Having been led by the Holy Spirit of God to receive Jesus Christ as Savior and to confess Him as Lord, and on confession of this 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 covenant with one another, as one body in Christ, to lead a life worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to Him.
FOR THE ADVANCEMENT OF THIS CHURCH
We promise by the aid of the Holy Spirit, to forsake the ways of sin and to walk together in Christian love and in the paths of righteousness. With this in view we engage to strive together for both the peace and purity of this Church; to sustain its worship and steadfastly to cherish and hold its ordinances, discipline, and doctrines.
AS CHRISTIAN STEWARDS
We promise to contribute, as faithful stewards, such time, talent, and money in the measure that God prospers each of us, that the responsibility for the work of the local church and the worldwide ministry of spreading the gospel be faithfully and effectively discharged.
ALONE AND AT HOME
We also engage to maintain family and private devotions; to teach the Bible to our children; to seek the salvation of our kindred and acquaintances.
BEFORE THE WORLD
It is our desire to be just in our dealings and faithful in our engagements; to be exemplary in our deportment; to avoid unkind words, unrighteous anger, and harmful habits; to combine zeal and knowledge in our efforts to advance the cause of our Savior; and to make Christ first in all things both spiritual and temporal.
TOWARD ONE ANOTHER
We further engage to give and receive admonition with meekness and affection; to remember each other in prayer, and to aid each other in case of sickness and distress; to cultivate Christian sympathy in feeling and courtesy in speech; to be slow to take offense, but always ready for reconciliation, and mindful of the Scripture, to seek it without delay, to encourage one another in the blessed hope of our Lord's return.
WHEN WE MOVE
We moreover engage that when we move from this place, we will as soon as possible unite with some local church where we can carry out the spirit of this covenant and the principles of the Word of God.
THE WORD OF GOD
We believe that the Bible is the Word of God, fully inspired and without error in the original manuscripts, written under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, and that it has supreme authority in all matters of faith and conduct. (John 17:17; Romans 14:4; II Timothy 3:16-17; II Peter 1:19-21)
THE TRINITY
We believe that there is one living and true God, eternally existing in three persons; that these are equal in every divine perfection, and that they execute distinct but harmonious offices in the work of creation, providence, and redemption. (Matthew 28:19; John 1:1-4; I John 5:7)
GOD THE FATHER
We believe in God, the Father, an infinite personal spirit, perfect in holiness, wisdom, power, and love. We believe that He concerns Himself mercifully in the affairs of men, that He hears and answers prayer, and that He saves from sin and death all who come to Him through Jesus Christ. (John 3:16-17; John 4:24; John 17:5)
JESUS CHRIST
We believe in Jesus Christ, God's only begotten Son, conceived by the Holy Spirit. We believe in His virgin birth, sinless life, miracles, and teachings. We believe in His substitutionary atoning death, bodily resurrection, ascension into heaven, perpetual intercession for His people, and personal visible return to earth. (Isaiah 7:14; John 1:14; Philippians 2:5-11; Hebrews 1:2-3; I John 1:7)
THE HOLY SPIRIT
We believe in the Holy Spirit who came forth from the Father and Son to convict the world of sin, righteousness, and judgment, and to regenerate, sanctify, and empower all who believe in Jesus Christ. We believe that the Holy Spirit indwells every believer in Christ, and that He is an abiding helper, teacher, and guide. (John 14:26; John 16:7-15; Romans 8:14-17; Ephesians 1:13-14)
REGENERATION
We believe that all men are sinners by nature and by choice and are, therefore, under condemnation. We believe that those who repent of their unbelief and sin and trust in Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord are regenerated by the Holy Spirit. (John 1:12-13; John 3:3, 16-17; Acts 20:21; Ephesians 2:1-9; Titus 3:5)
THE CHURCH
We believe in the universal church, a living spiritual body of which Christ is the head and all regenerated persons are members. We believe in the local church, consisting of a company of believers in Jesus Christ, baptized on credible profession of faith, and associated for worship, work, and fellowship. We believe that God has laid upon the members of the local church the primary task of giving the Gospel of Jesus Christ to a lost world. (Matthew 16:16-18; Acts 2:38-41; Ephesians 2:19-22; Ephesians 5:25-27)
CHRISTIAN CONDUCT
We believe that a Christian should live for the glory of God and the well-being of his fellowmen; that his conduct should be blameless before the world; that he should be a faithful steward of his possessions; and that he should seek to realize for himself and others the full stature of maturity in Christ. (II Corinthians 9:6-8; Ephesians 4:11-16; Philippians 2:14-16; Colossians 3:17-23; I Thessalonians 5:17-18)
THE ORDINANCES
We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ has committed two ordinances to the local church - baptism and the Lord's Supper. We believe that Christian baptism is the immersion of a believer into water in the name of the triune God. We believe that the Lord's Supper was instituted by Christ for commemoration of His death. We believe that these two ordinances should be observed and administered until the return of the Lord Jesus Christ. (Matthew 28:18-20; Acts 2:41-42; Romans 6:3-5; I Corinthians 11:23-32)
RELIGIOUS LIBERTY
We believe that every human being is responsibile to God in all matters of faith; that each church is independent and must be free from interference by any ecclesiastical or political authority; that therefore Church and State must be kept separate as having different functions, each fulfilling its duties free from dictation or patronage of the other.
CHURCH COOPERATION
We believe that local churches can best promote the cause of Jesus Christ by cooperating with one another in a denominational organization. Such an organization, whether regional or district conference, exists and functions by the will of the churches. Cooperation in a conference is voluntary and may be terminated at any time. Churches may likewise cooperate with inter-denominational fellowships on a voluntary, independent basis.
THE LAST THINGS
We believe in the personal and visible return of the Lord Jesus Christ to earth and the establishment of His kingdom. We believe in the resurrection of the body, the final judgment, the eternal felicity of the righteous, and the endless suffering of the wicked. (John 5:28-29; Revelation 20:1-15; II Corinthians 5:10; Matthew 25:31-46)