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Berean Bible Church Constitution
Preamble
In order that the witness of this church may be born and carried out in accordance with Scriptural doctrines; that its worship, teachings, ministry, and fellowship may be conducted in harmony with Christian principles; and that its business affairs may be administered in an orderly fashion and in a responsible manner consistent with biblical teachings, we do adopt and set forth this constitution.
Article I — Name
This organization shall be known as the Berean Bible Church, Chesapeake, Virginia.
Article II — Purpose
The purpose of our church is to influence people to grow in a relationship with the Lord Yeshua Christ, through expository teaching, discipleship, fellowship, and treating others as we would like to be treated.
To support this mission, the Berean Bible Church will:
Provide worship and expository teaching services that celebrate the Lordship of Yeshua Christ, teach the Word without reservation, and encourage the believers.
Promote participation in home, group bible studies; accountability programs; and church fellowship functions.
Encourage individual and family development as fundamental requirements for Christian living.
Provide opportunities to show Christ's love by serving others in community outreach functions.
Article III — Statement Of Faith
We Believe:
I. The Inspiration of the Bible
We believe the Holy Scriptures, composed of the thirty-nine books of the Old Testament and the twenty-seven books of the New Testament, as originally written, are the verbally inspired Word and Revelation of God (II Timothy 3:16-17; II Peter 1:21; Matthew 5:18; I Corinthians 2:13). The Bible is the very Word of God. We cannot accept the misleading statement, "The Bible contains the Word of God."
II. The Trinity
We believe in the Triune God — God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit — coequal and coeternal. Each has His individual identity and separate responsibilities for the purposes of redemption, yet perfectly united as three persons in one (I John 5:1-8; John 16:7-18; Matthew 28:19; Genesis 1:26).
III. The Deity and Virgin Birth of Christ
We believe in the Deity of Yeshua Christ. He is the only begotten, virgin-born Son of God, the second person in the Blessed Trinity, God the Son, God manifest in the flesh (I Timothy 3:16; John 1:1-14; John 14:9; Isaiah 7:14; Matthew 1:18-25; John 10:36).
IV. The Substitutionary Atonement
We believe in the substitutionary atonement of the Lord Yeshua Christ. He, by the grace of God, was crucified for all God's elect. The all-sufficient and completed work of redemption accomplished through His death and resurrection is fully imparted at the moment of faith (Hebrews 2:9; John 6:44-69; John 3:18; Romans 3:25; Revelation 1:5; Hebrews 9:22; I Peter 1:18-19).
V. Justification by Faith Alone
We believe that all people are born with a depraved nature and are lost sinners in need of justification (Romans 3:9-19; Ephesians 2:1-3). The elect are justified by faith alone in Christ alone (Romans 5:1 and Ephesians 2:8-9).
VI. Eternal Security
We believe in the eternal security of all believers in the Lord Yeshua Christ. Once a person has become a "new creature in Christ," he can never lose that new relationship in the family of God (II Corinthians 5:14-21; John 10:25-29). Sin in the life of the believer affects his fellowship with the Father, not his salvation which is based upon Christ's righteousness, not his own (I John 1:5-10; Hebrews 12:6-13; I Corinthians 3:11-15).
VII. Eschatology
We embrace the doctrinal position known as Preterism. Preterism teaches that the second coming of Christ happened in AD 70 and was a judgment and removal of the Old Covenant system (heaven and earth), and it established fully the kingdom, the New Covenant (new heaven and earth) (Matthew 16:27-28, Matthew 24:34; II Corinthians 3:6-11; Galatians 4:21-31).
Article IV — Government
The government of this church is under the Lordship of Christ and the leadership of the Holy Spirit, as exercised through a Board of Elders comprised of those who the Lord has equipped to serve as Elders. The Elders may solicit assistance from any member individually, or as a formed group, as the Elder board sees fit to appoint.
In any event where the requirement of a minimum of two qualified persons from the board of Elders can not be met, then a leadership team consisting of a minimum of two men selected by the pastor as spiritually mature enough and possessing sufficient administrative skills to serve in a leadership position, may be formed to act in lieu of a board of Elders until a board of qualified elders may be formed.
Article V — Membership
Membership in the Berean Bible Church shall be the means whereby an individual confesses his faith in Yeshua Christ, commits himself to the covenantal commitments, agrees to articles 1-5 of the Statement of Faith, and entrusts himself to its spiritual care and counsel of the church.
Article VI — Covenantal Commitment
Section A — Introduction
The revelation of our God, as demonstrated by His love for us at Calvary, requires a response on our part. A part of this response in the Scriptures was often exemplified in the making of a covenant between one another. For this reason we have included a covenantal commitment for this local body of believers who serve as our brothers and sisters in the Lord. Through this commitment we acknowledge our desire to grow in obedience to God. We are concerned for both the physical and spiritual wellbeing of each other and are to encourage one another to serve Christ.
Section B — The Covenantal Commitment
Where we are placed in the church for service is a matter of God's sovereign leading in the believer's life, and is to be confirmed in the local church setting. The Scripture states that God places members in the body as it pleases Him (II Corinthians 12:18). God places us in local fellowship with His people so that we can live in covenant together, grow together, and support one another in the body of Christ. Privilege, responsibility, and accountability should be practiced and lived out in the local church. Because of this understanding, we practice the following covenantal commitment:
Members covenant with the Church to:
- Faithfully attend its services.
- Be aware of the church functions — locally, nationally, and internationally — and to support them in prayer.
- Share their Christian testimony by actions and words on a person-to-person basis.
- Support its work by the proportionate giving of their time, talent, and income.
- Encourage personal and family devotions.
- Walk in Christian harmony and watchfulness, giving and receiving assistance with affection.
- Pray for one another.
- Rejoice in the blessings and victories of each other.
- Help each other in sickness, sorrow, distress, trials, and tribulations.
- Walk together in Christian love, strive for the advancement of this church, and sustain its worship, discipline, and doctrine.
The Church covenants with its members to:
- Minister to their spiritual needs, especially through the expositional teaching of the Word.
- Assist them with Godly counsel, encouragement, and support.
- Provide them with opportunities for Christian fellowship.
- Provide guidance and counsel on spiritual issues, biblical education, family matters, and Godly living.
- Sustain them by the prayers and concern of Elders and fellow believers in any of the distressing circumstances of life.
- Serve as faithful stewards of all assets, time, and materials given for the ministry.
Being mindful of our own weaknesses and insufficiency, and knowing that of ourselves we can do nothing, we humbly implore and rely on God's help and guidance in our solemn endeavor to fulfill this covenant.
Article VII — Amendments
All changes shall be guided by a desire to reflect Biblical attitudes and principles, and improve an existing deficiency.
This constitution may be amended at a regularly scheduled Elder Board meeting provided:
- That notice of the proposed amendment, written in full, has been mailed or otherwise provided individually to all Elders, at least two weeks prior to the meeting to allow study or other preparation to be conducted prior to the issue being discussed or voted on.
- That the Board of Elders, by a unanimous decision, endorses the proposal.
Article VIII — Other
The Berean Bible Church is organized exclusively for religious, charitable, and educational purposes.
The term for which this organization is to exist is perpetual, except that upon dissolution of the Berean Bible Church, the Board of Elders shall:
- Pay or make provisions for the payment of all the liabilities of the Berean Bible Church.
- Dispose of all the church's assets in such a manner as deemed appropriate by the Board of Elders.