STATEMENT OF BELIEFS
STATEMENT OF FAITH1. We believe in the plenary verbal inspiration and inerrancy of the whole Bible as originally written and that the Bible is the all sufficient rule of faith and practice (Psalm 119:160; II Timothy 3:16-17).
2. We believe in the personal triune God: God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit, equal in divine perfection (Matthew. 28:19; Romans 1:20).
3. We believe in the Genesis account of creation (Genesis 1:1-2).
4. 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 15:41; II Corinthians 4:4; Ephesians 6:10-17; Revelation 20:10).
5. We believe in the virgin birth and humanity of Jesus Christ (Matthew 1:18-25; Isaiah 7:14).
6. We believe in the deity of Jesus Christ (John 10:30; Hebrews 1:8-9).
7. We believe the Holy Spirit is the divine administrator for Jesus Christ in His churches (Luke 24:49; John 14:16-17; John 16:13; Acts 1:4, 5, 8).
8. We believe that miraculous spiritual gifts were done away when the Bible was completed and that only three spiritual gifts remain: faith, hope and love (I Corinthians 13:3-13; Ephesians 4:7-14).
9. 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 now sinners (Genesis 1:26; Genesis 3:6-24; Romans 5:12-19).
10. We believe that the suffering and death of Jesus Christ was substitutionary and sufficient for all mankind (Isaiah 53:6; Hebrews 2:9; I Peter 3:18; II Peter 3:9; I John 2:2).
11. We believe in the premillennial, personal bodily return of Jesus Christ as the crowning event of the Gentile age. This event will include the resurrection of the righteous and the marriage of Christ to His glorious Bride the Church and the millennium will be followed by the resurrection of the unrighteous into eternal punishment in the lake of fire (John 14:1-6; I Thessalonians 4:13-18; II Thessalonians 2:8; Revelation 19:1-21; Revelation 20:4-6; Revelation 20:11-15; Revelation 21:8).
12. We believe that the depraved alien 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, regenerates, seals, secures and indwells every believer (John 3:6; John 16:8-9; Romans 8:9-11; I Corinthians 6:19-20; Ephesians 4:30; Titus 3:5).
13. We believe that all who trust Jesus Christ for salvation are eternally secure and will persevere in Him and will not perish (John 3:36; John 5:24; John 10: 27-30; Romans 8:35-39; Hebrews 10:39; I Peter 1:5).
14. 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; II John 8; Revelation 22:12).
15. We believe that Jesus Christ established His church during His ministry on earth and that it always is a local, visible assembly of scripturally baptized believers meeting together 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 her. She is not to be confused with the family of God consisting of all the saved (Ephesians 3:15). We believe that Jesus Christ gave the Great Commission to New Testament Churches only and that he promised the perpetuity of His churches (Matthew 4:18-22; Matthew 16:18; Matthew 18:15-18; Matthew 28:18-20; Mark 1:14-20; John 1:35-51; Ephesians 3:21).
16. 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, and administered by the authority of a New Testament Church in the name of the Trinity. The Lord’s Supper is a memorial ordinance, restricted to the members of the church observing the ordinance. The elements of which are to be the unfermented fruit of the vine and the unleavened bread, which picture His shed blood and broken body (Matthew 28:19-20; Acts 8:12, 38; Romans 6:4; I Corinthians 11:1-2; I Corinthians 11:17-20, 26). (It is the duty of an ordained minister to administer the ordinances of the Gospel as God’s word presents.)
17. 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 I Timothy.
18. We believe the Great Commission was given to a local, visible church only; and that in kingdom activities the church is the only unit in associational work and all cooperating bodies (associations, committees, etc.) are and should be the servants of and under control of churches. Also, each church should exercise equal authority and should meet her responsibilities according to her several abilities (Matthew 20:25-28).
19. We believe in the separation of church and state (Matthew 22:21) and affirm our belief in civil obedience (Romans 13:1-7; I Peter 2:13-15).
20. We believe the Bible definition of marriage is the union between a man and a woman (Gen. 2:21-24; Matt. 19:4-6; Mark 10:6-9; 1 Cor. 7:2-4; Eph. 5:22-31
2. We believe in the personal triune God: God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit, equal in divine perfection (Matthew. 28:19; Romans 1:20).
3. We believe in the Genesis account of creation (Genesis 1:1-2).
4. 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 15:41; II Corinthians 4:4; Ephesians 6:10-17; Revelation 20:10).
5. We believe in the virgin birth and humanity of Jesus Christ (Matthew 1:18-25; Isaiah 7:14).
6. We believe in the deity of Jesus Christ (John 10:30; Hebrews 1:8-9).
7. We believe the Holy Spirit is the divine administrator for Jesus Christ in His churches (Luke 24:49; John 14:16-17; John 16:13; Acts 1:4, 5, 8).
8. We believe that miraculous spiritual gifts were done away when the Bible was completed and that only three spiritual gifts remain: faith, hope and love (I Corinthians 13:3-13; Ephesians 4:7-14).
9. 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 now sinners (Genesis 1:26; Genesis 3:6-24; Romans 5:12-19).
10. We believe that the suffering and death of Jesus Christ was substitutionary and sufficient for all mankind (Isaiah 53:6; Hebrews 2:9; I Peter 3:18; II Peter 3:9; I John 2:2).
11. We believe in the premillennial, personal bodily return of Jesus Christ as the crowning event of the Gentile age. This event will include the resurrection of the righteous and the marriage of Christ to His glorious Bride the Church and the millennium will be followed by the resurrection of the unrighteous into eternal punishment in the lake of fire (John 14:1-6; I Thessalonians 4:13-18; II Thessalonians 2:8; Revelation 19:1-21; Revelation 20:4-6; Revelation 20:11-15; Revelation 21:8).
12. We believe that the depraved alien 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, regenerates, seals, secures and indwells every believer (John 3:6; John 16:8-9; Romans 8:9-11; I Corinthians 6:19-20; Ephesians 4:30; Titus 3:5).
13. We believe that all who trust Jesus Christ for salvation are eternally secure and will persevere in Him and will not perish (John 3:36; John 5:24; John 10: 27-30; Romans 8:35-39; Hebrews 10:39; I Peter 1:5).
14. 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; II John 8; Revelation 22:12).
15. We believe that Jesus Christ established His church during His ministry on earth and that it always is a local, visible assembly of scripturally baptized believers meeting together 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 her. She is not to be confused with the family of God consisting of all the saved (Ephesians 3:15). We believe that Jesus Christ gave the Great Commission to New Testament Churches only and that he promised the perpetuity of His churches (Matthew 4:18-22; Matthew 16:18; Matthew 18:15-18; Matthew 28:18-20; Mark 1:14-20; John 1:35-51; Ephesians 3:21).
16. 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, and administered by the authority of a New Testament Church in the name of the Trinity. The Lord’s Supper is a memorial ordinance, restricted to the members of the church observing the ordinance. The elements of which are to be the unfermented fruit of the vine and the unleavened bread, which picture His shed blood and broken body (Matthew 28:19-20; Acts 8:12, 38; Romans 6:4; I Corinthians 11:1-2; I Corinthians 11:17-20, 26). (It is the duty of an ordained minister to administer the ordinances of the Gospel as God’s word presents.)
17. 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 I Timothy.
18. We believe the Great Commission was given to a local, visible church only; and that in kingdom activities the church is the only unit in associational work and all cooperating bodies (associations, committees, etc.) are and should be the servants of and under control of churches. Also, each church should exercise equal authority and should meet her responsibilities according to her several abilities (Matthew 20:25-28).
19. We believe in the separation of church and state (Matthew 22:21) and affirm our belief in civil obedience (Romans 13:1-7; I Peter 2:13-15).
20. We believe the Bible definition of marriage is the union between a man and a woman (Gen. 2:21-24; Matt. 19:4-6; Mark 10:6-9; 1 Cor. 7:2-4; Eph. 5:22-31
ARTICLES OF AGREEMENT
PREAMBLE
With faith in God and unquestioning acceptance of the Bible as the word of God and sole rule of faith and practice, we offer to all Missionary Baptist churches of Christ the following Articles of Agreement.
ARTICLE 1
NAME
NAME
The Oregon State Association of Missionary Baptist Churches.
ARTICLE 2
OBJECT
OBJECT
The object of the association is to encourage cooperation in christian activity among the churches, to promote interest in and encourage missions on a New Testament basis among all people, to stimulate interest in christian literature, general benevolence and christian education, to provide a medium through which churches may cooperate in these enterprises.
ARTICLE 3
MEMBERS
MEMBERS
Section 1. This association shall be composed of Missionary Baptist Churches as defined in Number 15 of our Statement of Faith.
Section 2. Each church associating in this association is entitled to three messengers who are members of the church they represent. They are to bring letters showing their election by the church, which letters should give a report of the last year.
Section 3. We recommend to all scriptural New Testament Churches desiring to cooperate with us for the purpose designated in Article 2 of these Articles of Agreement, to express their desires by presenting evidence of their origin, faith and practices and we further recommend that any church refusing or failing to continue in the faith and practices designated by them will not be considered seated in the messenger body.
Section 2. Each church associating in this association is entitled to three messengers who are members of the church they represent. They are to bring letters showing their election by the church, which letters should give a report of the last year.
Section 3. We recommend to all scriptural New Testament Churches desiring to cooperate with us for the purpose designated in Article 2 of these Articles of Agreement, to express their desires by presenting evidence of their origin, faith and practices and we further recommend that any church refusing or failing to continue in the faith and practices designated by them will not be considered seated in the messenger body.
ARTICLE 4
DOCTRINAL STATUS
DOCTRINAL STATUS
This association shall recognize the freedom of speech as essential to the highest achievements in its work. It shall stand or fall on its own conformity to truth. It shall exercise no ecclesiastical authority but shall by every precaution recognize the sovereignty of every individual church. It shall also encourage on the part of churches and messengers the greatest possible freedom of expression in discussing matters pertaining to its work, and in the pre-eminence if missions and evangelism in the work of the churches.
ACTICLE 5
POWERS
POWERS
The powers of this association shall be limited in execution to the teachings of the New Testament and of the will of the churches composing it. In the annual session, the messengers shall elect from the participating churches such officers as deemed necessary for its deliberation and work. Committees may be appointed that are needed to transact the business that may be directed by the churches.
ARTICLE 6
OFFICERS
OFFICERS
Section 1. It will be the duty of the messengers annually to elect from among their members a moderator, assistant moderator and such clerks and other officers as may be needed or directed by the churches composing this association.
Section 2. In all votes of this association, a majority of votes cast shall decide questions, except in cases of change of amendment in the Articles of Agreement or the Statement of Faith. In such cases, a two-thirds majority will be required.
Section 2. In all votes of this association, a majority of votes cast shall decide questions, except in cases of change of amendment in the Articles of Agreement or the Statement of Faith. In such cases, a two-thirds majority will be required.
ARTICLE 7
MISSIONARIES
MISSIONARIES
Section 1. Annually the messengers shall recommend to the churches form among the church endorsed missionaries, such number as they deem wise for the associational support.
Section 2. The endorsing or sending church shall according to the needs of their missionary and the strength of the churches, recommend his support.
Section 2. The endorsing or sending church shall according to the needs of their missionary and the strength of the churches, recommend his support.
ARTICLE 8
FUNDS
FUNDS
Section 1. All funds of this association shall be raised by voluntary donations secured purely upon the merits and the cause in the interest of which appeals are made for gifts, provided this is not to prevent the use of income or any property that may be acquired by donation or purchase.
Section 2. The treasurer of this association shall disperse all funds received between sessions of this association subject to the designation of the sending church or churches.
Section 2. The treasurer of this association shall disperse all funds received between sessions of this association subject to the designation of the sending church or churches.
ARTICLE 9
MEETINGS
MEETINGS
The annual meeting of the church messengers shall be at such time and place as the assembled messengers may appoint.
ARTICLE 10
CHANGES IN ARTICLES OR STATEMENT OF FAITH
CHANGES IN ARTICLES OR STATEMENT OF FAITH
Any proposed Article or Statement of Faith changes must be presented the first day of the regular meeting and laid on the table by a vote of the messenger body till a following day of the meeting. A motion will be required to take from the table and a two-thirds majority will be required for the proposed change or any revision to pass.