Article I – Name
The name of this body shall be Redfield Missionary Baptist Church of Redfield, Arkansas.
Article II – Covenant
Having been led, as we believe by the Spirit of God, to receive the Lord Jesus Christ as our Savior, and on the profession of our faith, having been baptized in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, we do now, in the presence of God 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 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 secret devotion; to religiously educate our children; to seek the salvation of our kindred and acquaintances; to walk circumspectly in the world; to be just in our dealings, faithful in our engagements, and exemplary in our deportment; to avoid all tattling, backbiting, and excessive anger; to abstain from the sale of, and use of, destructive drugs or intoxicating drinks as a beverage; to shun pornography; to be zealous in our efforts to advance the kingdom of our Savior.
We further engage to watch over one another in brotherly love; to remember one another in prayer; to aid one another in sickness and distress; to cultivate Christian sympathy in feeling and Christian courtesy in speech; to be slow to take offense, but always ready for reconciliation and mindful of the rules of our Savior to secure it 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.
Article III – Doctrine
1. We believe that love one for another as Jesus loves the believer manifests our discipleship, proves our love for God and symbolizes our authority as New Testament churches. Love is therefore the great commandment of the LORD Jesus Christ upon which all others are dependent (Matthew 22:35-40; John 13:34-35; John 15:12; 1 John 4:7-21; 1 John 5:1-3; Revelation 2:4-5).
2. We believe in the infallible, verbal inspiration of the whole Bible and that the Bible is the all-sufficient rule of faith and practice (Psalm 119:160; 2 Timothy 3:16-17).
3. We believe in the personal triune God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, equal in divine perfection (Matthew 28:19).
4. We believe in the Genesis account of Creation (Genesis 1 & 2).
5. We believe that Satan is a fallen angel, the archenemy of God and man, the unholy god of this world, and that his destiny is the eternal lake of fire (Isaiah 14:12-15; Ezekiel 28:11-19; Matthew 25:41; 2 Corinthians 4:4; Ephesians 6:10-17; Revelation 20:10).
6. We believe in the virgin birth and sinless humanity of Jesus Christ (Matthew 1:18-20; 2 Corinthians 5:21; 1 Peter 2:22).
7. We believe in the deity of Jesus Christ (John 10:30; John 1:1, 14; 2 Corinthians 5:19).
8. We believe the Holy Spirit is the divine Administrator for Jesus Christ in His churches (Luke 24:49; John 14:16-17; Acts 1:4-5, 8; Acts 2:1-4).
9. We believe that miraculous spiritual manifestation gifts were done away when the Bible was completed. Faith, Hope and Love are the vital abiding Spiritual Gifts (1 Corinthains 12-14).
10. We believe that Man was created in the image of God and lived in innocency until he fell by voluntary transgression from his sinless state, the result being that all mankind are sinners (Genesis 1:26; Genesis 3:6-24; Romans 5:12, 19).
11. We believe that the suffering and death of Jesus Christ was substitutionary for all mankind and is efficacious only to those who believe (Isaiah 53:6; Hebrews 2:9; 1 Peter 2:24; 1 Peter 3:18; 2 Peter 3:9; 1 John 2:2).
12. We believe in the bodily resurrection and ascension of Christ and the bodily resurrection of His saints (Matthew 28:1-7; Acts 1:9-11; 1 Corinthians 15:42-58; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18).
13. We believe in the premillennial, personal, bodily return of Christ as the crowning event of the Gentile age. This event will include the resurrection of the righteous to eternal heaven, and the Millennium will be followed by the resurrection of the unrighteous unto eternal punishment in the lake of fire and that the righteous shall enter into the heaven age (John 14:1-6; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; 2 Thessalonians 2:8; Revelation 19; Revelation 20:4-6; Revelation 20:11-15; Revelation 21:8).
14. We believe that the depraved sinner is saved wholly by grace through faith in Jesus Christ, and the requisites to regeneration are repentance toward God and faith in the Lord Jesus Christ (Luke 13:3-5; John 3:16-18; Acts 20:21; Romans 6:23; Ephesians 2:8, 9), and that the Holy Spirit convicts sinners, regenerates, seals, secures, and indwells every believer (John 3:6; John 16:8, 9; Romans 8:9-11; 1 Corinthians 6:19, 20; Ephesians 4:30; Titus 3:5).
15. We believe that all who trust Jesus Christ for salvation are eternally secure in Him and shall not perish (John 3:36; John 5:24; John 10:27-30; Romans 8:35-39; Hebrews 10:39; 1 Peter 1:5).
16. We believe that God deals with believers as His children, that He chastises the disobedient, and that He rewards the obedient (Matthew 16:27; Matthew 25:14-23; John 1:12; Hebrews 12:5-11; 2 John 8; Revelation 22:12).
17. We believe that Jesus Christ established His church during His ministry on earth and that it is always a local, visible assembly of scripturally baptized believers in covenant relationship to carry out the Commission of the Lord Jesus Christ, and each church is an independent, self-governing body, and no other ecclesiastical body may exercise authority over it. We believe that Jesus Christ gave the Great Commission to the New Testament churches only, and that He promised the perpetuity of His churches (Matthew 4:18-22; Matthew 16:18; Matthew 28:19, 20; Mark 1:14-20; John 1:35-51; Ephesians 3:21).
18. We believe that there are two pictorial ordinances in the Lord's churches: Baptism and the Lord's Supper. Scriptural baptism is the immersion of penitent believers in water, administered by the authority of a New Testament church in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. The Lord's Supper is a memorial ordinance, restricted to the members of the church observing the ordinance (Matthew 28:19-20; Acts 8:12, 38; Romans 6:4; 1 Corinthians 5:11-13; 1 Corinthians 11:1-2, 17-20, 26).
19. We believe that there are two divinely appointed offices in a church, pastors and deacons, to be filled by men whose qualifications are set forth in Titus and 1 Timothy.
20. We believe that all associations, fellowships, and committees are, and properly should be, servants of, and under control of the churches (Matthew 20:25-28).
21. We believe in freedom of worship without interference from the government and affirm our belief in civil obedience, unless the laws and regulations of civil government run contrary to the Holy Scriptures (Romans 13:1-7; 1 Peter 2:13-15).
Article IV – Association
The government of this church is vested in the body of baptized believers who compose it. It is subject to the control of no other ecclesiastical body, however, we recognize our need of mutual counsel and cooperation with other churches of like faith and order.
We shall associate with the American Baptist Association on the national level, the State Association of Missionary Baptist Churches of
Article V – Membership
Section 1. Reception of Members.
Members may be received in the following manners:
(A) By profession of faith in Christ as Savior followed by immersion in water by the authority of this church;
(B) By letter of dismissal from another church of like faith and order;
(C) By statement, where a letter of dismissal is not available, it being determined that the person has been Scriptually baptized, and otherwise qualified for membership;
(D) By restoration, having been excluded from this church and giving evidence of repentance.
Before one shall be voted on for membership, he shall be examined as to his qualifications for membership as prescribed herein.
One shall be a member as soon as the church has voted to receive him and he has received scriptural baptism, and he may take of all the privileges of church membership until membership is terminated, or until charges are received against him.
Section 2. Termination of Membership.
Membership may be terminated as follows:
(A) By death;
(B) By letter of dismissal;
(C) By withdrawal of fellowship.
Section 3. Discipline of Members.
In matters of church discipline, we shall follow the scriptural procedure found in Matthew 18:15-19 and 1 Corinthians 5.
In matters involving the discipline of ordained ministers, and in unusual difficulties involving our fellowship with our sister churches, we shall consider the recommendation of a called council of ordained brethren before taking action.
Article VI - Officers and Leaders
The church shall recognize two offices, that of Pastor and Deacon, all others being referred to as Leaders. The church shall elect a Pastor, Deacons, Trustees, Clerk, Treasurer, and such other officers and leaders as shall be needed.
All officers and leaders shall be members of this church and shall deserve the respect of the church and such support as may be needed. All shall be responsible for the orderly conduct of services and functions under their leadership, subject to the approval of the church. They shall be expected to prepare themselves for their various duties, and make reports of the work under their leadership as required by the church.
This section shall not prohibit the election of a man as Pastor who is not a member of the church at the time of the election.
All officers and leaders shall be elected for a period of one year at any regular or called meeting of the church as the need arises. The Pastor and Trustees may be elected for an indefinite time. Any member of the church may nominate. In cases of election or dismissal of a Pastor, two weeks notice shall be given from the pulpit.
In the event a vacancy arises, the leader of a department, in counsel with the Pastor may appoint a substitute to fill the place vacated until the church shall elect.
Section 1. Pastor.
The qualifications of the pastor are set forth in the Scriptures (1 Timothy 3:1-7, Titus 1:6-9).
The Pastor shall be the leading officer of the church, in charge of all services and ordinances except as herein provided, moderator of all business meetings (except where his call, dismissal, or discipline may be involved), ex-officio counselor of all committees and departments of church work. In the event the pastor does not serve as moderator of business meetings, the church shall elect a moderator pro-tempore.
Section 2. Deacons.
The qualifications of deacons are set forth in 1 Timothy 3:8-13, and are to be followed. The church shall ordain deacons as the need arises. The deacons shall look after the temporal affairs of the church, the needy of the church, prepare and administer the ordinance of Communion, and unless otherwise provided, be in charge of usher service.
Section 3. Trustees.
The Trustees shall be the custodians of the property of the church, shall supervise the auditing of the books, and shall handle all legal transactions of the church. They shall have no power to buy, sell, lease, or transfer property without specific vote of the church authorizing such action. They shall have authority to incur Norman expenses for the maintenance and protection of church property. No alteration or sale of church property may be made without the approval of the church.
Section 4. Clerk.
The clerk shall keep a suitable record of the actions of the church, and report same as the church shall require. He shall keep a register of names and addresses of members, with dates of admission or dismissal. He shall notify all officers and leaders of their election or appointment, and members of actions against them. He shall be in charge of all correspondence for the church, unless otherwise provided. His record’s shall be the property of the church open to inspection by any authorized member, and the records shall be delivered to the clerk to succeed him.
Section 5. Treasurer.
The treasurer shall receive, hold and disburse all moneys and other securities belonging to the church as directed by the church. He shall keep a record of receipts and expenditures and report regularly as the church may require. He shall furnish bond if required, the cost of which shall be paid by the church. All records of the treasurer are the property of the church, open to inspection of any member with the approval of the church. The records shall be audited if necessary, by the trustees, and shall be delivered to the treasurer elected to succeed each incumbent.
Article VII – Meetings
Section 1. Meeting for Worship.
The church shall meet for public worship on the first day of the week, both morning and evening, on Wednesday evening for prayer, and at such other times as the church may determine.
Section 2. The Lord’s Supper.
The Lord’s Supper shall be observed by the members of the church on the evening of the first Sunday of each quarter.
Section 3. Baptism.
The church shall meet to administer baptism as the need arises. The place of meeting shall be determined by vote of the church. The pastor shall be the normal administrator, however, in extenuating cases any one the church may chose may serve as administrator.
Section 4. Meeting for Business.
At any of the regular meetings for worship, the church may, without special notice, act upon the reception of members and letters of dismissal, in accordance with Article V, and upon appointments and messengers of councils.
The regular meetings for business shall be held on the second Sunday evening of each month. Meetings may be rescheduled if necessary.
Special meetings for business may be called by the pastor, or by the clerk if requested in writing by not less that seven members, the particular object of the meeting being clearly stated in the notice which shall be given from the pulpit one week in advance.
Section 5. Voting.
All members of the church shall be entitled to vote on all matters, unless charges are pending against them. Except in amendment of the Constitution, all matters shall be determined by a simple majority vote of members present and voting. Voting shall be by aye and nay, show of hands, standing, or by ballot, as the church may determine.
Section 6. Rules of Order.
The order of business shall be as follows: prayer, reading of minutes, reception and dismissal of members, treasurers’ reports, other reports, unfinished business, new business, adjournment. If meetings cannot be conducted with order, then business shall be conducted according to Robert’s Rules of Order (edition of the current year).
Section 7. Property.
All property of the church shall be held in the name of the church. All deeds shall be properly recorded in the appropriate court house with deeds being kept in a bank safe deposit box or a locked fire proof safe.
Article VIII – Amendment
This constitution may be amended by two thirds of votes cast at a regular business meeting, notice of amendment having been given at a previous regular business meeting in writing, read from the pulpit on a morning service of the first day of the week, and posted on the bulletin board, or published in the church bulletin.
(Updated December 9, 2007)
