Membership

Section I:

Reception of members:

All candidates for membership shall be interviewed by the pastor and board of deacons, and if qualifications are met, shall recommend such persons to the church for a vote at any regular or special meeting.  Candidates must be those professing faith in Christ giving evidence of a transformed life, having been baptized by immersion following salvation, and who adopt the rules of faith and practice held by this church and give testimony of their salvation before the church.  No one shall be a member of this church while at the same time holding membership in another church.

Members may be received by:

(1)    Letters of transfer from other Baptist churches of like faith.

(2)    Confession of faith - - for those having no previous church membership; coming from other than Baptist churches of like faith; or in any other circumstance where there is no letter of transfer.

(3)    Restoration – upon recommendation of the Board of Deacons, and public testimony of salvation before the church by the person to be restored.

Section II:

                        Duties of members

                        Generally as set forth in the church covenant.

Section III:

                        Suspension of members

(1)    It shall be the work of the deacons a reasonable length of time before each annual meeting to survey the membership roll and to recommend to the church upon its vote to be placed on the inactive list those who have not attended 25 of the regular services of the church for the period of one year unless providentially hindered.  The deacons shall visit those involved to inform them of the contemplated action.

(2)    Those whose names are in the inactive list shall lose their right to vote and participate in business meetings and are not eligible for a letter of transfer.  Their names shall without further action be dropped from the membership of the church at the expiration of one year unless interest is shown.

(3)    Those removing from this vicinity and not uniting with some other church shall communicate with the church at least once per year, and if not heard from for one year shall on vote of the church be placed on the inactive list.

(4)    Those on the inactive list may be restored to full membership by application to the Board of Deacons giving evidence of repentance and renewal of the covenant and compliance with the customs of the church.  The Board of Deacons may recommend them to the church for a vote after a two month period of probation from the time of application to the Board of Deacons.

Section IV

                        Discipline of Members

(1)    The Pastor and Board of Deacons shall constitute the Disciplinary Committee before whom all charges of disciplinary nature must be brought..  In case of personal differences between members of the church the Disciplinary Committee shall take action to settle the dispute according to Matthew 18:15-17.

(2)    By recommendation of the Disciplinary Committee and vote of the church, membership may be withdrawn from those who utterly disregard the church covenant pledge, or act in such a way as the Scripture forbids us sanction and refuse to repent of the same.  No one shall have his church membership dropped without having been given full and free opportunity for defense before the Board of Deacons and the church.

(3)    No charge against any member or group of members is to be preferred before the church by any individual or group until such charge shall first have been preferred in writing with a personal signature before the Board of Deacons, who shall look into the matter, confer with the accused and if satisfied that the charges made are true, and if the accused shows no sign of repentance, make recommendation to the church accordingly.  Should their action be felt unfair the member shall have the right of direct appeal to the church at any regular or special business meeting.

Section V:

                        Dismission of Members

A letter of Transfer may be granted at any meeting of the church to any member in good standing wishing to unite with another Baptist church of like faith.  Letter of Christian character shall be granted those desiring to unite with other than Baptist churches.  Letters will be granted only to specifically named churches.

Section VI:

                        Non-resident Members

(1)    Those who live at such a distance as to make regular attendance impossible shall communicate with the church at least yearly and demonstrate their interest by contribution and attendance when possible.  They will not be counted to determine the quorum and will be excluded from the right to vote by the vote of the church.

(2)    Those in schools of learning outside this vicinity or otherwise engaged in full time Christian service or in the Armed Forces will continue to be regarded as active members when determining the quorum.  When present in any business meeting they are to have the position of an active member.

Section VII

                        Privileges of Divorced Persons

Divorced person(s) should enjoy the full fellowship and responsibilities of the local church.  Divorced person(s) may serve in any area of the church, for which they are qualified, excluding the offices of pastor and deacon.