to the congregation. A three-fourths (3/4)
majority affirmation of the eligible members shall be required in order to dissolve this
corporation.
In the event of the dissolution of this corporation, all debts are to
be satisfied. The official trustees shall ensure that there is no division of assets, and
all assets herein are to be distributed to another corporation or corporations with
purposes similar to those identified in
Section 1:
Prologue and in
Section 2: A
three-fourths (3/4) majority affirmation of the eligible members shall be required in
order to decide on the distribution of assets.
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