Church Constitution

THE CONSTITUTION

10/05/2004

ARTICLE I- Name

The Southgate Baptist Church

ARTICLE II-Purpose

The purpose of this church is fourfold:

1. Evangelism-Seeking to win the lost by spreading the Gospel within the community and around the world.

2. Edification-Establishing new believers in the Scriptures and giving impetus to the more mature believers to understand and appreciate the Scriptures more fully.

3. Fellowship-Providing an opportunity for believers to share in every way within the context of their Christian faith.

4. Administering of the ordinances-Administering Baptism and the Lord's Supper.

ARTICLE III-Membership

SECTION A - ADMISSION OF MEMBERS

1. Any person who professes faith in Christ, who has testified of this profession

through baptism by immersion, and who is in accord with the Articles of Faith, the Constitution and the Covenant of this Church is eligible for membership.

2. All persons of voting age joining our church shall attend a welcome class for

an orientation to our ministry.

3. All persons deciding to join this Church shall meet with the Membership Committee/Team and give testimony to their profession of faith in Christ. The Membership Committee/Team may then recommend the candidate to the church for membership at any called meeting of the church. A 75% vote by qualified members present at the meeting will admit the candidate to membership.

4. The Membership Committee/Team will recommend a person to the Church for membership in one of four ways:

a. after baptism following salvation,

b. by letter from a church of like faith and practice (Baptistic),

c. by confession of faith (when impossible to secure a church letter, having been saved and immersed).

d. by restoration.

5. Excluded members may be restored to membership upon recommendation of the Board of Elders to the church, after such members have given to them a satisfactory explanation of acceptable evidence of honest repentance and confession (cf. Sections B and C).

SECTION B - DUTIES OF MEMBERS

1. Members shall strive to keep the obligations of the Southgate Baptist Church Covenant (see Article XV). They should honor and esteem their Pastors, pray for the staff daily, and utilize their God-given talents throughout the ministry of the church. They will endeavor to preserve the unity of the church and, if at any time they find themselves opposed to the fundamental doctrines of this Church (as described by the Articles of Faith), they will not seek to disrupt its fellowship, but will quietly withdraw from its membership.

2. Every member of the Church is expected to attend its meetings, to work for its progress and edification, to guard its good name in the community, and to keep the church office informed as to his/her residence.

3. Every member shall participate regularly in the financial support of this ministry, as the Lord may prosper, in harmony with the system used by this church.

SECTION C - DISMISSAL OF MEMBERS

1. Dismissal shall be by death, letter, or exclusion.

2. Any member in good standing may be granted a letter of transfer to any church of like faith and practice (Baptistic) upon its request. The letter shall be sent to the church with which the member wishes to unite.

3. A letter of dismissal, without recommendation, may be sent to any other church.

4. To maintain its corporate testimony, the Church may take disciplinary action on any member who has conducted himself/herself in such a manner as to be cited for such action even though such a member fails to accept or recognize the Church's authority.

SECTION D - INACTIVITY OF MEMBERS

1. Any member who for six months willingly absents himself/herself from the services of this Church may, at the discretion of the Board of Elders, be placed on the "Inactive Membership List". After one year of inactive status, the Board may recommend to the Church a motion for vote that the inactive member be dropped from the membership of the Church at the annual meeting or any specially called meeting.

2. Those placed on the "Inactive Membership List" forfeit all membership privileges.

3. No member shall be placed on the "Inactive Membership List" without reasonable effort to reinstate him/her in the activity of the church or to encourage him/her to take his/her membership to a church of like faith and practice for continued spiritual development.

4. A member on the "Inactive Membership List" may be reinstated to active membership upon appeal to the Board of Elders. This appeal may then be acted upon by the Elders at their discretion.

SECTION E - DISCIPLINE OF MEMBERS

1. The Board of Elders shall be responsible for all the discipline in the Church. The objectives of Church discipline are the restoration of the individual to fellowship and the church's purity (I Cor. 5:1-13, Gal. 6:1a, 2 Thess. 3:13-14).
2. It is vital to the testimony of this church and to the glory of the Lord that the purity and peace of this church be preserved. Therefore, the Board of Elders is directed to move vigorously in dealing with anyone who through immoral conduct, slander, dishonesty, gossip, any illegal action or unscriptural behavior threatens the testimony, or obstructs the work of this Church.
3. If any member is behaving as described above or is advocating doctrine contrary to that of the Church as stated in the Articles of Faith, and such a member cannot be restored to fellowship through confession and correction of his/her sins, he/she shall then be dealt with on the basis of Matthew 18 and 1 Corinthians 5. His/her case shall be heard by the Board of Elders, at which time they shall recommend proper action to the Church with a minimum of detail (the accused may demand that all the details be made known to the church). The Church then may accept the recommendation of the Elders by a 75% vote of qualified members present.
4. Only members qualified to vote shall be permitted to attend the above mentioned meeting (Article III, Section D. No. 4). Others may be included as witnesses by a 75% vote of qualified members present.
5. The accused must be summoned to appear before the Board of Elders by a letter informing him/her of the nature of the charges and the time of the meeting. If the accused does not appear before the Board at the stated time, without a satisfactory reason, the Board shall automatically recommend to the church the exclusion of such a member. If the accused appears, he/she is entitled to a full and fair hearing. The Board has the power to acquit the accused if the majority of the Board feels he/she is innocent. If acquitted, the matter goes no further; however, if the Board finds him/her guilty, it will send recommendation of discipline to the Church for its final action (cf. Section E No. 4). As the purpose of this meeting is to fulfill the duty of the Church to discipline its members, neither the Church nor the member subject to discipline will be represented in the meeting by any attorney at law, or any other third party, unless the Board of Elders and the member otherwise agree in writing. Except for members, staff, and witnesses, no other third party shall be admitted to the meeting, unless agreed in writing by the Board of Elders and the member.

6. If the accusation is made by a fellow member in good standing, he/she must present a written statement of the charges with his/her signature affixed to the charges. No charges will be heard without two witnesses or the equivalent of bonafide evidence.

7. These same principles apply to the Staff and Lay Elders. The Board of Elders should move in conjunction with the above principles in Article III, Section E, 1-7 and I Timothy 5:19-20.

8. If any member cannot conscientiously follow a decision of the Church, he/she is not to be divisive, but is rather to seek clarification through personal contact with the Board of Elders or quietly and peacefully withdraw from the membership of this Church.

9. In the event of differences between members, it is recommended that they be settled personally in accordance with Matthew 18:15-17.

ARTICLE IV-Meetings and Elections

SECTION A - PUBLIC WORSHIP

1. Public Worship services shall be held regularly, on the Lord's Day.

2. Members are strongly encouraged to meet in small groups weekly for the purpose of prayer, praise and edification.

3. Normally it shall be the practice of this church to observe the Lord's Supper monthly, at which time it may be appropriate to read the Church Covenant.

4. The Board of Elders may recommend special additional meetings.

SECTION B - BUSINESS MEETINGS

1. The fiscal year of this church shall begin the first day of January and close the thirty-first day of December.

2. The annual business meeting shall be held in December of each year. Quarterly financial reports shall be made available to members.

3. Special business meetings may be called at any time. In instances where major business is transacted, previous public announcement must be given the Sunday before the date of the meeting. Special meetings may be called at any time by the Senior Pastor, Board of Elders, or a signed statement by any ten unrelated families who are members of the church. This statement must be presented to the Senior Pastor and Board of Elders one week in advance of the meeting.

4. All active members eighteen years of age and above shall be qualified to vote.

5. Fifteen percent (15%) of the active membership shall constitute a quorum.

6. The agenda for pending business meetings will be published for the membership prior to the meeting.

7. The budget shall be presented to the membership at the annual business meeting. The entire budget will be submitted in one motion before the voting membership for consideration. Following the preliminary procedures, the order of business shall be:

a. Reading of the minutes of the last meeting,

b. Financial reports and reports from committees as required,

c. Unfinished business, and

d. New business

8. Voting: Unless otherwise stated, a majority of members present and eligible to vote, but never less than a quorum, shall be required to decide any question, or resolution coming before the Church.

9. All financial matters presented to the membership will be voted upon by written ballot.

SECTION C - ELECTIONS

1. The Staff Elders (Pastors): As often as it is deemed necessary by death, resignation, or removal of a previous pastor, the Church, without unnecessary delay, shall elect to its pastorate a minister of God's choosing. A call to a Staff Elder (Pastor) shall be extended at a meeting of the Church called for that purpose and announced from the pulpit for two Sundays immediately preceding the date of the meeting. A call of a new pastor must be by at least 75% of the qualified voting members present.

2. Annual Election of Officers includes Lay Elders and Deacons. The annual election of officers shall be at the annual business meeting. They shall all take office on January 1^st, and except for continuing officers, their terms shall expire the following December 31^st.

3. Vacancies in any office, except that of Pastors, shall be filled at a Special Business meeting of the Church. The vote shall be by ballot, on nominees submitted by the Elders. Those elected shall assume the duties of their office on the first Sunday following their election, and said office shall be filled only to complete the unexpired term of the office vacated.

ARTICLE V - Committees / Ministry Teams

SECTION A - STANDING COMMITTEES / TEAMS

The members of the Standing Committees/Teams of the Church shall be selected by the Board of Elders following the annual meeting. An Elder liaison shall serve on each Committee/Team.

1. Edification Committee/Team

It shall be the duty of this Committee/Team to work with the Elders in planning, promoting, staffing, supervising, and evaluating all of our strategies to teach and edify this body.

2. World Outreach Committee/Team

It shall be the duty of this Committee/Team, in cooperation with the Elders and in conjunction with our World Outreach Policy (Article XIV), to supervise and coordinate all matters pertaining to regularly supported missionaries of the Church, to interview and introduce prospective missionary candidates, and to communicate missions needs and information to the Church family for prayer and involvement.

3. Worship Committee/Team

It shall be the duty of this Committee/Team to serve with the Elders to create a conducive atmosphere and format for worship through our services and special programs, and attend to all aspects of the worship ministry and to supervise the ushering ministry of our Church.

4. Community Outreach Committee/Team

It shall be the duty of this Committee/Team to work with the Elders in designing and implementing initiatives to reach our community with the Gospel, and to promote the various ministries and events of our Church.

5. Fellowship Committee/Team

It shall be the duty of this Committee/Team to coordinate with the Elders opportunities for fellowship, to encourage and generate a spirit of hospitality among our church family, to provide lodging and meals for guests who minister to the church and to actively minister to the needs of our Church family in the event of death.

6. Compassion Committee/Team

It shall be the duty of this Committee/Team to coordinate with the Elders care for the physical needs of both our Church family and opportunities within the community in the event of sickness or other crisis.

7. Facilities and Maintenance Committee/Team

It shall be the duty of this Committee/Team to work with the Maintenance Director and Elder liaison to maintain and supervise the Church property including vehicles.

8. Membership Committee/Team

It shall be the duty of this Committee/Team to work with the Elders and Clerk in overseeing the process of receiving new members into the Church family as well as the dismissal of members due to death or letter of exclusion.

SECTION B - ADDITIONAL COMMITTEES / TEAMS

1. Nominating Committee/Team

The Nominating Committee/Team shall consist of at least seven members: The Senior Pastor, one Lay Elder, and at least six other members from the church at large will be chosen by the Board of Elders. During October the Nominating Committee/Team will select a slate of nominees for Church office to be presented prior to the annual business meeting. Members may prayerfully submit their suggestions for officers to the Nominating Committee/Team based on qualification.

2. Financial Advisory Committee/Team

It shall be the responsibility of the Financial Advisory Committee/Team to be a team of reference for our Business Manager/Treasurer and to conduct spot reviews of financial accounts of the Church annually. In addition an independent outside individual or firm approved by the Board of Elders will perform agreed upon procedures on the financial accounts of the Church when deemed necessary by the Board of Elders.

3. Pulpit Committee/Team

The Pulpit Committee/Team shall consist of the Lay Elders and four members at large from the membership. The Board of Elders shall nominate a slate of at large members to be voted on by the membership. It shall be the duty of this Committee/Team to prayerfully search out and recommend to the membership a candidate for the position of Senior Pastor. Associate pastors will be recruited by the Senior Pastor and presented to the membership at the recommendation of the Board of Elders.

4. Any other Committee/Team deemed necessary may be appointed by the Board of Elders. If a Building Committee/Team is needed, it shall be nominated by the Board of Elders and elected by the church to consider potential future expansion.

SECTION C - MUTUAL COMMITTEE / TEAM CONCERNS

1. All Committees/Teams shall work within the spirit and framework of the overall Church ministry as established by the Board of Elders.
2. All budget requests relating to areas of concern covered by these Committees/Teams shall be channeled to the Church Business Manager/Treasurer through the respective Committees/Teams.

3. All Committees/Teams shall report annually to the Church unless otherwise instructed.

4. All Committee/Team action that is not specifically prescribed to the Committee/Team in this Constitution must be submitted to the Board of Elders for final approval before action is taken.

ARCTICLE VI - Officers, Board, and Appointed Positions

SECTION A - OFFICERS OF THE CHURCH

1. The officers of the Church shall be Senior Pastor, Associate Pastors, Lay Elders, Deacons, Church Clerk, Financial Secretary, and Business Manager/Treasurer. These officers may have assistants if needed, to be approved by the Board of Elders (see Article VI, Section A, 6).

2. All officers of the Church shall be members subscribing wholeheartedly to the Articles of Faith, the Constitution and the Church Covenant.

3. All officers, except the Pastors (Staff Elders), shall normally assume their duties on January 1^st. Retiring officers shall hold office until the terms of the newly elected offices begin.

4. Personnel to serve in lay staff positions, after being interviewed by the Senior Pastor or the Board of Elders for spiritual and practical qualifications, may be appointed to positions at the church. These individuals are to be fully approved by the Senior Pastor and shall work under his direction.

5. Lay Elders, working with their Personnel Committee/Team, shall establish recommendations for any staff salary and other personnel salary adjustments. The Staff Elders shall not be a part of these deliberations.

6. All staff salaries and benefits will be reviewed annually by the Board of Elders. Any changes shall be recommended to the church at the Annual Meeting. All newly established salaries for staff Elders will be presented to the body for a vote. Annually thereafter, the salaries shall be presented to the body in lump sum for approval.

SECTION B - PASTOR

1. A Senior Pastor shall lead Southgate Baptist Church. He will function as our Lead Staff Elder. The Associate Pastors will serve as Staff Elders as well. Lay Elders, elected by our membership, will join these men to form our Elder Board.

2. A candidate for the position of Senior Pastor shall be examined by the Pulpit Committee/Team (See Article V, Section B) as to his qualifications for the office, both spiritual and practical (I Timothy 3:1-7).

3. A call to a Pastor shall be extended at a special or regular meeting of the Church. Public notice of such action shall be given from the pulpit two Sundays immediately preceding the date of the meeting. A 75% majority of those voting members present shall be necessary for a call. Voting shall be by ballot.

4. The Senior Pastor shall continue in office until he resigns or is dismissed by a majority of those present (which must constitute a quorum) and voting at a special meeting called for that purpose. Such a meeting shall be announced from the pulpit for two Sundays immediately preceding the date of such a meeting. A call for such a meeting must come from either the Board of Elders or by a petition signed by 25% of the adult membership in good standing.

5. The Senior Pastor shall give the Church not less than thirty days or more than sixty days notice of his intention to discontinue as Pastor. The Church shall give the Senior Pastor not less than sixty days notice of dismissal. If necessary, other terms may be worked out in mutual consent by the Pastor and the Church. If, in the judgment of the Church (represented in a 75% vote in favor of the motion received in an announced special business meeting), the conduct of the Pastor justifies immediate termination of his ministry, the Church may declare the pulpit vacant, at which time they may give the Pastor four weeks severance pay.

6. A candidate for the position of Associate Pastor (Staff Elder) shall be examined by the Board of Elders as to his qualifications for the office, both spiritual and practical (I Tim. 3:1-7).

7. Staff Elders shall give the church not less than four weeks notice of any intention to discontinue service to the Church. This four-week notice can only be shortened with agreement of the terminating Staff Elder, the Senior Pastor and the Board of Elders.

8. The Board of Elders under the leadership of the Senior Pastor and his associates (staff Elders/Pastors) shall have charge of the spiritual welfare of the church. The Senior Pastor shall moderate the business sessions of the church according to Roberts' Rules of Order (unless otherwise specified by the Board of Elders). The Staff Elders shall be "ex officio" members of all Committees/Teams. All officers of the church shall work under the Senior Pastor's direction and guidance. In the absence of the Senior Pastor, the chairman of the Elder Board will serve as moderator.

9. In the absence of a Senior Pastor, the Elder Board shall define the pastoral authority and oversight and /or any desired interim arrangement that it deems best for the church.

SECTION C - ELDERS

1. Southgate Baptist Church shall seat through membership ballot a Board of Elders made up of Staff Elders (Senior Pastor and any Associate Pastors) and nine lay Elders (I Timothy 5:17, Titus 1:5).

2. The qualifications for Elders (Staff Elders and Lay Elders) shall be as are described and set forth in the New Testament (I Timothy 3:1-7 and Titus 1:5-9). The church shall select Lay Elders from its membership at its annual meeting.

3. It shall be the duty of the Board of Elders to (A.) work together to promote the spiritual welfare of the church; (B.) oversee the careful examination of all candidates for church membership; (C.) have charge over all matters of discipline of members and to exercise prudent watch care over the church membership; (D.) review with the Business Manager/Treasurer a monthly accounting of our financial records. (E.) Oversee the outreach, edification, worship and fellowship aspects of our ministry; (F.) guide the Deacons into identified areas of service; (G.) annually appoint from the Board of Elders a Personnel Committee/Team.

4. Lay Elder's terms shall be three years, ending alternately. No Lay Elder may be elected to more than one full term without a one-year absence from the Board of Elders.
5. The Lay Elders shall elect from among themselves:

(A.) a chairman; (B.) a vice-chairman; (C.) and secretary of the Board of Elders.

6. The Elder Board shall be members of the Pulpit Committee.

7. The Elders shall serve as trustees of this church, representing this corporation as its agent. It shall be the duty of the trustees to handle legal matters and to be responsible for the care and upkeep of the physical properties of the church. They shall not have authority to sell, lease, give away, or dispose of church property valued in excess of 2% of the current annual budget; nor mortgage or encumber the same with debt, except as the church shall order the same by corporate act. They shall be authorized to spend per case situation up to 2% of the annual budget apart from church indebtedness without church action for projects of the church.

8. The Elders shall have no authority to authorize indebtedness for the church apart from a motion approved by our congregation for said amount that passes congregational vote by at least a 75% majority.

9. The Board of Elders shall select among themselves men to be official liaisons as follows: a member of the Financial Advisory Committee/Team (See Article 5, Section B, 3), an Elder to oversee our Maintenance Director and Deacons, and assigned to each ministry Committee/Team as needed.

SECTION D - DEACONS

1. The Church shall select Deacons from its membership at its annual meeting Their terms shall be three years, ending alternately. No deacon may be elected to more than one full term without a one-year absence from service as a Deacon. The Deacons shall consist of not less than twelve qualified men; however, additional deacons may be elected commensurate with qualification and need. Such a recommendation must be made by the Elder Board.

2. The qualifications for Deacons shall be as described and set forth in the New Testament (Acts 6:3; I Timothy 3:8-13). Acts 6:3, "But select from among you, Brethren, seven men of good reputation, full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we may put in charge of this task." I Timothy 3:8-13, "Deacons likewise must be men of dignity, not double-tongued, or addicted to much wine or fond of sordid gain, but holding to the mystery of the Faith with a clear conscience. And let these also first be tested; then let them serve as deacons if they are beyond reproach. Women must likewise be dignified, not malicious gossips, but temperate, faithful in all things. Let deacons be husbands of only one wife, and good managers of their children and their own households. For those who have served well as deacons obtain for themselves a high standing and great confidence in the faith that is in Christ Jesus."

3. It shall be the duty of the Deacons to: (A) serve the church at the direction of the Elders and Business Manager/Treasurer; (B) prepare the elements and table for the Lord's Supper and assist in serving the same; (C) assist the Pastors in administering Baptism; (D) annually review the budget with the Elder Board and Business Manager/Treasurer before it is presented to the body; (E) to oversee the administration of the Deacons' fund through the Compassion Committee/Team to members and others whom the Committee/Team deems worthy in need of legitimate assistance.

SECTION E - CLERK

1. The Church Clerk shall have charge of the official correspondence and shall keep a record of all business meetings of the Church.

2. The Clerk shall keep a permanent record of membership, of baptisms, and of the reception and dismissal of members.

3. The Clerk shall provide the Business Manager/Treasurer promptly with a transcript of minutes of each Church business meeting in which authority is granted for the disbursement or transfer of funds.

SECTION F - FINANCIAL SECRETARY

1. It shall be the duty of the financial secretary, together with the Elders' appointees, to count and record in a permanent record all monies received in the offerings of the Church.

2. The financial secretary shall be responsible for depositing all funds in the bank, including monies received from organizations within the church or from individuals.

3. The financial secretary shall provide the Business Manager/Treasurer with a record of all monies received and deposited, specifying the distribution into various funds as indicated by the donors or by special offerings.

4. The financial secretary shall provide annually, to individual contributors, confidential records of giving for I.R.S. purposes.

SECTION G - BUSINESS MANAGER/TREASURER

1. The Business Manager/Treasurer shall be responsible for the recording of all financial transactions in permanent records and shall provide quarterly and annual reports to the church.

2. The Business Manager/Treasurer shall pay all bills of the church. No checks shall be written without the proper requisition system. A member designated by the Elder Board shall countersign all checks.

3. The Business Manager/Treasurer will coordinate the preparation of the annual budget. The preliminary budget shall be presented to the Board of Elders and the Deacons for review.

4. The recommended budget shall be available to the congregation two weeks prior to the Annual Meeting.

5. If deemed necessary by the Board of Elders the Business Manager/Treasurer may have access to the giving records held by the Financial Secretary.

ARTICLE VII - Subsidiary Organizations

SECTION A - DEFINITION: A subsidiary organization is defined as the Sunday Bible School and adult training programs, or any other group that is in some way involved in the overall ministry of the church.

SECTION B - No subsidiary organization of this church shall engage in any practice or policy contrary to the constitution, policies and articles of faith of the Southgate Baptist Church.

SECTION C - Although each group is self-governing, it is finally subject to the Board of Elders in accord with the official position of the church.

SECTION D - All officers of subsidiary organizations shall be members of this church.

SECTION E - All teachers and leaders of subsidiary organizations must be members of the church, or approved by the Elders. Any guest speaker hosted by subsidiary organizations must be approved by a Staff Elder.

ARTICLE VIII - Declarations of Faith

SECTION A - The Articles of Faith attached to this Constitution shall be known as The Southgate Baptist Church Declaration of Faith and shall be the Confession of Faith of this church. II Corinthians 4:13; 6:14

SECTION B - This church, when it desires, may recognize other Articles of Faith, provided that they be in harmony with the Articles mentioned in Section A of Article VIII. Philippians 3:15-19; I Timothy 4:1; II John 10

SECTION C - The Church Covenant shall be part of this Constitution. Acts 16:4

ARTICLE IX - Declaration of Biblical Human Sexuality

SECTION A - God has given the gift of intimacy to marriage (Hebrews 13:4). This gift is His means to propagate the human race as well as give pleasure to husband and wife in marriage.

SECTION B - God has commanded that no intimate sexual activity be engaged in outside of marriage between a man and a woman. We believe that any form of homosexuality, lesbianism, bisexuality, bestiality, incest, fornication, adultery, and pornography are sinful perversions of God's gift of sex. We believe that God disapproves of and forbids any attempt to alter one's gender by surgery or appearance. (Genesis 2:24; Genesis 19:5, 13; Genesis 26:8-9; Leviticus 18:1-30; Romans 1:26-29; I Corinthians 5:1, 6:9; I Thessalonians 4:1-8; Hebrews 13:4)

SECTION C - The only legitimate marriage is the joining of one man and one woman. (Genesis 2:24; Romans 7:2; I Corinthians 7:10; Ephesians 5:22-23)

ARTICLE X - Affiliation

This church shall be an independent autonomous church subject only to Jesus Christ, the Head of the Church. It has the right to cooperate and associate with other Biblical groups on a voluntary basis. There shall be no cooperation with any group that permits the presence of apostasy or heresy.

ARTICLE XI- Amendments

This Constitution may be amended by a 75% vote of at least a quorum present at a regular or specially called business meeting. The amendment shall be recommended to the church by the Board of Elders, and the amendment itself shall be given in writing at a previous meeting or in the Church bulletin at least one week in advance of the vote. (I Corinthians 14:40)

ARTICLE XII - Church Operation

Final authority in all matters pertaining to church operation and policy shall be vested and remain in the active church membership, with each member personally responsible to uphold the Word of God and the testimony of Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord (I Peter 2:9; I John 2:27).

ARTICLE XIII - Dissolution Clause

In the event of the dissolution of this corporation, all of its debts shall be fully satisfied. None of its assets or holdings shall be divided among the members or other individuals but shall be irrevocably designated to corporate vote prior to dissolution to such other nonprofit religious corporations as are in agreement with the letter and spirit of the Articles of Faith adopted by this Church, and in conformity with the requirements of the United States Internal Revenue Service Code of 1954, Section 501 C-3.

ARTICLE XIV - World Outreach Policy Of The Southgate

Baptist Church

To be accepted as a candidate for support, an applicant must meet the criteria listed below.

1. The individual must be an accepted candidate for the mission field by a regularly recognized and properly functioning Missionary Board.

a. This board must be in basic doctrinal agreement with the Southgate Baptist Church Declaration of Faith.

b. It must be a board that is not in fellowship with the World Council of Churches or other groups that include theological liberals.

c. Under certain conditions individuals not affiliated with any board, but who are in accordance with sub-points (a) and (b) may be considered for support by the church.

2. The individual must apply in writing to the World Outreach Committee/Team.

3. The individual must appear before the World Outreach Committee/Team in person for testimony and questioning.

4. The candidate by signature must subscribe to the Declaration of Faith of the church, and declare himself/herself in sympathy with the stand of the church and its ministry.

5. The action for support of a candidate must come to the Board of Elders from the World Outreach Committee/Team. The Board of Elders may then in turn carry the recommendation to the church where a 75% majority of those voting will be required to approve a candidate as a missionary of the church. The extent of support shall accompany the recommendation.

6. The approval and support of any chosen missionary may cease at once if such missionary changes his/her ministry or theology, transfers to another mission organization, transfers to independent work, resigns or is dismissed. The church reserves the right, after the first year of the missionary's service, to dismiss and discontinue his/her support if it so desires. This can only be done by a majority vote of the church at a called business meeting. To reinstate such a missionary, the usual procedure for a new missionary shall be followed.

ARTICLE XV - Church Covenant

In the presence of God and of each other, confessing Jesus Christ as our Savior, relying on the power of the Holy Spirit and fully understanding that the chief end of man is to glorify God and to enjoy Him forever, we joyfully and solemnly covenant with God and with one another:

Regularly to observe private prayer and the reading of the Word of God;
Devoutly to study the Scriptures and teach them to our children;
Heartily to participate in the work and worship of the Church;
Consistently to observe the ordinance of the Lord's Supper;
Constantly to love one another with pure motives;
Faithfully to aid as God shall prosper us in supporting the ministry of this church;
Diligently to seek opportunities to lead others to Jesus Christ. Always to live soberly, righteously, and Godly in this world, abstaining from all things that dishonor our Lord Jesus Christ, cause a fellow believer to stumble, or hinder the winning of a soul to Christ.

And, we covenant that when we move from this vicinity, we shall unite as soon as feasible with some other church of like faith and practice.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

STATEMENT OF PURPOSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1

ARICLES OF FAITH

The Scriptures . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1

God . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

Jesus Christ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

The Holy Spirit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

Satan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3

Creation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3

The Fall of Man . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3

Salvation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3

Justification . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4

The Church . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4

Baptism and The Lord's Supper . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4

Civil Government . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

The Resurrection, Return of Christ and Related Events . . . . . . . . . . 5

The Priesthood of the Believers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5

Angels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

THE CONSTITUTION

ARTICLE I - NAME . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

ARTICLE II - PURPOSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6

ARTICLE III - MEMBERSHIP . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

(A) Admission of Members . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

(B) Duties of Members . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

(D) Inactivity of Members . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7

(E) Discipline of Members . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8

ARTICLE IV - MEETINGS AND ELECTIONS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9

(A) Public Worship . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9

(B) Business Meetings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9

ARTICLE V - COMMITTEES / MINISTRY TEAMS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10

(A) Standing Committees / Teams . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10

1. Edification Committee/Team . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10

2. World Outreach Committee/Team . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10

3. Worship Committee/Team . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10

4. Community Outreach Committee/Team . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10

5. Fellowship Committee/Team . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10

6. Compassion Committee/Team . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11

7. Facilities and Maintenance Committee/Team . . . . . . . . . . . 11

8. Membership Committee/Team . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11

(B) Additional Committees/Teams . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11

1. Nominating Committee/Team . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11

2. Financial Advisory Committee/Team . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11

3. Pulpit Committee/Team . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11

4. Other Committees/Teams . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11

ARTICLE VI - OFFICERS, BOARD AND APPOINTED POSITIONS . . . . . 12

(A) Officers of the Church . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12

(B) Pastor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12

(D) Deacons . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14

(E) Clerk . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15

(F) Financial Secretary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15

(G) Business Manager/Treasurer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15

ARTICLE VII - SUBSIDIARY ORGANIZATIONS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .16

ARTICLE VIII - DECLARATIONS OF FAITH . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .16

ARTICLE IX - DECLARATION OF BIBLICAL HUMAN SEXUALITY . . . . . 16

ARTICLE X - AFFLIATION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .17

ARTICLE XI - AMENDMENTS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17

ARTICLE XII - CHURCH OPERATION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17

ARTICLE XIII - DISSOLUTION CLAUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .17

ARTICLE XIV - World Outreach Policy Of The Southgate . . . 17

Baptist Church

ARTICLE XV - CHURCH COVENANT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .18

SOUTHGATE BAPTIST CHURCH

Articles of Faith

and Constitution

2111 S. Center Blvd., Springfield, OH 45506

937-325-0619

THE STATEMENT OF THE PURPOSE OF

THE SOUTHGATE BAPTIST CHURCH

The Southgate Baptist Church shall be a perpetual, nonprofit organization.

The members of said church shall worship and labor together according to the teachings of the New Testament, as set forth in the Articles of Faith adopted by this church.

This church shall have the authority to conduct a Baptist church in accordance with the Word of God, the Articles of Faith, the Constitution and Covenant of this church. It shall have the right to own, buy, or sell tangible properties, both real and personal, in its own name and through properly elected officers, when authorized by vote of the church.

This church shall be independent and autonomous, not subject to any ecclesiastical control whatsoever from any convention, conference, association, council, group or individual outside of the church; but it shall have the right to voluntarily affiliate with any association or council of Bible-believing churches separated from apostasy and the right to disassociate from any group with which it may have become affiliated.

The government of this church shall be vested in its membership. Voting privileges shall be extended to members in good and regular standing eighteen years of age and above.

No profit shall ever accrue to the benefit of any individuals from the assets, holdings or other transactions in which this corporation may become involved.

In the event of the dissolution of this corporation, all of its debts shall be fully satisfied. None of its assets or holdings shall be divided among the members, or other individuals, but shall be irrevocably designated by corporate vote, prior to dissolution, to such other nonprofit religious corporations as are in agreement with the letter and spirit of the Articles of Faith adopted by this church, and inconformity with the requirements of the United States Internal Revenue Service Code of 1954 (Section 501 C-3).

ARTICLES OF FAITH

The Scriptures

We believe that the Bible is the written Word of God; accepting fully the writing of the Old and New Testaments (66 books) as the very Word of God, verbally inspired in all parts and therefore wholly without error as originally given of God, altogether sufficient in themselves as our only infallible and authoritative rule of faith and practice.

By "inspired" we mean that God so supernaturally directed the writers of Scripture that without excluding their human intelligence, their individuality, their literary style, their personal feelings, or any other human factor, His own complete and coherent message to man was recorded in perfect accuracy, the very words of Scripture bearing the authority of divine authorship.

Psalms 19:7-11; Psalms 119:89; Proverbs 30:5-6; Isaiah 8:20; John 5:39; John 12:48; John 17:17; Romans 15:4; II Timothy 3:16-17; I Peter 1:23; II Peter 1:19-21; Revelation 22:19

God

We believe that there is one, and only one, living and true God, a sovereign, infinite, and intelligent Spirit, the Maker and supreme Ruler of heaven and earth; inexpressibly glorious in holiness and worthy of all honor, confidence, and love; that in the unity of the Godhead there are three persons - the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit - equal in every divine perfection, and executing distinct but harmonious offices in the outworking of the eternal plan of God.

Deuteronomy 6:4; Exodus 15:11; Exodus 20:2-3; Psalms 83:18; Psalms 90:2; Jeremiah 10:10; Matthew 28:19; Mark 12:29-30; John 4:24; John 10:30; John 15:26; John 17:5; Acts 5:3-4; I Corinthians 8:6; II Corinthians 13:14; Ephesians 4:6; Philippians 2:5-8; I Thessalonians 4:13-18; I Timothy 2:5; Hebrews 7:25; I John 3:3; I John 3:5; Revelation 19:11-20; Revelation 29:11-15

Jesus Christ

We believe that Jesus Christ is the eternal second person of the Trinity; that in His incarnation He was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary; that He took upon Himself a human nature in addition to His divine nature in such a way that these two natures were not mingled nor diminished; that He lived a sinless life and performed miracles, and that He was indeed God in the flesh; that He died for the sins of the world, was buried, rose bodily from the grave, appeared to His disciples, ascended into heaven, and is now seated at the right hand of the Father as Intercessor; and that He is the only Mediator between God and man. We believe that He will return at any moment for us and that we will later rule upon the earth under Him; that He will judge believers' work at His Judgment Seat and sentence unbelievers to final perdition at His Great White Throne.

Isaiah 7:14; Matthew 1:18-25; Matthew 22:14; Luke 1:34-35; John 1:1; John 1:14; John 1:29; John 5:22; John 8:58; John 10:30, 37, 38; John 16:28; Acts 1:9; Acts 2:22-24; Romans 8:34; Romans 14:10; I Corinthians 3:11-15; Ephesians 1:20; Philippians 2:5-8; I Thessalonians 4:13-18; I Timothy 2:5; Hebrews 7:25; I John 3:3; I John 3:5; Revelation 19:11-20; Revelation 29: 11-15

The Holy Spirit

We believe that the Holy Spirit is a divine person, equal with God the Father and God the Son, and of the same nature; that He was active in creation; that He convicts of sin, of judgment, and of righteousness; that he bears witness to the Truth of the Gospel and thereby glorifies not Himself but Christ; that He is the agent of the New Birth; that at salvation He baptizes, indwells, seals, endues, guides, teaches, witnesses, sanctifies, and helps the believer; that as the believer submits to this leadership, the Holy Spirit will fill (control) his life; and that He was active in the process of inspiration in that "holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit."

Genesis 1:1-3; Matthew 28:19; John 3:5-6; John 14:16, 17, 26; John 15:26; John 16:8-11, 13, 14; Acts 5:30-32; Romans 8:16, Romans 8:26-27; I Corinthians 12:13; Ephesians 1:13-14; Ephesians 5:18; II Thessalonians 2:13; Hebrews 9:14; I Peter 1-2; II Peter 1:21.

Satan

We believe in the existence of Satan who originally was created a holy and perfect being, but through pride and wicked ambition rebelled against God. We believe in the personality of Satan, that he is the unholy god of this age, and the ruler of all the powers of darkness, and is destined to the judgment of an eternal justice in the lake of fire.

Isaiah 14:12-15; Ezekiel 28:14-17; Matthew 4:1-3; Matthew 13:25, 37-39; Matthew 25:41; Luke 22:3-4; John 14:30; II Corinthians 11:13-15; Ephesians 2:2; I Thessalonians 3:5; II Thessalonians 2:8-11; I Peter 5:8; II Peter 2:4; I John 3:8; Jude 6; Revelation 12:9-10; Revelation 20:10.

Creation

We believe that God created out of nothing the heavens and the earth, including all life, each "after its own kind" by a direct, instantaneous act and not by means of the evolutionary hypothesis.

Genesis 1:1, 11, 24, 26, 27; Genesis 2:7; 21-23; Exodus 20:11; Nehemiah 9:6; Jeremiah 10:12; John 1:3; Acts 4:24; Romans 1:20; I Corinthians 11:7; Colossians 1:16-17; Hebrews 11:3.

The Fall of Man

We believe that man was created in innocence under the law of his Maker; but by voluntary transgression Adam fell from his sinless state, and all men sinned in him, in consequence of which all men are totally depraved, are partakers of Adam's fallen nature, and are sinners by nature and by conduct; and therefore are under just condemnation without defense or excuse.

Genesis 3:1-6; Romans 1:18, 28, 32; Romans 3:10-19, 23; Romans 5:12, 19; Galatians 3:22; Ephesians 2:1.

Salvation

We believe in Salvation by Grace through faith alone; that Salvation is the free, irrevocable gift of God, neither merited nor secured in part or whole by any virtue or work of man, but received after the quickening work of the Holy Spirit has brought a man to repentance and faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, in Whom all true believers have, as a present possession, the gift of eternal life, a perfect righteousness, sonship in the family of God, deliverance and security from all condemnation, every spiritual resource needed for life and godliness, and the divine guarantee that they shall never perish; that salvation affects the whole man; that apart from Christ there is no possible salvation.

John 1:12; John 3:16; John 10:28-30; Acts 4:12; Romans 3:25-26; Romans 8:1; II Corinthians 3:5; Ephesians 2:8-9; Ephesians 4:30; I Thessalonians 5:23; II Peter 1:3.

Justification

We believe that justification is the judicial act of God whereby He declares us to be righteous through Faith in Christ Jesus; that justification includes the pardon of sin and the imputation of God's righteousness; that it is bestowed, not in consideration of any works of righteousness which we have done, but solely through faith in the Redeemer's blood.

Isaiah 53:11; Acts 13:39; Romans 5:1-9; Romans 8:1; II Corinthians 5:18-21.

The Church

We believe that the Church exists in two aspects; that the invisible Church is the body of Christ for service and the Bride of Christ for glory; that the local church is a company of baptized believers who, together with their officers, meet regularly for worship, fellowship, instruction in the Word, prayer, the observing of the ordinances, and evangelism; that the ordinances of a local church are baptism and the Lord's Supper; that the local church has the absolute right of self-government free form the interference of any hierarchy of individuals or organizations; that the holy head of the Church (visible and invisible) is Christ; that the local church has been ordained of God to carry out His work in this age; that it is Scriptural for local churches of like faith and practice to cooperate with each other in contending for the faith and for the furtherance of the Gospel, but that every local church is the sole and only judge of the extent and method of its own cooperation within the framework of Biblical revelation; that on all matters of membership, polity, government, discipline, and benevolence, the will of the local church is final; that its officers are elders and deacons, whose qualifications are clearly outlined in the Scriptures (I Timothy 3:1-13); that the true mission of the local church is the fulfillment of the Great Commission without any change in the order thereof.

Matthew 26:27-29; Matthew 28:18-20; Luke 22:19-20; Acts 2:41-42; Acts 6:5-6; Acts 8:4; Acts 18:8; Acts 14:23; Acts 15:22; Acts 20:28; Romans 6:3-13; Romans 12:5; I Corinthians 5:11-13; I Corinthians 11; I Corinthians 16:1; II Corinthians 8:23; Ephesians 5:23-29; Philippians 1:1; Philippians 3:3; Colossians 1:18; Colossians 2:12; I Timothy 3:1-13; I Timothy 4:16; II Timothy 3:16; Hebrews 10:25; I Peter 5:1-4.

Baptism and The Lord's Supper

We believe that there are two church ordinances: Baptism and the Lord's Supper. We believe that Christian baptism is the immersion in water of a believer in the Name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost; that is shows forth in a solemn and beautiful emblem our death to sin and resurrection to newness of life, and that it precedes church membership; that the Lord's Supper is the other ordinance of a New Testament church and that by it the sacrificial death of Christ is commemorated by the use of the elements symbolic of the Savior's sinless body and blood; that the Lord's Supper is to be preceded by solemn self-examination; that the ordinances have in them nothing of saving grace, and that they are for believers only.

Matthew 3:6, 16; John 3:23; Acts 2:41-42; Acts 8:36-39; Romans 6:3-5; I Corinthians 11:23-28; Colossians 2:12; Ephesians 2:8-9; Matthew 28:19.

Civil Government

We believe that civil government is of divine appointment, for the interests and good order of human society; that rulers are to be prayed for conscientiously, honored, and obeyed, except in things opposed to the will of our Lord Jesus Christ, who is the only Lord of the conscience and the coming King of Kings of the earth.

Exodus 18:21-22; II Samuel 23:3; Psalms 72:11; Daniel 3:17-18; Matthew 10:28; Matthew 22:21; Matthew 23:10; Acts 4:19-20; Acts 5:29; Acts 23:5; Romans 13:1; Philippians 2:10-11; Titus 3:1; I Peter 2:13.

The Resurrection, Return of Christ and Related Events

We believe in the literal record of the Scriptures with regard to the following events:

1. The bodily resurrection of all men,

2. The pre-tribulational rapture of the church,

3. The pre-millennial return of Christ to the earth with His saints and His

reign on the earth for 1,000 years,

4. The fulfillment of God's promises to the nation of Israel,

5. The rise of the Antichrist,

6. The final defeat of Satan, and his hosts by Christ and the consignment of

Satan, his hosts of spirit beings and all unbelievers to the Lake of Fire, and

7. The eternal fellowship of the saved with their Savior.

Daniel 7:8, 21-25; Daniel 9:26-27; Daniel 11:36-39; Romans 11:1-2; I Thessalonians 4:13-18; II Thessalonians 2:3-4; Revelation 3:10; Revelation 11:1-10; Revelation 12:1-2, 13-17; Revelation 19:11; 20:4; Revelation 20:6, 10, 11-13, 15, 21-22.

The Priesthood of the Believers

We believe in the priesthood of all believers; that Christ is our Great High Priest and through Him every born again person has direct access into God's presence without the need of a human priest; that the believer has the right and responsibility to personally study and interpret the Scriptures guided by the Holy Spirit.

I Timothy 2:5; Hebrews 4:16; Hebrews 7:24-25; I Peter 2:9; I John 2:27.

Angels

We believe in the existence of Angels as created beings. We believe that they are spirit beings possessing intellect, emotion, and will, and that they do not die. Possessing great power they exist for the express purpose of serving and glorifying God.

Matthew 18:10; Luke 1:26-33; Luke 2; Luke 2:13; Luke 20:36; Colossians 1:16; Hebrews 1:14; I Peter 1:12; II Peter 2:11; Jude 6.

Southgate Baptist Church