Pdf Baptist Church Manual

APPENDIX I. BUSINESS MEETINGS OF A CHURCH, ASSOCIATIONS, ETC. WHERE the spirit of Christian love and courtesy prevails, very few rules are necessary in the transaction of church business. The pastor of a church, by virtue of his office, is its moderator. He therefore presides at its meetings, which should be opened with singing, reading a wsuitable portion of Scripture, and prayer. The clerk then reads the minutes of the last meeting, and the pastor states, that if there is…

CHAPTER VII THE DUTIES OF A CHURCH Though some of the duties of a church have been incidentally referred to in preceding chapters, the subject is too important to be dismissed without a more distinct consideration. It is plain that Christ, in providing for the formation of churches, recognized and sanctified the social principle. A church is a society — a social principle. Its members, while they sustain a supremely sacred relation to their Head, sustain important relations to one…

CHAPTER 6 THE DISCIPLINE OF A CHURCH If discipline is necessary in families, schools, and armies, it must answer important purposes in the churches of Christ. It may be considered the process by which the spiritual improvement, usefulness, and efficiency of a church are promoted. In its comprehensive sense church discipline is both formative and corrective, though the phrase is generally used in the latter acceptation. We notice briefly. I. FORMATIVE DISCIPLINE The doctrine of formative discipline is taught in…

CHAPTER V THE GOVERNMENT OF A CHURCH There are three forms of church government, indicated by the terms Episcopacy, Presbyterianism, and Congregationalism. Episcopacy recognizes the right of bishops to preside over districts of country, and one of its fundamental doctrines is, that a bishop is officially superior to other ministers. Of course, a modern bishop has under his charge the “inferior clergy”; for it is insisted, that the “ordaining power,” and “the right to rule,” belong to the Episcopal office.…

CHAPTER IV ORDINANCES OF A CHURCH This title is not used to convey the idea that a church has the right to institute ordinances. No such right exists. The Lord Jesus Christ is head of the church — Lawgiver of the Gospel dispensation. He is the only Institutor of ordinances. Apostles had no discretion in the matter. They could only teach the baptized disciples "to observe all things" commanded by Christ. His will was to the, as to his followers,…

CHAPTER III  DOCTRINES OF A CHURCH The phrase, doctrines of a church, is somewhat equivocal in its import. It may mean what a church teaches, or what a church believes the Bible to teach. It is here used in the latter sense. All who believe the Scriptures to be divinely inspired consider them the fountain of religious truth. The Bible contains the revelation of God to man. It is the supreme standard of faith and practice. Whatever conforms to this standard is…

CHAPTER II OFFICERS OF A CHURCH It cannot be said that officers are essential to the existence of a church, for a church must exist before it can appoint its officers. After this appointment, if, in the providence of God, they should be removed by death, it might affect the interests, but not the being of the church. It has been well said by an able writer, that “although officers are not necessary to the being of a church, they…

Chapter 1 - Nature Of A Church - The term Church occurs in the New Testament more than a hundred times. The “word thus translated means congregation or assembly;