Constitution
PROPOSED CONSTITUTION
of
Narrow Gate Baptist Church, Inc.
Miami, Florida
PREAMBLE
We the members of the Narrow Gate Baptist Church, Inc. do ordain and establish the following Articles, to which we voluntarily and solemnly submit ourselves.
ARTICLE I: NAME
The name of this church shall be the Narrow Gate Baptist Church, Inc.
ARTICLE II: PURPOSE
The purpose of this church is to glorify the God of the Scriptures by maintaining and promoting His acceptable worship both individually and corporately, by evangelizing sinners, and by edifying His saints. Therefore, we are committed to the proclamation of God's perfect Law and of the glorious Gospel of His grace through all the world, to the defense of that "faith which was once delivered unto the saints" (Jude 3), and to the pure and faithful celebration of the ordinances of the New Covenant.
ARTICLE III: COVENANT
A. Introductory Statement
God has graciously established a New Covenant relationship with His believing people (Jer. 31:31-34; 32:40; Heb. 8:7-13; 10:16, 17; 13:20, 21). Christ Jesus is the Mediator of that New Covenant (Heb. 8:6) His blood is the blood of the New Covenant, which infallibly secures all the benefits of the covenant for all of God's people (Matt. 26:26-28; Heb. 13:20, 21). God has in this New Covenant made us members one of another (Rom. 12:4, 5; 1 Cor. 12:12-27; Eph. 4:25). Therefore, we have responsibilities to each other, as well as to God. God has promised in this New Covenant to write His laws in our hearts and to cause us to desire to walk in His ways (Rom 6:17,18). The motivation and ability to obey God's laws spring from the indwelling Holy Spirit imparted through regeneration of those who believe. It is by the enablement of the Holy Spirit that we obey, in loving gratitude for Christ's righteousness, which has been imputed to us, rather than trying to establish our own righteousness before God. We obey with the confidence that the end of Christ's death will be realized in us; that is, "that the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us" (Rom. 8:1-4) and that we should be a people "zealous for good works" (Titus 2:14). The following paragraphs are a summary of what we believe are our new covenant attributes and attitudes toward God and toward one another.
B. Summary of Our New Covenant Relationship (The Laws Written in Our Hearts)
We desire to worship only the one true and living God; Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, who has revealed Himself to us in the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments. We will declare His glory to the nations. We will have no other gods before Him.We desire to worship God in His appointed way and to exclude from our worship anything detrimental that He has not appointed.We desire not to use the name of our God frivolously or take it upon ourselves carelessly, but to walk in the paths of righteousness for His name sake.We desire to obey His instructions to set apart one day in every seven to rest from our regular endeavors and to devote ourselves to public worship and thanksgiving to God, for which He promises blessings in so doing. (Ex 20:8-11; Isa 58:13,14; Act 20:7; 1Cor 16:2; Heb 10:24,25)
We desire to honor and obey, within the bounds of scripture, all our superiors, whether in family, church, state, or business; and, if we should be superiors, to deal reasonably and lovingly with our subordinates and thus to teach them by word and example to fear God and keep His commandments.We desire to avoid whatever tends to defile us or our neighbors and to engage vigorously in all lawful endeavors to purify our own lives and the lives of others, especially by ready reconciliation and faithful exhortation in the church.We desire to possess our bodies in holiness as vessels joined to Christ and indwelt by the Holy Spirit and to avoid uncleanliness of thought, speech or action.We desire to be diligent in our vocations, that we may provide for our own households, avoid theft of time, money, or goods, and to have sufficient resources to give to him who has need.We desire to earnestly promote truth among men and to avoid anything that would pervert the truth or injure our neighbor's good name.We desire to be content with our own condition in life, to rejoice in the advancement of our neighbor, and to avoid envying or coveting anything that is his.
ARTICLE IV: ARTICLES OF FAITH
We have respect for various historic evangelical Creeds and Confessions of Faith, and are in general agreement with many. We are in complete agreement with the Southern Baptist Convention 2000 Baptist Faith and Message. We therefore acknowledge these historic documents, and often find them useful for assistance in controversy and edification of faith, however, because we acknowledge the written Word of God to be the supreme authority in all matters of faith, morals, and order, we therefore formally adopt only the 66 books of the canon of scripture as our doctrinal standards.
ARTICLE V: GOVERNMENT AFFILIATION
The government of Narrow Gate Baptist Church, Inc. is vested in the body of believers who compose it. It is subject to the control of no other ecclesiastical body, but it recognizes and sustains the obligations of mutual council and cooperation which are common among Baptist Churches. Narrow Gate Baptist Church, Inc. is in friendly and mutual cooperation with various Baptist organizations but we maintain no direct affiliations. As to order and procedures, Robert's Rules of Order, Revised Edition, shall constitute the authority for parliamentary rules of procedure for all business meetings of Narrow Gate Baptist Church, Inc.
ARTICLE VI: OWNERSHIP OF PROPERTY
Narrow Gate Baptist Church, Inc. has the right to own real and personal property, and all such property shall be held by the church and administered by the Board of Trustees. The Board of Trustees shall be constituted and have the power, authority, and duties as set forth in the By-laws.
ARTICLE VII: CONSTITUTIONAL AUTHORITY
A. Nature
This Constitution and its associated By-laws reflect an earnest and sincere attempt to apply the Scriptures in ordering the life of this local church. Furthermore, we as members of this church, including the elders, have solemnly committed ourselves to follow this Constitution and its By-laws in ordering the life of this church. Therefore, the demands of the ninth commandment, and the sanctity of truth in general, require that the elders and all of the members of this church make a sincere and earnest effort to abide by our mutual commitment.
B. Deficiencies
Only when we must obey God rather than the provisions of this Constitution and By-laws may their requirements be disregarded. If at any time a member of this church becomes aware that adherence to this Constitution or its By-laws would violate biblical principle, he should make this concern known to the elders. If the elders conclude that biblical principle requires temporary disregarding a provision of this Constitution or its By-laws, they are obligated to communicate this decision together with the reason(s) for their conclusion to the church within one month at a duly called meeting of the church. Furthermore, relevant amendments to this Constitution or the By-laws to correct such discrepancy must be submitted to the church and acted upon in accordance with the provisions of Section C within one year following this informational meeting. Special meetings may be called either by members or elders as needed to accomplish this task.
C. Amendments
Amendments to this Constitution and its By-laws may be adopted by three-fourths (3/4) of those voting at any regular church meeting or at a special meeting called for this purpose provided, in either case, that such proposed amendments shall be distributed in written form to the membership at least four (4) weeks prior to such a meeting.
ARTICLE VII: DISSOLUTION
In case of dissolution of Narrow Gate Baptist Church, Inc., which may only be accomplished through a regularly scheduled or specially called business meeting, and first having settled any and all valid claims of debts outstanding, then, any and all property and assets belonging to this church shall be given, granted and conveyed to one or more like minded active ministries, to missionary organizations, or other virtuous and godly Christian endeavors as deemed appropriate according to the will of a three-fourths (3/4) majority of the total eligible voting membership.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, Narrow Gate Baptist Church, Inc. has caused this instrument to be duly signed and adopted by its authorized officers this ______ day of , ____________, 20____.
By: ___________________________________
Elder
By: ___________________________________
Elder
By: ___________________________________
Elder