Heritage Bible Church

Monmouth, Illinois

 

 

Constitution and Covenant

 

We, the members of Heritage Bible Church, declare and establish this constitution and covenant to preserve and secure the principles of our faith and to govern the church body in an orderly manner. This constitution will preserve the liberties of each individual church member and the freedom of action of this body in relation to other churches.

 

Having been led 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 the Father and the Son and of the Holy Ghost, we do now in the presence of our Lord God, most solemnly and joyfully enter into covenant with one another as one body in Christ.  We praise God for His great salvation and his great creation.  We believe the Gospel is God’s good news for the whole world, and we are determined to obey the great commission of Jesus to proclaim it to all mankind.   We embrace the Grace of God and understand that it is unearned, underserved and unmerited favor from God which through strong faith and continued Christian action we apply ourselves in daily service to our Lord in thanks for His Grace.

 

 

 

PURPOSE

 

The purpose of Heritage Bible Church is to glorify God by obeying the Great Commandment (Matthew 22: 36-40) and the Great Commission (Matthew 28: 18-20). The process is designed to produce disciples of Jesus Christ which involves at least the following four categories.

 

1. Worship - (Celebrating) "To love God with all your heart..." (Matt. 22: 36-40)

2. Ministry - (Caring) "Love your neighbor as yourself..."(Matt. 22: 36-40)

3. Evangelism - (Cultivating) "Go... and make disciples..." (Matt. 28:18-20)

4. Discipleship - (Communicating) "Teach them to observe..."(Matt. 28:18-20)

 

Heritage Bible Church affirms the Holy Bible as the inspired Word of God and as the basis of all our beliefs and practices. No other document shall take precedence over the Holy Bible in the life, decisions, and governance of this church.

 

We affirm our belief in the one-eternal God, Creator and Lord of the world, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, who governs all things according to the purpose of His will.  We engage therefore by the aid of the Holy Spirit and the Grace of God to:

 

 

• Walk together in Christian love.

 

• To strive for the advancement Heritage Bible Church, in knowledge, holiness and comfort.

 

• To promote its prosperity and spirituality and sustain its worship, ordinances, discipline and doctrine.

 

• To contribute cheerfully and regularly to the support of the ministry, the expenses of the churc the relief of the poor and to spread the gospel in every way.

 

• To build up our Christian brethren to their full maturity in Christ through the teaching of God’s word.

 

• To equip Christians to serve Christ in the home, the community and the church.

 

• 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 also engage to maintain family and private devotions; 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, maligning, gossiping, and excessive anger; to be zealous in our effort to advance the Kingdom of our Savior.

 

 

 

STATEMENT OF FAITH

 

Heritage Bible Church hereby states and follows “A declaration of those things most surely believed among us.”---Luke 1:1

 

• We believe in the infallible verbal inspiration of the whole Bible.  (2 Timothy 3:16,17)

 

• The Triune God.  (Matthew 28:19)

 

• The Genesis account of Creation.  (Genesis 1-2)

 

• The Virgin birth of Jesus Christ.  (Matthew 1:20)

 

• The Deity of Jesus Christ. (John 10:30)

 

• The vicarious sacrifice of Jesus Christ. (Hebrews 2:9)

 

• That salvation is wholly by Grace through faith in Jesus Christ and that all believers are preserved eternally.  (Ephesians 2:8, 1 Peter 1:5, John 10: 27-30)

 

• The bodily resurrection and ascension of Jesus and the bodily resurrection of his Saints, the second coming of Jesus Christ in person and body to set up His kingdom and rule on earth.  (1 Corinthians 15, Acts 1:11, Revelation 20:6).

 

• The Bible doctrine of eternal punishment of the finally impenitent.  (Matthew 25:46)

 

• That marriage is a biblical institution established by God as described by Scripture. We believe the biblical ideal for marriage is the uniting of one man and one woman in covenant commitment. Accordingly, this church’s pastor and staff will not officiate in same-sex unions or same-sex marriages, nor will its property or resources be used for such purposes.

 

• That a Scriptural church is a visible assembly of baptized believers, covenanted together under New Testament law for the purpose of carrying out the Great Commission with an unbroken history from the personal ministry of our Lord Jesus Christ.

 

• The members of the church voluntarily band themselves together as a local body of baptized believers in Jesus Christ, personally committed to sharing the Good News of salvation with mankind.

 

• The ordinances of the church are believer’s baptism and the Lord’s Supper.

 

 

 

MEMBERSHIP

 

Membership in Heritage Bible Church shall consist of all persons who have met the requirements for membership, been approved by the congregation and are listed on the membership role.

 

Any person may request membership in Heritage Bible Church at any public worship service of the church. All such candidates shall be presented to the church for membership in any of the following ways:    

                                    

• By profession of faith and seeking baptism according to the policies of this church.

 

• By promise of letter of transfer from another church of like faith and order.

 

• By statement of faith when a letter of transfer from a church of like faith and order is not obtainable for some good reason.  Such a statement shall satisfy the church concerning the candidate’s prior conversion, baptism, and church relationship. 

 

• Membership by profession of faith shall be conditioned upon being baptized by immersion (unless physically unable) in a way that is acceptable to this church.   

 

• Election to membership shall be by a majority vote of the active members present and voting.

 

 

 

CHURCH GOVERNMENT

 

Be it noted that Heritage Bible Church is autonomous and maintains the right to govern its own affairs, independent of any denomination control.  Heritage Bible Church is organized and shall be operated exclusively for religious, charitable, and educational purposes within the meaning of Section 501(c) (3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 as amended (tax exempt non-profit), unless any law shall be repressive in scope and/or nature, that it is our duty to democratically oppose it on the basis of the right of free exercise of religious beliefs and peaceable assembly.

 

The government of Heritage Bible Church is vested in the body of believers who compose it. Persons duly received by the members shall constitute membership. All organizations created and empowered by the church shall report to and be accountable to the church. This church is not subject to the control of any other ecclesiastical body. This is a sovereign and democratic church under the Lordship of Jesus Christ.  The membership reserves unto itself the exclusive right of self-government in all phases of the spiritual and temporal life of the church.

 

 

 RECORDS AND REPORTING

 

Heritage Bible Church will maintain the following records and reports:

 

1. Adequate and correct books and records of accounts (financial records).

2. Minutes of the proceedings of its members in business church related meeting.

3. A record of its members, giving their names and addresses.

4. Contribution statements for contributors.

5. Reports of annual review of all church financial books, records, and proceedings.

 

 

CHURCH MEETINGS

 

• Regular worship services shall be held publicly on Sunday with other weekday evening meetings at the option of Heritage Bible Church.   Occasional exceptions may be made with church approval.

 

• The Lord’s Supper shall be celebrated at least quarterly on the dates and hour as may be determined by the Pastor, Elders and Deacons.   

      

• Revivals and other special worship services may be set from time to time as approved by the church.

 

 

AMENDMENTS AND ADDITIONS

 

Heritage Bible Church Constitution and Covenant changes including church management by-laws may be adopted or this Heritage Bible Church Constitution and Covenant may be amended or repealed by the affirmative vote of a two-thirds majority of the votes represented at a duly held meeting of the members.