Trinity Baptist Church’s Statement of Basic Beliefs

The following beliefs represent the core beliefs of our Christian faith from a biblical and historical perspective. While covenant members are not required to fully understand or articulate all aspects of these beliefs, the explicit rejection of any one of these particular beliefs disqualifies one from membership with Trinity Baptist Church.

We believe...

        that the Bible is true, authoritative, and sufficient. (Psalm 19:7–11; 2 Timothy 3:16–17; 2 Peter 1:20–21).

        that there is only one true and living God who is the Creator of the universe and who reveals Himself to us as Three–in–One: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. (Genesis 1:26; Deuteronomy 6:4; Psalm 45:6; 110:1; Isaiah 45:5–6; Isaiah 46:9–10; Matthew 3:13–17; 28:17–20; John 17:3,21–24; 1 Corinthians 8:4–6; 12:4–6; 1 Timothy 2:5).

        that I am, along with all humanity (Christ excluded), by birth and action a sinner. (Genesis 6:5; Psalm 51:5; Jeremiah 17:9; Romans 3:23; 5:8,12–21; 7:18; Ephesians 2:1–3).

        that the deserved penalty for sin is death, both physical and spiritual. (Genesis 2:15–17; Genesis 3:19; Romans 5:12; 6:23; James 1:14–15).

        that Jesus Christ is the eternal Son of God, was born of a virgin, lived a sinless life, and is both fully God and fully human. (Matthew 1:20–21; Luke 2:52; John 1:1–4,14; Colossians 1:15–20; Hebrews 1:1–3; 4:14–16).

        that Jesus Christ died as my substitute to pay the penalty for my sin. (John 1:29; 10:1–18; Romans 5:8; 1 Corinthians 15:1–4; 2 Corinthians 5:21; Galatians 1:4; 1 Peter 3:18; 1 John 4:10).

        that Jesus Christ physically rose from the dead. (Matthew 28:1–20; Mark 16:1–8; Luke 24:1–53; John 20:1–21:25; 1 Corinthians 15:12–34).

        that Jesus Christ physically ascended into heaven and will one day physically return to resurrect the dead and to judge all people in righteousness. The unrighteous will be raised to eternal punishment in hell, and the righteous will be raised to eternal reward and will dwell forever with the Lord. (Matthew 25:31–46; John 5:28–29; 14:3; Acts 1:11; 24:15; 1 Thessalonians 4:16; Hebrews 9:27–28; 1 John 3:2; Revelation 1:7; 20:11–21:8).

        that only by trusting in the person and work of Jesus Christ alone can I be reconciled to God, be made righteous, and experience true life and joy. (John 3:18; 14:6; Acts 4:12; Romans 3:21–26; Ephesians 2:8–9; 1 Timothy 2:5–6).

Trinity Baptist Church Statement of Faith

1. Scriptures

We believe that the Scriptures (containing the 39 books of the Old Testament and the 27 books of the New Testament) are without error and that they alone govern every aspect of life with absolute authority. This Holy Bible was written by men divinely inspired and is God’s revelation of Himself to all people. All Scripture is a testimony to Jesus Christ.

2. God

There is one God. He is infinite, eternal, all-knowing, all-powerful, personal, and perfect in holiness, truth and love. To Him we owe the highest love, reverence, and obedience. The eternal triune God reveals Himself to us as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, with distinct personal attributes, but without division of nature or being.

God the Father

God the Father is the all-knowing, all-loving, and all-wise Creator of heaven and earth. By His word and for the praise of His glory, He freely and supernaturally created the world out of nothing. Through the same word, He reigns with sovereign sustaining care over everything, at all times, according to the purposes of His grace. He desires for all people to live in fellowship with Him, but God is Father only to those who become children of God through faith in Jesus Christ; however, He is fatherly in His attitude toward all people.

God the Son

Jesus Christ, the one and only Son of God, is the fulfillment of God’s promised plan of redemption throughout the Old Testament. He is the eternal Word made flesh, supernaturally conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the virgin Mary. He is fully God and fully man, perfect in nature, in teaching, and in obedience to the Law even as He took on human nature with its demands and necessities. He is the image of the invisible God, the authority over all creation, and in Him dwells the fullness of the Godhead bodily. Through Him all things came into being and were created. In Him all things hold together by the word of His power. He is the only Savior for the sins of the world, and through His shed blood and substitutionary death on the cross He made provision for the redemption of people from sin. On the third day, He rose bodily from the grave; then, after forty days, He ascended into heaven where, exalted at God’s right hand, He is the One Mediator who intercedes for His people and rules as Lord over all. One day He will return in power and glory to judge the world and to complete His redemptive mission.

God the Holy Spirit

The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of God, fully divine. He convicts the world of sin, righteousness and judgment, and through illumination He enables people to understand the truths of God. Through the proclamation of the gospel, He calls people to the Savior Jesus Christ and leads them to trust in divine mercy. The Holy Spirit brings about the new birth, unites believers to Jesus Christ in faith, dwells within those who are born again, seals the believer unto the day of final redemption, and empowers the believer to obey God’s Word. At the moment of regeneration He baptizes every believer into the Body of Christ. He will lead the church into a right understanding and growing application of the truth of God’s Word. He comforts believers and gives the spiritual gifts by which they serve God through His church. The Holy Spirit has come to glorify the Son Who, in turn, came to glorify the Father.

3. Man*

God made man – male and female – in His own image, as the crown of creation so that man might glorify Him through enjoying fellowship with Him. Tempted by Satan, man chose to rebel against God by disobeying Him and thus fell from his original innocence. Being now separated from his Maker yet responsible to Him, he became subject to divine wrath, brought the effects of sin into the world, and, apart from a special work of grace, is incapable of returning to God. Man’s resulting sinful nature corrupts his mind, will and affections. Unregenerate man has been given over to and lives under the dominion of sin and Satan and is at enmity with God. Fallen, sinful people, whatever their character or attainments, are lost and without hope apart from salvation in Jesus Christ alone.

(*Scripture often uses the term “man” to represent the entire human race. This sense is intended here.)

4. The Gospel

The gospel is the good news that the just and gracious God of the universe looked upon hopelessly sinful people and sent His only Son, Jesus Christ, God in the flesh, to live a perfectly sinless life, to bear God’s wrath for mankind’s sin through His substitutionary death on the cross, and to show His power over sin and death in His resurrection from the grave, so that all who trust in Jesus Christ and confess Him as Lord and Savior will be reconciled to God forever.

5. Salvation

Salvation is the rescue from the guilt and the consequence of our sin, which is receiving God’s wrath for all eternity in hell. In the good news of the gospel, salvation is offered as a free gift to all who trust in Jesus Christ and confess Him as Lord and Savior. By shedding His own blood on the cross Jesus Christ brought salvation, which revealed divine love, upheld divine justice, removed our guilt, and reconciled us to God. By His resurrection He earned victory over death and the powers of sin and darkness in order to give us a living hope. There is no salvation from sin apart from personal faith in Jesus Christ.

Salvation in its broadest sense includes election, regeneration, justification, sanctification, and glorification:

Election

Election is God’s sovereign, gracious choice, from before the foundation of the world, of some persons unto eternal life. According to that choice they are also called, justified, and glorified. This choice is not because of any foreseen merit in them but of God’s mere mercy in Christ. Election is ultimately for His own pleasure and is the glorious display of His sovereign goodness, thus it excludes human boasting and promotes humility. Election does not contradict or negate a person’s responsibility to trust in Christ alone for salvation, which leads us to sincerely preach the gospel of grace to all people in all nations.

Regeneration

Regeneration, or the new birth, is a work of God's grace whereby a person believes in and becomes a new creation in Christ Jesus. It is a conversion of heart fashioned by the Holy Spirit through conviction of sin, to which the sinner is awakened to respond in repentance toward God and faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.

Justification

Justification is God’s gracious and full declaration of righteousness for all sinners who trust in Christ; it cannot be earned. In justification, the believer’s sin—past, present, and future—is forgiven and Christ’s righteousness is counted as his or her own. It reconciles the believer into a relationship of peace and favor with God, adopted as His child.

Sanctification

While standing perfectly righteous in Christ, sanctification is the experience, beginning in regeneration, by which the believer is set apart to God's purposes, and is enabled to progress toward moral and spiritual maturity through the presence and power of the Holy Spirit dwelling in him or her. Growth in Christlikeness should continue throughout the regenerate person's life, and all believers are exhorted to persevere in the faith.

Glorification

Glorification is the completion of salvation in the presence of God, where believers are delivered from the very presence of sin and are completely and finally sanctified.

6. Perseverance of the Saints

All the redeemed—those whom God has justified in Christ and sanctified by His Spirit—will never fall away from salvation but shall persevere to the end. These saints may fall into sin through neglect and temptation, whereby they grieve the Spirit, impair their fellowship with God, bring disgrace on the cause of Christ, lose eternal rewards, and suffer the earthly consequences of their sin; yet they shall be kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation. It is the privilege of true believers to rejoice in the assurance of their salvation through the testimony of God’s Word, which, however, forbids the use of Christian liberty as an excuse for sinful and irresponsible living.

7. The Church

A New Testament church of the Lord Jesus Christ is an autonomous local body of baptized believers, associated by covenant* in the faith and fellowship of the gospel. The church is to observe the two ordinances of Christ and to equip its members to exercise the gifts and the power of the Holy Spirit to love each other and to extend the gospel to the ends of the earth. Each church operates under the Lordship of Christ and His Word, and each member is responsible and accountable to Christ as Lord. The church’s scriptural offices are elders and deacons. While both men and women are gifted for service in the church, the office of elder or pastor is limited to men that meet the qualifications in Scripture. The New Testament speaks also of the Church as the Body of Christ including all of the redeemed of all the ages, believers from every tribe, tongue, people, and nation.

(*See Section ________ for our local church covenant.)

8. The Ordinances of the Church: Baptism and the Lord’s Supper

Christian baptism is the immersion of a believer in water in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. It is a one-time act of obedience symbolizing the believer's faith in a crucified, buried, and risen Savior—the believer's death to sin, the burial of the old life, and the resurrection to walk in newness of life in Christ Jesus.

The Lord's Supper is a symbolic act of obedience whereby followers of Christ memorialize the death of the Redeemer and anticipate His second coming through partaking of the bread and the fruit of the vine. This ordinance symbolizes the breaking of Christ’s body and the shedding of His blood on our behalf, and it is to be observed repeatedly throughout the Christian life.

9. The Family

God has ordained the family as the foundational institution of human society. It is composed of persons related to one another by marriage, blood, or adoption.

God’s exclusive model for marriage is the uniting of one man and one woman in covenant commitment for a lifetime. It is God's unique gift to illustrate the union between Christ and His Church. Marriage provides the framework for intimate companionship, sexual expression according to biblical standards, and the means for procreation of the human race; and it is God’s foundation for the family. The husband and wife are of equal worth before God, since both are created in God's image, but He has ordained complementary roles for each. A husband is to love his wife as Christ loved the Church. A wife is to submit herself to the leadership of her husband. Also, God has called some to singleness, either by choice or circumstances beyond their control, and we encourage them to follow the Lord in all godliness and sexual purity.

Children, from the moment of conception, are a blessing and heritage from the Lord. Parents are to demonstrate and teach their children God's pattern for life and are to be their primary spiritual influencers. Children are to honor and obey their parents.

10. The Kingdom

The Kingdom of God includes both His general sovereignty and authority over the universe and His particular kingship over a people and its society who willfully acknowledge Him as King. Particularly the Kingdom regards the realm of salvation into which people enter by trustful, childlike commitment to the resurrected Jesus Christ as King. The Church ought to pray and to labor that the Kingdom may come and God’s will be done on earth—for the good of others and the world. The full completion of the Kingdom awaits the return of Jesus Christ and the end of this age.

11. Last Things

God, in His own time and in His own way, will bring the world to its appropriate end. According to His promise, Jesus Christ will return personally and visibly in glory to the earth; the dead will be raised; souls will be reunited with bodies; and Christ will judge all people in righteousness. Those not clothed in the righteousness of Christ will be thrown into the place of everlasting and continual destruction (hell), away from the presence of the Lord and the glory of His might. Those clothed in the righteousness of Christ, in their resurrected and glorified bodies, will receive their reward and will dwell forever in the new heavens and the new earth with the Lord.

Scripture References:

(ff. means “and following”)

Scriptures

Exodus 24:4; Deuteronomy 4:1–2; Psalm 19:7–11; 119:89,105,151; Matthew 5:17–18; Luke 24:44–46; John 5:39; 17:17; Acts 2:16ff.; 17:11; Romans 15:4; 16:25–26; 2 Timothy 3:15–17; Titus 1:9; Hebrews 1:1–3; 4:12–13; 2 Peter 1:19–21.

God the Father

Genesis 1:1; 2:7; Exodus 3:14; 6:2–3; 15:11ff.; 20:1ff.; Leviticus 22:2; Deuteronomy 6:4; 32:6; 1 Chronicles 29:10–11; Psalm 19:1–3; Isaiah 43:3,15; 64:8; Jeremiah 10:10; 17:13; Matthew 6:9ff.; 7:11; 23:9; 28:19; Mark 1:9–11; John 4:24; 5:26; 14:6–13; 17:1–8; Acts 1:7; Romans 8:14–15; 1 Corinthians 8:6; Galatians 4:6; Ephesians 4:6; Colossians 1:15; 1 Timothy 1:17; Hebrews 11:6; 12:9; 1 Peter 1:17; 1 John 5:7.

God the Son

Genesis 18:1ff.; Psalms 2:7ff.; 110:1ff.; Isaiah 7:14; 53; Matthew 1:18–23; 3:17; 8:29; 11:27; 14:33; 16:16,27; 17:5; 27; 28:1–6,19; Mark 1:1; 3:11; Luke 1:35; 4:41; 22:70; 24:46; John 1:1–18,29; 10:30,38; 11:25–27; 12:44–50; 14:7–11; 16:15–16,28; 17:1–5, 21–22; 20:1–20,28; Acts 1:9; 2:22–24; 7:55–56; 9:4–5,20; Romans 1:3–4; 3:23–26; 5:6–21; 8:1–3,34; 10:4; 1 Corinthians 1:30; 2:2; 8:6; 15:1–8,24–28; 2 Corinthians 5:19–21; 8:9; Galatians 4:4–5; Ephesians 1:20; 3:11; 4:7–10; Philippians 2:5–11; Colossians 1:13–22; 2:9; 1 Thessalonians 4:14–18; 1 Timothy 2:5–6; 3:16; Titus 2:13–14; Hebrews 1:1–3; 4:14–15; 7:14–28; 9:11–15,24–28; 12:2; 13:8; 1 Peter 2:21–25; 3:22; 1 John 1:7–9; 3:2; 4:14–15; 5:9; 2 John 7–9; Revelation 1:13–16; 5:9–14; 12:10–11; 13:8; 19:16.

God the Holy Spirit

Genesis 1:2; Judges 14:6; Job 26:13; Psalms 51:11; 139:7ff.; Isaiah 61:1–3; Joel 2:28–32; Matthew 1:18; 3:16; 4:1; 12:28–32; 28:19; Mark 1:10,12; Luke 1:35; 4:1,18–19; 11:13; 12:12; 24:49; John 4:24; 14:16–17,26; 15:26; 16:7–14; Acts 1:8; 2:1–4,38; 4:31; 5:3; 6:3; 7:55; 8:17,39; 10:44; 13:2; 15:28; 16:6; 19:1–6; Romans 8:9–11,14–16,26–27; 1 Corinthians 2:10–14; 3:16; 12:3–11,13; Galatians 4:6; Ephesians 1:13–14; 4:30; 5:18; 1 Thessalonians 5:19; 1 Timothy 3:16; 4:1; 2 Timothy 1:14; 3:16; Hebrews 9:8,14; 2 Peter 1:21; 1 John 4:13; 5:6–7; Revelation 1:10; 22:17.

Man

Genesis 1:26–30; 2:5,7,18–22; 3; 9:6; Psalms 1; 8:3–6; 32:1–5; 51:5; Isaiah 6:5; Jeremiah 17:5; Matthew 16:26; Acts 17:26–31; Romans 1:19–32; 3:10–18,23; 5:6,12,19; 6:6; 7:14–25; 8:14–18,29; 1 Corinthians 1:21–31; 15:19,21–22; Ephesians 2:1–22; Colossians 1:21–22; 3:9–11.

The Gospel

Isaiah 43:6–7; John 3:14–16; 10:27–30; Romans 1:16–25; 2:1–16; 3:9–26; 4:22–25; 5:6–10,18; 6:11–14,23; 8:1–4,10–11; 10:9–15; 1 Corinthians 15:1–4; Ephesians 2:8–9; 1 Timothy 1:16–17; Hebrews 9:12; 1 John 5:11–13.

Salvation

Genesis 1; 3:15; 12:1–3; Exodus 3:14–17; 6:2–8; 19:5–8; 1 Samuel 8:4–7,19–22; Isaiah 5:1–7; 55:6–9; Jeremiah 31:31ff.; Matthew 1:21; 4:17; 16:18–26; 21:28–45; 24:22,31; 25:34; 27:22–28:6; Luke 1:68–79; 2:28–32; 19:41–44; 24:44–48; John 1:11–14,29; 3:3–21,36; 5:24; 6:44–45,65; 10:9,27–29; 15:1–16; 17:6,12,17–18; Acts 2:21; 4:12; 15:11; 16:30–31; 17:30–31; 20:32; Romans 1:16–18; 2:4; 3:23–25; 4:3ff.; 5:8–10; 6:1–23; 8:1–18,28–39; 9; 10:9–15; 11:5–7,26–36; 13:11–14; 1 Corinthians 1:1–2,18,27–30; 6:19–20; 15:10,24–28,42–44; 2 Corinthians 3:18; 5:1–8,17–21; Galatians 2:20; 3:13; 5:22–25; 6:15; Ephesians 1:4–23; 2:1–22; 3:1–11; 4:11–16;         (cont.)

Philippians 1:6; 2:12–13; Colossians 1:9–22; 3:1ff.; 1 Thessalonians 5:23–24; 2 Thessalonians 2:13–14; 2 Timothy 1:12; 2:10,19; Titus 2:11–14; Hebrews 2:1–3; 5:8–9; 9:24–28; 11:1–12:8,14; James 1:12; 2:14–26; 1 Peter 1:2–23; 2:4–10; 3:18; 1 John 1:6–2:11,19; 3:2; Revelation 3:20;

21:1–22:5.

Perseverance of the Saints

Genesis 12:1–3; Exodus 19:5–8; Joshua 1:5; 1 Samuel 8:4–7,19–22; Psalm 37:23–24,28,31; 51; Proverbs 2:8; Isaiah 5:1–7; 43:6; 59:1–2; Jeremiah 31:31ff.; 32:40–41; Matthew 16:18–19; 21:28–45; 24:22,31; 25:34; Luke 1:68–79; 2:29–32; 24:44–49; John 1:12–14; 3:16; 5:24; 6:37–40,44–45,65; 10:27–30; 15:16; 17:6,12,17–18; Acts 20:32; Romans 5:9–10; 6:1–22; 8:1,28–39; 10:12–15; 11:5–7,26–36; 13:13–14; 1 Corinthians 1:1–2,4–9; 3:10–15; 15:24–28; Galatians 5:13,25–26; Ephesians 1:4–23; 2:1–10; 3:1–11,4:30; Colossians 1:12–14; 2 Thessalonians 2:13–14; 2 Timothy 1:12; 2:10,19; Titus 2:11–14; Hebrews 6:11–12; 7:25; 10:35; 11:39–12:2; 13:5; James 1:12; 1 Peter 1:2–5,13; 2:4–10; 1 John 1:7–9; 2:19; 3:2; Jude 24.

The Church

Matthew 16:15–19; 18:15–20; Acts 2:41–42,47; 5:11–14; 6:3–6; 13:1–3; 14:23,27; 15:1–30; 16:5; 20:28;  Romans 1:7; 1 Corinthians 1:2; 3:16; 5:4–5; 7:17; 9:13–14; 12; Ephesians 1:22–23; 2:19–22; 3:8–11,21; 4:11–16; 5:22–32; Philippians 1:1; Colossians 1:18; 1 Timothy 2:9–14; 3:1–15; 4:14; Titus 1:5–9; Hebrews 11:39–40; 1 Peter 5:1–4; Revelation 2–3; 21:2–3.

The Ordinances of the Church:

Baptism and the Lord’s Supper

Matthew 3:13–17, 26:26–30, 28:19–20; Mark 1:9–11, 14:22–26; Luke 3:21–22, 22:19–20; John 3:23; Acts 2:41–42, 8:35–39, 16:30–33, 20:7; Romans 6:3–5; 1 Corinthians 10:16,21, 11:23–29; Galatians 3:27; Colossians 2:12.

The Family

Genesis 1:26–28; 2:15–25; 3:1–20; Exodus 20:12; Deuteronomy 6:4–9; Joshua 24:15; 1 Samuel 1:26–28; Psalms 51:5; 78:1–8; 127; 128; 139:13–18; Proverbs 1:8; 5:15–22; 6:20–22; 12:4; 13:24; 14:1; 17:6; 18:22; 22:6,15; 23:13–14; 24:3; 29:15,17; 31:10–31; Song of Solomon 1–8; Ecclesiastes 4:9–12; 9:9; Malachi 2:14–16; Matthew 5:31–32; 18:2–5; 19:3–9; Mark 10:6–12; Luke 1:41–42; Acts 21:9; Romans 1:18–32; 1 Corinthians 7:1–16,27–29,32; Ephesians 5:21–33; 6:1–4; Colossians 3:18–21; 1 Timothy 5:8,14; 2 Timothy 1:3–5; Titus 2:3–5; Hebrews 13:4; 1 Peter 3:1–7.

The Kingdom

Genesis 1:1; Isaiah 9:6–7; Jeremiah 23:5–6; Matthew 3:2; 4:8–10,23; 5:20; 6:10,33; 7:21; 12:25–28; 13:1–52; 25:31–46; 26:29; Mark 1:14–15; 9:1; Luke 4:43; 8:1; 9:2; 12:31–32; 17:20–21; 22:24–30; 23:42; John 3:3; 18:36; Acts 1:6–7; 17:22–31; Romans 5:17; 8:19; 1 Corinthians 15:24–28; Colossians 1:13; Hebrews 11:10,16; 12:28; 1 Peter 2:4–10; 4:13; Revelation 1:6,9; 5:10; 11:15; 21–22.

Last Things

Isaiah 2:4; 11:9; 61:10; Zechariah 3:3–5; Matthew 16:27; 18:8–9; 19:28; 24:27,30,36,44; 25:31–46; 26:64; Mark 8:38; 9:43–48; Luke 12:40–48; 16:19–26; 17:22–37; 21:27–28; John 14:1–3; Acts 1:11; 17:31; Romans 10:3; 14:10; 1 Corinthians 3:11–15; 4:5; 15:24–28,35–58; 2 Corinthians 5:10,21; Philippians 3:20–21; Colossians 1:5; 3:4; 1 Thessalonians 4:14–18; 5:1ff.; 2 Thessalonians 1:7ff.; 2; 1 Timothy 6:14; 2 Timothy 4:1,8; Titus 2:13; Hebrews 9:27–28; James 5:8; 2 Peter 3:7ff.; 1 John 2:28; 3:2; Jude 14–16; Revelation 1:18; 3:11; 20:1–22:13.

The Constitution of Trinity Baptist Church is Still being created. Below is what has been approved by the Church thus far. 

Constitution

Of The

Trinity Baptist Church

Weatherford, Oklahoma

Adopted by Vote of the Church on _________

Preamble

Since it pleased Almighty God, by His Holy Spirit, to call certain of His servants to unite here in 1972 under the name Trinity Baptist Church of Weatherford, Oklahoma, for the worship of God and the spread of the gospel of Jesus Christ, and He has sustained and prospered this work to the present day; and

Whereas we, the members of Trinity Baptist Church, having searched the Scriptures under the guidance of His Spirit, have recognized the need to reconstitute ourselves to more closely conform to His will for the Church in this age and prepare ourselves for greater efforts in His name;

Now therefore we, the members of Trinity Baptist Church, do hereby organize ourselves in accord with the laws and statutes of the State of Oklahoma for non-profit organizations and adopt this Constitution as our articles of governance, to be interpreted at all times to reflect the character of and bring glory to Jesus Christ, as revealed in the Holy Bible and articulated in the standards set forth in the Statement of Faith (2014) and Covenant (DATE) of this church.

Article 1 – Name

The Name of this church is Trinity Baptist Church, Inc.

Article 2 – Purpose

This church exists by the grace of God, for the glory of God, which shall be the ultimate purpose in all its activities. This church glorifies God by loving Him and obeying His commands through:

• 1.      Worshipping Him;
• 2.      Equipping the saints through Bible instruction and study;
• 3.      Proclaiming the gospel of Jesus Christ through preaching and personal evangelism, and any other means consistent with the teachings of Holy Scripture;
• 4.      Encouraging, supporting, and participating in missions work, local, domestic, and international;
• 5.      Administering the ordinances of baptism and communion;
• 6.      Encouraging Biblical fellowship among believers;
• 7.      Serving other individuals, families, and churches by providing for physical, emotional, and spiritual needs, in the name of Jesus Christ; and
• 8.      Calling fellow churches to biblical faithfulness and purity through instruction and encouragement about the nature of the local church.

Article 3 – Membership

We believe that the Scriptures teach the importance of local church membership (See Appendix __), and that the basic qualifications for membership in a church are established by Christ, derived from Scripture alone, and administered by the churches.

Recognizing, therefore, the importance of membership into a local body of believers for the sake of the gospel, the design and glory of God, and the health of the church, the following sections shall govern this church’s membership:

Section 1 – Qualifications

1. To qualify for membership in this church, a person must be a believer in Jesus Christ who gives evidence of salvation, who has been baptized by immersion, in obedience to Christ, following his or her regeneration, and who wholeheartedly believes in the Christian faith as revealed in the Bible. Each member must agree to subscribe and submit to the teaching of Scripture as expressed in the Statement of Basic Beliefs (see Appendix __), must understand the Church’s Statement of Beliefs (See Appendix __) are the teaching convictions of this church, and must promise to strive to keep the commitments expressed in the Church Covenant. The pastor(s) shall be responsible for determining whether the qualifications of membership are met by each person. In making this determination, they may rely on a person’s profession of faith, or such other evidence, as the pastor(s) deem appropriate. Each prospective member must have completed the Membership Conference (See Appendix __) and shall be ordinarily, but not necessarily, recommended by the pastor(s) of the church for admission and accepted by vote of the members at any regular or special meeting of the members and shall at that point relinquish their membership in other churches. 

Section 2 – The Process of Joining

1. We seek to develop a close-knit fellowship of Christians who are firmly committed to Christ and to one another. This relationship must be founded on a clear understanding with each person who joins as to what is involved. Therefore, when anyone presents himself or herself for membership, an appointment will be made for a Conference with the pastors (more than one pastor/person should be present in conducting this conference) and/or a few members of this church to insure, so far as we are able, that each person who seeks membership is a born-again believer in Jesus Christ and can enjoy a real participation in this local embodiment of Christ rather than receiving a merely nominal membership.

2. The subjects discussed in the Conference for Membership will be, but not be limited to, the nature of your Christian experience, the decisions involved in becoming a Baptist, and the privileges and duties of membership in this church. When this Conference has been held, and all the above-mentioned requirements have been determined to be satisfied so far as are able to be determined and known, the individual(s) will be introduced to the congregation during a Members’ Meeting for acceptance or denial as a church member.

Section 3 – Temporary Collegiate Membership

Students temporarily residing in the Weatherford, Oklahoma area who are members of a church of like faith, practice, and doctrine with Trinity Baptist Church may apply for temporary collegiate membership. Qualifications are identical to those for full membership as set out above, except that home church membership must be retained. A letter of commendation will be sought from the applicant’s home church.

Duties and privileges of temporary collegiate members are the same as for other members

except that: 

(a) when absent from the Weatherford, Oklahoma area for extended periods of time they are released from the ordinary responsibilities of a church member;

(b) while they will be encouraged to participate in members’ meetings, they will not be eligible to stand for any office or to vote.

Termination of temporary collegiate membership as a disciplinary measure will be as it is for other members, except that the elders shall notify the pastor or elders of the home church of that termination. Temporary collegiate membership will normally terminate immediately upon the ending of the period of temporary residence in the Weatherford, Oklahoma area.

Section 4 – Duties and Privileges of Membership

1. In accord with the duties enumerated in the Church Covenant, each member shall be privileged and expected to participate in and contribute to the ministry and life of the church, consistent with God’s leading and with the gifts, time, and material resources each has received from God. Only members of the congregation shall be entitled to lead in the ministries of the church; non-members may participate, but not lead in the church’s ministries. Non-members may serve the church for purposes of administration and professional consultation, or in other ministries of the church at the expressed invitation of the eldership and/or the congregation on a temporary, occasional, or interim basis.

2. Under Christ and the leadership of his pastor(s), this assembled congregation is governed by its members. Therefore, it is the privilege and responsibility of members to attend all members’ meetings and vote on:

-      The election of officers;

-      Decisions regarding membership status, including church discipline;

-      Approval of the annual budget and expenditures over five hundred dollars ($500) outside of the budget;

-      Approval of any transactions regarding real property;

-      Matters submitted by the membership of the church, by the pastors, or raised by a motion at a member’s meeting;

-      Changes to the Bylaws;

-      The call, job description, and initial salary and termination (if needed) of a pastor or pastors;

-      and on such other matters as may be submitted to a vote.

Section 5 – On Church Discipline

1.      This Church seeks to have a regular atmosphere of loving accountability and encouragement according to the Word of God. It seeks to possess a deep fellowship of members by which godliness is encouraged and celebrated, sin is fought and warned against, and grace and forgiveness are quickly extended. The membership of this Church should seek to help one another walk according to Scripture and embrace and live according to the Church Covenant.

2.      The Church will pursue corrective and restorative measures in cases of members who persist in the neglect of covenantal duties or who engage in conduct whereby the name of our Lord Jesus Christ may be dishonored, and so oppose and undermine the welfare of the Church. Thus, any member consistently violating the commands and instructions of Scripture will be subject to church discipline. Church discipline should ordinarily be contemplated after individual private admonition has failed. Church discipline can include admonition by the pastors or congregation, removal from positions of leadership, or termination of membership according to the instructions given in 1 Corinthians 5:1-13, Matthew 18:15-17, and the example of Scripture. Membership may be terminated as an act of church discipline ordinarily, but not necessarily at the recommendation of the pastors and with a seventy-five percent majority vote of the members at any regular or special meeting of the membership.

3.      The purpose of such discipline should be:

-      For the repentance, reconciliation, and spiritual growth of the individual disciplined;

-      For the instruction in righteousness and good of other Christians, as an example to them;

-      For the purity of the church as a whole;

-      For the good of our corporate witness to non–Christians; and

-      Supremely for the glory of God by reflecting His holy character.

Section 6 – Termination of Membership

1. Termination of membership shall be recognized by the church following the death or voluntary resignation of any church member. Every death or voluntary resignation of church membership will be recognized and officially acknowledged by the church. The church shall have authority to refuse a member’s voluntary resignation for the purpose of proceeding with the process of church discipline. However, membership may be terminated as an act of church discipline. The church shall also have the authority to refuse a transfer of membership to another church that is not of like faith, practice, or doctrine. Joining another church in membership will result in the automatic resignation of membership at Trinity Baptist Church, except in cases of shared collegiate membership and missionaries sanctioned by Trinity Baptist Church.

Section 7 – Records of Membership

1.      Thorough, accurate, and detailed records are to be kept of the church’s membership for the sake of clearly identifying and holding accountable those who actually belong to the church. Records should include, but do not have to be limited to, Active Membership and a History of Membership.

2.      Active Membership is for those individuals who are in good standing in the eyes of the church. Within Active Membership status there should be clear indicators of who are members in good standing and who are members in good standing, but unable to attend – via health or other issues as determined valid by the church.

3.      History of Membership shall contain all the names of anyone who has ever joined Trinity Baptist Church. These individuals carry no voting rights, privileges, responsibilities, benefits, or any other status as actual, full, or in good standing members of Trinity Baptist Church.

Section 8 – Conclusion

1.      The church as a whole is the final determiner of all issues of membership not foreseen or mentioned in this Article of Membership or within these By-Laws.

Article 4 – Meetings

Section 1 – Worship Meetings

Worship services shall usually be held each Lord's Day, and may be held throughout the week as the church determines.

Section 2 – Members’ Meetings

In every meeting together, members shall act in that spirit of mutual trust, openness, and loving consideration which is appropriate within the body of our Lord Jesus Christ.

There shall be a regular members’ meeting at least every quarter at some time apart from a public worship service. The fourth quarter meeting shall be the Year End Meeting held in the last month of the calendar year.

The Lead Pastor, or if he so chooses, another elder or member designated by the elders shall preside as moderator at all members’ meetings of the church. In the absence of elders, the church shall designate a moderator. The elders shall see that the stated meetings of the church are regularly held and that at the quarterly meetings required reports, which shall at least be the financial report, are submitted to the church by the responsible members.

Provided all constitutional provisions for notification have been met, a quorum shall be understood to be met by those members present. All votes shall be tallied based on the number of votes cast by members present.

A budget shall be approved by the membership at a members’ meeting not more than three months after the start of the fiscal year. Prior to this approval and subject to the elders’ discretion, expenditures may continue at the prior year’s level. Approval of the church budget must require an affirmative vote of seventy-five (75%) percent of the voting members present.

Special members’ meetings may be called as required by the elders, or at the written request, submitted to the elders, of twenty-five percent of the voting membership. The date, time, and purpose of any special meeting shall be announced at all public services of the church within three Lord’s Days preceding the meeting. In the event of a written request from the members, the elders shall call a special meeting to be held within one month of their receipt of the request. Only the matters pertaining to the subject of the specially called meeting may be carried out during this time.

Notification for every meeting must be given at least three Lord’s Days prior to the meeting. Every meeting, regular or special, shall have, publish, and follow a set agenda. For proper notification, the agenda shall be published at all public meetings at least two Lord’s Days before the meeting is to occur. Items for the agenda coming from the church membership must be submitted to the elders before the published agenda of the meeting. The church may only vote or take action on items within the published agenda.

It is hoped that Christians would deliberate with principles like love, respect, decency, and order. However, the parliamentarian guidance given in Robert’s Rules of Order will be generally followed and called upon as it seems wise. The majority vote is the sole authority in deciding parliamentary matters.

Section 3 – Voting

In all cases except the election to a church office, the means of voting shall be determined by the elders. In the election of officers, votes shall be taken by ballot. Any vote can be referred to a vote by ballot by any voting member present at a members’ meeting. Following every vote, an elder and an elected non-elder from the members present shall count the ballots. Once counted, the voting results must be reported to the Moderator.

Unless otherwise stated in these by-laws, all votes will operate by a simple majority.

While all members are strongly encouraged to participate in discussion, only members sixteen (16) years of age or older shall possess voting rights. Involvement in members’ meetings is a training in discipleship and spiritual growth.