Victory Baptist Church Constitution

This congregation of believers shall be known as Victory Baptist Church, Inc.

(A) This congregation is organized as purposes within the meaning of Section 501 (c) (3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (or the corresponding provision of any future United States Revenue Law), including, but not limited to, for such purposes, the establishing and maintaining of religious worship, the building, maintaining and operating of churches, parsonages, schools, chapels, radio stations, television stations, rescue missions, print shops, day care centers, camps, nursing homes, and cemeteries, and any other ministries that the Church may be led of God to establish.

(B) The Church shall also ordain and license men to the Gospel ministry; evangelize the unsaved by the proclaiming of the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ; educate believers in a manner consistent with the requirements of Holy Scripture, both in Sunday and weekday schools of Christian education; maintain missionary activities in the United States and any foreign country; and engage in any other ministry that the Church may decide, from time to time, to pursue in obedience to the will of God.

(A) The Holy Scriptures

We believe the Holy Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments to be the verbally and plenary inspired Word of God. The Scriptures are inerrant, infallible and God-breathed, and therefore are the final authority for faith and life. The sixty-six books of the Old and New Testaments are the complete and divine revelation of God to Man. The Scriptures shall be interpreted according to their normal grammaticalhistorical meaning. The King James Version of the Bible shall be the official and only translation used by the Church.

(2 Tim. 3:16-17; 2 Pet. 1:20-21)

(B) Dispensationalism

We believe that the Scriptures interpreted in their natural, literal sense reveal divinely determined dispensations or rules of life, which define man's responsibilities in successive ages. These dispensations are not ways of salvation, but rather are divinely ordered stewardships by which God directs man according to His purpose. Three of these dispensations---the age of law, the age of 1 and the age of the kingdom--are the subjects of detailed revelation in Scripture.

(Gen. 1:28; 1 Cor 9:17; 2 Cor. 3:9-18; Gal. 3:13-25; Eph. 1:10; 3:2-10; Col. 1:24-25, 27; Rev. 20:2-6)

(C) The Godhead

We believe in one Triune God, eternally existing in three persons-Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, each coeternal in being, co-identical in nature, co-equal in power and glory, and having the same attributes and perfection.

(Deut 6:4; Matt 28:19:2 Cor. 13:14; John 14:10, 26)

(D) The Person and Work of Christ

(1) We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ, the eternal Son of God, became man, without ceasing to be God,having been conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary, in order that He might reveal Godand redeem sinful men.

(Isa. 7:14; 9:6; Luke 1:35; John 1:1-2, 14; 2 Cor. 5:19-21; Gal 4:4-5; Phil. 2:5-8)

(2) We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ accomplished our redemption through his death on the cross as a representative, representative, vicarious, substitutionary sacrifice, and, that our justification is made sure by His literal, physical resurrection from the dead.

(Acts 2:18-36; Rom. 3:24-25; 1 Peter 2:24; Eph. 1:7; 1 Peter 1:3-5)

(3) We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ ascended to Heaven, and is now exalted at the right hand of God, where, as our High Priest, He fulfills, the ministry of Representative, Intercessor, and Advocate.

(Acts 1:9-10; Heb. 9:24; 7:25; Rom. 8:34; 1 John 2:1-2)

(E) The Person and Work of the Holy Spirit

(1) We believe that the Holy Spirit is a person who convicts the world of sin, of righteousness, and of judgment; and, that He is the Supernatural Agent in regeneration, baptizing all believers into the body of Christ, indwelling and sealing them unto the day of redemption.

(John 16:8-11; Rom. 8:9; 1Cor. 12:12-14; 2Cor. 3:6; Eph. 1:13-14).

(2) We believe that He is the Divine Teacher who assists believers to understand and appropriate the Scriptures and that it is the privilege and duty of all the saved to be filled with the Spirit.

(Eph. 1:17-18; 5:18; 1 John 2:20, 27)

(3) We believe that God is sovereign in the bestowal of spiritual gifts to every believer. God uniquely uses evangelists, pastors, and teachers to equip believers in the assembly in order that they can do the work of the ministry.

(Rom. 12:3-8; 1 Cor. 12:4-11, 28;Eph. 4:7-12)

(4) We believe that the sign gifts of the Holy Spirit, such as speaking in tongues and the gift of healing was temporary. We believe that speaking in tongues was never the common or necessary sign of the baptism or filling of the Holy Spirit and that ultimate deliverance of the body from sickness or death awaits the consummation of our salvation in the resurrection, though God frequently chooses to answer the prayers of believers for physical healing.

(1 Cor. 1:22; 13:8; 14:21-22)

(F) The Total Depravity of Man

We believe that man was created in the image and likeness of God, but that in Adam's sin the human race fell, inherited a sinful nature, and became alienated from God; and, that man is totally depraved, and, of himself, utterly unable to remedy his lost condition.

(Gen. 1:26-27; Rom 3:22-23; 5:12; 6:23; Eph. 2:1-3; 4:17-19)

(G) Salvation

We believe that salvation is the gift of God brought to man by grace and received by personal faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, Whose precious blood was shed on Calvary for the forgiveness of our sins

(John 1:12; Eph. 1:7; 2:8-10; 1 Pet. 1:18-19)

(H) The Eternal Security and Assurance of Believers

(1) We believe that all the redeemed, once saved, are kept by God’s power and are thus secure in Christ forever.

(John 6:37-40; 10:27-30; Rom. 8:1, 38-39; 1 Cor. 1:4-8, 1 Pet. 1:4-5)

(2) We believe that it is the privilege of believers to rejoice in the assurance of their salvation through the testimony of God's Word, which, however, clearly forbids the use of Christian liberty as an occasion to the flesh

(Rom. 13:13-14; Gal. 5:13: Titus 2:11-15)

(I) The Church

(1) We believe that the local church, which is the body and the espoused bride of Christ, is solely made up of born-again persons.

(1 Cor. 12:12-14; 2 Cor. 11:2; Eph. 1:22-23; 5:25-27)

(2) We believe that the establishment and continuance of local churches is clearly taught and defined in the New Testament Scriptures

(Act 14:27; 20:17, 28-32; 1 Tim. 3:1-13; Titus 1:5-11)

(3) We believe in the autonomy of the local church free of any external authority or control

(Acts 13:1-4; 15:19-31; 20:28; Rom. 16:1, 4; 1 Cor. 3:9, 16; 5:4-7,13; 1 Peter 5:1-4)

(4) We recognize water baptism and the Lord's Supper as the Scriptural ordinances of obedience for the Church in this age.

(Matt. 28:19-20; Acts 2:41-42; 18:18; 1 Cor. 11:23-26)

(J) Separation

We believe that all the saved should live in such a manner as not to bring reproach upon their Savior and Lord; and, that separation from all religious apostasy, all worldly and sinful pleasures, practices and associations is commanded of God

(Rom. 12:1-2; 14:13; 2 Cor. 6:14-7:1; 2 Tim. 3:1-5; 1 John 2:15-17; 2 John 9-11)

(K) The Second Advent of Christ

We believe in that "blessed hope," the personal, imminent return of Christ Who will rapture His Church prior to the seven-year tribulation period. At the end of the Tribulation Christ will personally and visibly return, with HIS saints, to establish His earthly Messianic Kingdom which was promised to the Nation of Israel.

(Ps. 89:3-4; Dan. 2:31-45; Zech. 14:4-11; I Thess. 1:10; 1 Thess. 4; 13-18; Titus 2:13; Rev. 3:10; 19:11-16; 20:1-6)

(L) The Eternal State

(1) We believe in the bodily resurrection of all men, the saved to eternal life, and the unsaved to judgment and everlasting punishment

(Matt. 25:46; John 5:28, 29; 11:25-26; Rev. 20:5-6, 12-13)

(2) We believe that the souls of the redeemed are, at death, absent from the body and present with the Lord, where in conscious bliss they await the first resurrection, when spirit, soul, and body are reunited to be glorified forever with the Lord.

(Luke 23:43; 2 Cor. 5:8; Phil. 1:23; 3:21; I Thess. 4:16-17; Rev. 20:4-6)

(3) We believe that the souls of unbelievers remain, after death, in conscious punishment and torment until the second resurrection. When with soul and body reunited they shall appear at the Great White Throne of Judgment, and shall be cast into the Lake of fire, not to be annihilated, but to suffer everlasting conscious punishment and torment.

(Matt. 25:41-46; Mark 9:43-48; Luke 16:19-26; 2 Thess. 1:7-9; Jude 6-7; Rev. 20:11-15)

(M) The Personality of Satan

We believe that Satan is a person, the author of sin and the cause of the Fall of Man; that he is the open and declared enemy of God and man; and that he shall be eternally punished in the Lake of Fire.

(Job 1: 6-7; Isa. 14:12-17; Matt. 4:2-11; 25:41; Rev. 20:10)

(N) Creation

We believe that God created the universe in six literal, 24-hour periods. We reject evolution, the Gap Theory, the Day-Age Theory, and Theistic Evolution as unscriptural theories of origin.

(Genesis 1-2; Ex. 20:11)

(O) Civil Government

We believe that God has ordained and created all authority consisting of three basic institutions: 1) the home, 2) the Church, and 3) the state. Every person is subject to these authorities but all, (including the authorities themselves) are answerable to God and governed by His Word. God has given each institution specific Biblical responsibilities and balanced those responsibilities with the understanding that no institution has the right to infringe upon the other. The home, the Church, and the state are equal and sovereign in their respective Biblically assigned spheres of responsibility under God.

(Rom. 13:1-7; Eph. 5:22-24; Heb. 13:17; 1 Pet. 2:13-14)

(P) Human Sexuality

We believe that God has commanded that no intimate sexual activity should be engaged in outside of a 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.

(Gen. 2:24; Gen. 19:5, 13; Gen. 26:8-9; Lev. 18:1-30; Rom 1: 26-29; 1 Cor. 5:1; 6:9; 1 Thess. 4:1-8; Heb. 13:4)

(Q) Behavior

We believe that God requires those in positions of leadership in the church be of moral behavior and condemns immoral behavior. Therefore, no person involved in the active practice of homosexuality, lesbianism, bisexuality, bestiality, incest, fornication, adultery and pornography to name a few will be allowed to fill or maintain a position of leadership in the church.

(1 Tim. 3:1-16, Lev. 18:22-24, Rom. 1:26-32, Heb. 13.4)

(R) Marriage

Marriage is defined and recognized only as a holy union between a man and a woman.

(Matthew 19:4-5; Mark 10:6-8; 1 Corinthians 7:4-5)

(S) Divorce and Remarriage

We believe that God hates divorce and intends marriage to last until one of the spouses’ dies. Divorce and remarriage is regarded as adultery except on the grounds of fornication. Although divorced and remarried persons or divorced persons may hold positions of service in the Church and be greatly used of God for Christian service, they may not be considered for the offices of pastor or deacon.

(Mal. 2:14-17; Matt. 19:3-12; Rom. 7:1-3; 1 Tim. 3:2, 12, Titus 1.6)

(T) Abortion

We believe that human life begins at conception and that the unborn child is a living human being. Abortion constitutes the unjustified, unexcused taking of unborn human life. Abortion is murder. We reject any teaching that abortions of pregnancies due to rape, incest, birth defects, gender selection, birth or population control, or the mental well-being of the mother are acceptable.

(Job 3:16;Psalms 51:5; 139:14-16: Isa. 44:24; 49:1, 5; Jer. 1:5; 20:15-18; Luke 1:44)

(U) Missions

We believe that God has given the Church a Great Commission to proclaim the Gospel to all nations so that there might be a great multitude from every nation, tribe, ethnic group, and language group who believe on the Lord Jesus Christ. As ambassadors of Christ we must use all available means to go to the foreign nations and not wait for them to come to us.

(Matt. 28:19-20; Mark 16:15; Luke 24:46-48; John 20:21; Acts 1:8; 2 Cor. 5:20)

(V) Lawsuits Between Christians

We believe that Christians are prohibited from bringing civil lawsuits against other Christians or the Church to resolve personal disputes. We believe the Church possesses all the resources necessary to resolve personal disputes between members. We do believe, however, that a Christian may seek compensation for injuries from another Christian’s insurance company as long as the claim is pursued without malice or slander

(1 Cor. 6:1-8; Eph. 4:31-32)

(W) Giving

We believe that every Christian, as a steward of that portion of God’s wealth entrusted to him, is obligated to support his local church financially. We believe that God has established the tithe as a basis for giving but that every Christian should also give other offerings sacrificially and cheerfully to the support of the Church, the relief of those in need, and the spread of the Gospel. We believe that a Christian relinquishes all rights to direct the use of the tithe or offering once the gift has been made

(Gen. 14:20; Prov. 3:9-10; Acts 4:34-37; 1 Cor. 16:2; 2 Cor. 9:6-7; Gal. 6:6; Eph. 4:28; 1 Tim. 5:17-18; 1 John 3:17)

The Statement of Faith does not exhaust the extent of our faith. The Bible itself is the sole and final source of all that we believe. We do believe, however, that the foregoing Statement of Faith accurately represents the teaching of the Bible, and therefore, is binding upon all members.

Having been led, as we believe, by the Spirit of God, to receive the Lord Jesus Christ as our Saviour, and on profession of our faith, having been baptized in the name of our Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, we do now, in the presence of God, angels, and this assembly, most solemnly and joyfully enter into covenant with one another, as one body in Christ.

We engage, therefore, by the aid of the Holy Spirit, to walk together in Christian love; to strive for the advancement of this Church in knowledge, holiness and comfort; to promote its prosperity and spirituality; to sustain its worship, ordinances, discipline and doctrines; to give it a sacred preeminence over all institutions of human origin; to contribute cheerfully and regularly to the support of the ministry, the expenses of the Church, the relief of the poor, and the spread of the Gospel through all nations.

We also engage to maintain family and private devotions; to religiously educate our children; to seek the salvation of our kindred, acquaintances, and all others; to walk circumspectly in the world; to be just. We believe that the Scriptures interpreted in their natural, liters purpose. Three of these dispensations---the age of law, the age of 1 and the age of the kingdom--are the subjects of detailed revelation in Scripture

(Gen. 1:28; 1 Cor 9:17; 2 Cor. 3:9-1

our dealings, faithful to our engagements, and exemplary in our deportment; to avoid all tattling, backbiting, and excessive anger; to abstain from worldly amusements such as movie attendance, gambling, rock music, and dancing; to be free from all oath-bound secret societies and partnerships with unbelievers; to abstain from the sale of use of tobacco in any from, narcotic drugs, or intoxicating drink as a beverage; and to be zealous in our efforts to advance the kingdom of our Saviour.

We further engage to watch over one another in brotherly love; to remember each other in prayer; to aid each other in sickness and distress; to cultivate Christian sympathy in feeling and courtesy of speech; to be slow to take offense, but always ready for reconciliation, and mindful of the rules of our Savior, to secure reconciliation without delay.

We moreover engage that when we remove from this place, we will as soon as possible, unite with some other Church where we can carry out the spirit of this covenant and the principles of God’s Word.

Upon a majority vote of the members present at any Church service or meeting, membership shall be extended to all who have had and whose lives evidence a genuine experience of regeneration through faith in and acceptance of the Lord Jesus Christ as personal Saviour; who renounce sin; who endeavor to live a consecrated life wholly unto the Lord; who fully subscribe to the Statement of Faith contained herein; and who enter into the Church covenant contained herein; and upon compliance with any one of the following conditions:

(A) By baptism (immersion) as a true believer in Christ Jesus as personal Saviour;

(B) By letter of transfer from another Bible-believing church of like faith and practice, or other writte statement of good standing from the prior church if the applicant has been baptized by immersion subsequent to a profession of faith;

(C) By testimony of faith, having been baptized by immersion; or

(D) By restoration, if having been removed from membership, upon majority vote of the congregation after confession is made publicly before the Church membership of the sin or sins involved, and satisfactorily evidencing repentance to the Pastor (or the Board of Deacons if the office of Pastor is vacant).

On becoming a member of this Church, in addition to the covenant contained in Article II, Section 3, each one further covenants to love, honor, and esteem the Pastor; to pray for him; and to recognize his authority in spiritual affairs of the Church; to cherish a brotherly love for all members of the Church; to support the Church in prayer, tithes, offerings and with other financial support as the Lord enables; and in accordance with Biblical commands to support through a life-style walk affirmation of the beliefs and practices of the Church.

This congregation functions, not as a pure democracy, but as a body under the Headship of the Lord Jesus Christ and the direction of the Pastor as the under shepherd with the counsel of the Board of Deacons. Membership in the Church does not afford those individuals with any property, contract, or civil rights based on principles of democratic government. Determinations of the internal affairs of this Church are ecclesiastical matters and shall be determined exclusively by the Church’s own rules and procedures. The Pastor shall oversee and/or conduct all aspects of this Church. The Board of Deacons shall give counsel and assistance to the Pastor as requested by him. The membership of the Church has certain limited areas of exercising a vote. Members may not vote to initiate any Church action, but rather the vote of a member is to confirm and ratify the direction of the Church as determined by the Pastor.

(A) There shall be a Discipline Committee consisting of the Pastor and the Board of Deacons. These men shall have sole authority in determining heretical deviations from the Statement of Faith and violations of the Church Covenant. If the Pastor or a deacon is the subject of a disciplinary matter, he shall not sit as member of the Discipline Committee. He shall be entitled to the same steps as other Church members and be subject to the same discipline.

(B) Members are expected to demonstrate special loyalty and concern for one another. When a member becomes aware of an offense of such magnitude that it hinders spiritual growth and testimony, he is to go alone to the offending party and seek to restore his brother. Before he goes, he should first examine himself. When he goes, he should go with a spirit of humility and have the goal of restoration.

(C) If reconciliation is not reached, a second member, either a deacon or the Pastor is to accompany the one seeking to resolve the matter. This second step should also be preceded by self-examination, and exercised in a spirit of humility with the goal of restoration.

(D) If the matter is still unresolved after the steps outlined in subsections (B) and (C) have been taken, the Discipline Committee, as the Church representatives biblically responsible for putting down murmuring, shall hear the matter. If the matter is not resolved during the hearing before the Discipline Committee, the Committee shall recommend to the members of the Church that they, after self-examination, make an effort personally to go to the offending member and seek that member's restoration.

(E) If the matter is still unresolved after the steps outlined in subsections (B), (C) and (D) have been taken, such members who refuse to repent and be restored are to be remove from the membership of the Church upon a majority vote of the membership present at meeting called for the purpose of considering disciplinary action.

(F) No matter may be heard by the Discipline Committee or the Church unless the steps outline in subsections (B) and (C) have been taken, except in the case of a public offense.

(G) If an unrepentant offending party is removed from the Church membership, all contact with him from that point forward must be for the sack of restoration (except family members).

Members, not under the disciplining process of Section 4, may request that letters of transfer be sent to another church.

(A) The membership of any individual member shall be automatically terminated without notice if the member in question has not attended a regular worship service of the Church in the preceding six months. Upon good cause being shown to the Pastor, this provision for termination may be waived in the case of any individual member at the discretion of the Pastor.

(B) No member of this Church may hold membership in another church. If any member unites in membership with another church, that person is automatically terminated without notice from membership in this Church.

(C) A member may resign at any time, but no letter of transfer or written statement of good standing will be issued upon such resignation, except at the discretion of the Pastor.

The Church officers are Pastor (see Article V, Section 1), deacon (see Article V, Section 2), minister of records (see Article V, Section 3), minister of finance (see Article V, Section 4), minister of Sunday school (see Article V, Section 5), and minister of hospitality (see Article V, Section 6). One person may hold two or more offices, except that of Pastor. The Pastor, from time to time, as he deems appropriate, may appoint other Church officers, subject to a confirmation vote of the Church membership.

As an accommodation to legal relationships outside the Church the Pastor shall serve as president of the corporation; the minister of records shall serve as secretary of the corporation; the minister of finances shall serve as treasurer of the corporation; and the chairman of the board of deacons shall serve as vice president of the corporation.

As an accommodation to legal relationships outside the Church the Pastor shall serve as president of the corporation; the minister of records shall serve as secretary of the corporation; the minister of finances shall serve as treasurer of the corporation; and the chairman of the board of deacons shall serve as vice president of the corporation.

(A) All Church officers shall affirm their agreement with the Statement of Faith (as set forth in Article II) annually in the presence of each other.

(B) All Church officers must be approved initially and thereafter annually by the Pastor in order for them to commence or continue in their offices.

(C) Only Church members are eligible for election or appointment to any Church office or position.

The length of terms of office shall be as follow:

(A) The relationship between the Pastor and the Church shall be permanent unless dissolved at the option of either party by the giving of a month’s notice, or less by mutual consent. The severance of the relationship between the Pastor and the Church may be considered at any regular Church administration meeting, provided notice to that effect shall have been given from the pulpit to the Church two Sundays prior to said regular Church administration meeting. A three-fourths majority of the members present and voting shall be required to decide the matter. Disciplinary removal of the Pastor from office automatically terminates his membership. A restoration to membership after disciplinary removal will be subject to the requirements of Article II, Section 1(D).

(B) The term of service for all offices and positions in the Church, except the Pastor, shall be one year, at the expiration of which they may be re-elected or re-appointed.

(C) A vacancy occurring in any office or board, except in the case of the Pastor, may be filled at any regular Church administration meeting.

(D) All elected and appointed officers shall serve in their respective offices until their successors are duly elected or appointed.

The annual election of officers by the Church membership shall occur during the month of December at the annual Church administration meeting.

(A) Subject to the approval of the Church membership and on the condition that they shall become a member of the Church upon assuming their duties, the Pastor may select a non-member to assist the Pastor in carrying out his God-given responsibilities.

(B) All Church staff, whether paid or volunteer, shall be under the supervision of the Pastor who has the sole authority to hire, appoint, or dismiss the same.

The Church officers are Pastor (see Article V, Section 1), deacon (see Article V, Section 2), minister of records (see Article V, Section 3), minister of finance (see Article V, Section 4), minister of Sunday school (see Article V, Section 5), and minister of hospitality (see Article V, Section 6). One person may hold two or more offices, except that of Pastor. The Pastor, from time to time, as he deems appropriate, may appoint other Church officers, subject to a confirmation vote of the Church membership.