ARTICLE III. THE MEMBERSHIP OF THE CHURCH

For a local assembly to be a New Testament Church, it must be constituted with and composed of professedly born-again believers who have been baptized by immersion by a duly authorized administrator on the profession of their faith. Anything less than these criteria prevent a church from being after the order of the New Testament. In the absence of scripturally baptized believers no church can exist. Grace Baptist Church is constituted with and shall ever be composed of scripturally baptized professed believers who have covenanted together under the Headship of Jesus Christ and the authority of the Word of God to do the Lord's work.

Section One: Membership in Grace Baptist Church shall be granted to professing believers in one of three ways: (1) To those who have professed faith in Christ and given credible evidence of their conversion and have been baptized by the authority of Grace Baptist Church; (2) To those who seek to unite with Grace Baptist Church on the promise of a letter of recommendation from a church of like faith and order and whose testimony gives evidence of a genuine conversion; and (3) To those who seek to unite on a statement of their faith and baptism by a church of like faith and order when a church letter can no longer be obtained, and whose testimony gives evidence of a genuine conversion.

Section Two: Membership in Grace Baptist Church shall be granted to those seeking it only after the Pastor has examined their spiritual qualifications for membership and them to the church for membership, they shall be received by a unanimous vote of the church into the full rights and privileges of church membership.

Section Three: Membership in Grace Baptist Church shall be granted only to those who agree to uphold the doctrines, principles, and practices of the church as set forth in its Constitution and By-Laws. 

 Membership shall be terminated in the following ways:

1.  Death of the member

2.  Dismissal to another church of like faith and order

3.  Exclusion by action of this church, or

4.  Erasure upon proof of membership in another church of another denomination.

Membership in Grace Baptist Church is a privilege, not a right, since it is granted by the church to those who meet this church’s criteria. When any member ceases to meet this criterion in any way, that member will be subject to the discipline of the church which can withdraw the member’s membership in Grace Baptist Church. 

The pastor, other members of the church staff and deacons are available for counsel and guidance of any troubled member.  The attitude of members toward one another shall be guided by concern for redemption rather than punishment.

Should some serious condition exist which would cause a member to become a liability to the general welfare of the church, the pastor and the deacons will take every reasonable measure to resolve the problem in accord with Matthew 18:15-17. If it becomes necessary for the church to take action to exclude a member, a two-thirds vote of the members present is required; and the church may proceed to declare the person to be no longer in the membership of the church. All such proceedings shall be pervaded by the spirit of Christians’ kindness and forbearance.

The church may restore to membership any person previously excluded, upon the request of the excluded person, and by vote of the church upon evidence of the excluded person’s repentance and reformation.

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ARTICLE V. THE ORDINANCES OF THE CHURCH

The Church Ordinances recognized and practiced by Grace Baptist Church are two in number: baptism and the Lord's Supper

Section One: Baptism is the immersion in water of a professed believer on the profession of his faith by a duly authorized administrator to identify himself with Christ in His death, burial, and resurrection. A duly authorized administrator shall be the pastor or any other ordained minister chosen by the church. In cases where the pastor is physically incapable of baptizing and no other ordained minister is available, one of the elders or deacons may be chosen by the church to administer baptism.

Section Two: The Lord's Supper, a memorial Ceremony of the Lord's death, is to be observed by the church perpetually until the Lord comes. Unleavened bread and the fruit of the vine are to be used as symbols of His body and blood. Anyone who has accepted Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior can participate in the Lord’s Supper.

ARTICLE VIII. THE OBJECTIVE OF THE CHURCH

To be a dynamic spiritual body empowered by the Holy Spirit to share Christ with as many people as possible in our church, community, and throughout the world.

To be a worshipping fellowship, experiencing an awareness of God, recognizing His person, and responding in obedience to His leadership.

To experience an increasingly meaningful fellowship with God and other fellow believers.

To help people experience a growing knowledge of God and man.

To be a church that ministers unselfishly to people in the community and the world in Jesus’ name.

To be a church whose purpose is to be Christ-like in our daily living by emphasizing a total commitment to life, personality, and possessions of the lordship of Christ.