SEPARATION OF CHURCH & STATE
We believe that the local New Testament church consists of an assembly of believers, who have been baptized by immersion, who have united together for the express purpose of fulfilling the “Great Commission” which consists of worship, evangelism, edification, fellowship, discipleship, and instruction. We believe that the officers of the Church are ordained pastors and deacons, whose qualifications, claims, and duties are clearly defined in the Scriptures (I Timothy 3:1-13; Titus 1:6-9). We believe that the Church observes two ordinances: baptism, and the Lord ‘s Supper (communion), and that they have no saving power. We hold that the local church has the absolute right of self-government, free from the interference of any hierarchy of individuals or organizations; and that Christ is the head of the Church and superintends over the work of the local church through the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 1:19-23).
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