We believe that the Church, the Body of Christ, is composed of all true believers who are placed into that Body by the baptizing work of the Holy Spirit (1). The Church is distinct from Israel (2). We believe that a local, visible church is an organized congregation of immersed believers (3), associated together by a common faith and fellowship in the Gospel. Such a church is to be governed by the Word of God (4), and to observe the ordinances of baptism (the immersion of true believers only) and the Lord's Table (5). Its Scriptural officers are male believers referred to in Scripture as bishops (pastors) and deacons. A church normally has one pastor under whose direction other pastors function (if there is more than one pastor). The qualifications and duties of a pastor are defined in the Epistles to Timothy and Titus (6). A local church is autonomous, is not to be subject to the control of any outside persons or organizations, and has the power and right to confess its own faith and conduct its own affairs in accordance with the teachings of the New Testament. On all matters of membership, polity, government, discipline, and benevolence, the will of the local church is final (7). We believe that both Christian baptism and the Lord's Supper are each a symbolic memorial and a prophecy (8). We believe that Christian baptism is the single immersion in water of a believer (9), performed in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit (10). It shows forth, in solemn and beautiful figure, our faith in the crucified, buried, and risen Savior, and our death to sin and resurrection to a new life (11). Baptism is prerequisite to the privileges of church membership and participation in the Lord's Supper (12). At the Lord's Supper the members of the Church, by the use of bread and the fruit of the vine, commemorate together the death of Christ (13). This commemoration should always be preceded by careful self-examination (14). The church and its members should have as primary goals the evangelization of their own area, the extension of the gospel to the ends of the earth through Biblical missionary methods, and the edification of believers (15).

Some places where taught: (1) Matt. 16:18; I Cor. 12:13; Eph. 1:22-23. (2) Eph. 3:3-6. (3) Acts 2:41-42. (4) II Tim. 3:16-17. (5) Matt. 28:19-20; I Cor. 11:23-24. (6) I Tim. 3:1-16; Titus 1:5-9. (7) Matt. 18:15-18; Acts 6:3-5; I Cor. 5:4-5, 13; I Tim. 3:15. (8) Rom. 6:3-4; I Cor. 11:26. (9) Acts 8:36-39. (10) Matt. 28:19. (11) Rom. 6:3-4. (12) Acts 2:41-42. (13) I Cor. 11:26; Matt. 26:29. (14) I Cor. 11:28. (15) Acts 8:4; 11:20-21.

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