About Us

We are Great Commission churches partnering to present the Gospel and make disciples among our neighbors and on to the nations.

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Article I - Name

Section 1. The Name of this Association shall be the Bethlehem Baptist Association.

Section 2. The Bethlehem Baptist Association, a religious non-profit organization, is incorporated under the laws of the State of Alabama.

Article II - Purpose

The Purpose of this Association shall be to promote the Kingdom of the Lord Jesus Christ through the preaching and teaching of God’s Word, and to offer the affiliated churches an agency to promote all phases of work fostered by the Alabama Baptist Convention and the Southern Baptist convention.

Article III - Authority

This Association shall have no authority over any church, nor any right to interfere with its internal affairs.

Article IV - Articles of Faith

The Articles of Faith adopted by the Southern Baptist Convention in 1925, and revised in 1963 and in 2000, shall be the doctrine adopted by this association.

Article V - Membership

Section 1. Composition: The Bethlehem Baptist Association is composed of messengers elected by the affiliated churches.

Section 2. Applications:

Churches desiring to affiliate with the Association shall present a letter of application, a statistical letter covering the previous year or any portion thereof, to the Committee of Petitionary letters at least thirty days prior to the Annual Associational Meeting.
The petitioning church shall furnish other such evidence as to indicate its soundness in Baptist doctrines and practices.
Any petitioning churches shall be voted on by the Executive Committee and placed under watch care until voted on by the association at the annual meeting.
Churches seeking affiliation shall be admitted to the Association by a majority of the messengers present and voting. New messengers shall be seated immediately with all rights and privileges.

Section 3. Participation: Churches failing to send a letter or messengers to the Annual Association meeting for three (3) consecutive years shall be dropped from the list of affiliating churches.

Section 4. Messengers: Any affiliated church in this Association may send three messengers for the first fifty members, or less, and one additional messenger for each additional fifty members or major fraction thereof, not to exceed the total of ten.

Article VI - Organization

Section 1. Officers:

Moderator, Vice Moderator, Clerk, Treasurer.
These shall be elected at the first session of each Annual Associational meeting.
The Moderator, Vice Moderator and Treasurer shall take office at the close of the Annual Associational meeting in which they are elected.
The Clerk shall take office immediately upon election.
The officers of the Association shall be ex-officio members of committees of the Association.
The Director of Missions shall be an officer of the Association.

Section 2. Term of Office: The Moderator’s term of office shall be for one year, and the said Moderator may be re-elected for a second year, but may not be elected for more than two successive years.

Section 3. Duties of Officers:

Moderator: The Moderator shall preside over all meetings of the Association and Executive Committee, and perform all duties common to such office.
Vice Moderator: The Vice-Moderator shall preside over any meeting of the Association or Executive Committee in the absence of the Moderator.
Clerk: The Clerk shall keep correct minutes of all proceedings of the Association and prepare the same for publication and shall maintain a file of the printed minutes of each session of the body and shall deliver the same to the successors in office. In the absence of the Moderator or Vice-Moderator, the Clerk shall call the meeting to order for the purpose of electing a Moderator Pro-Tem.
Treasurer: The Treasurer shall have charge of all funds. He shall disburse these funds as directed by this body or its Executive Committee. He shall make an annual report of all receipts and expenditures, such other reports as may be requested by the Finance Committee or the Executive Committee.
Director of Missions: The Director of Missions shall be called by the association upon recommendation of a Search Committee appointed by Moderator and approved by the Executive Board. One member of the Search Committee shall be the Mission Development Director. The Director of Missions shall provide responsible leadership in the work of the association through performing such basic functions as the planning, correlation, and implementation of programs, program services, and ministries of the association, counsel to churches, interpretation of information, and good public relations with churches and community, offer leadership and have a good relationship with pastors and staff.

Section 4. Meetings:

The Association shall meet at such time and place as it shall designate. The Executive Committee, when sufficient emergency arises, may change the meeting either as to time or place.
The Association may be called into special session by the Executive Committee for any need requiring the immediate action of the Association.
Ten days written notice must be given to all churches calling for a special session of the Association.
Only the item of items of business for which the Association was called into special session, and noted in a letter shall be dealt with.

Section 5. Mission Performance Programs: The Director of each of the mission performance programs will be expected to report monthly to the Executive Committee and make an annual report to the Association.

Sunday School Program:
1. Duties – To assist and challenge churches to improve and enlarge all areas of their Sunday School through planning, training, administrative activities, consultation, program interpretation and cooperative projects.
2. Leaders – Sunday School Director and an ASSIST team composed of age group workers enlisted by the director.
Discipleship Training Programs:
1. Duties – To assist churches in starting, improving, and expanding Christian Discipleship through equipping church leaders, teaching Baptist Doctrine and polity, and interpreting the Discipleship Training program.
2. Leaders – Discipleship Training Director, and a team of workers responsible for new-member training, leader training, and age group workers enlisted by the director.
Men’s Ministries:
1. Duties – To help churches involve men and boys in missions education through training events, consultations, and in mission/ministry activities in cooperation with the Missions Development Program.
2. Leaders – The director shall enlist, at his discretion, others to assist in planning and carrying out the functions of this program.
Woman’s Missionary Union Program:
1. Duties – To assist churches in promoting missions, encouraging mission education, strengthening WMU work, and engaging in mission/ministry action in cooperation with the Missions Development Program.
2. Leaders – The WMU Director and a team composed of Directors for Baptist Women/Baptist Young Women, Acteens, Girls in Action, Mission Friends, Mission Study, Mission Action, Mission Support, and Enlistment\Enlargement.
Evangelism Program:
1. Duties – To lead the Association and its churches to address the priority of evangelism in its geographical area through promoting and training church evangelism strategy, holding mass evangelism events, and offering training in personal evangelism.
2. Leader – Evangelism Director and selected assistants.
Missions Development Program:
1. Duties – To lead churches and the Association to engage in mission/ministry needs, to promote and engage in missions development leaders, to coordinate associational missions at home and abroad, to oversee the Associational summer-missions program, and to become involved as needed in such areas as church extension, language missions, Christian social ministries, interfaith witness, black-church relations, and resort missions.
2. Leaders – The director along with directors of WMU and Men’s Ministries shall serve as the Missions Development Council.
Music Ministry Program:
1. Duties – To enhance the music programs of churches through establishing, conducting, enlarging, and improving their music ministry through conferences, workshops, mass choirs, and consultations.
2. Leaders – Music Ministry Director and assistants as needed, enlisted by the director.
Stewardship Development Program:
1. Duties – To assist churches in the development of individual, church and Associational stewardship through promoting Bible concepts, teaching personal responsibilities, advising on church budgeting and finances, and promoting the Associations’ program of work.
2. Leader – Stewardship Development Director.
Family Ministry Program:
1. Duties – To assist churches in the development of family ministries, to conduct programs in the association relative to family ministries, and to promote conferences and resources geared to the needs of families in the churches and in the community.
2. Leaders – Family Ministry Director.
Christian Life Program:
1. Duties – To make Christians aware of critical moral and social issues, to lead in Christian action, and to rally the churches to combat moral and social concerns.
2. Leaders – Christian Life Director
Campus Ministry Program:
1. Duties – To assist our churches in fulfilling their mission by reaching students and others for Christ at Alabama Southern Community College and helping them grow in faith and practice, Biblical understanding and church participation, training them in evangelistic outreach; involving them in missions and ministries; guiding them in developing their leadership skills; and leading them in celebrating the Kingdom of God.
2. Leaders – Campus Ministry Director and Campus Ministry Committee.
Youth Program:
1. Duties – To promote and conduct activities for the youth of this association. The director shall provide assistance and consultation to all the churches of this association in ministering to the youth of their communities.
2. Leaders – Youth Director. The director shall enlist a committee at his/her discretion, to assist in planning and carrying out the functions of this program.
Senior Adult Program:
1. Duties – To plan, promote, and conduct activities for the senior adults of this association. The director shall provide assistance and consultation to all the churches of this association ministering to senior adults in their communities.
2. Leaders – Senior Adult Director. The director may enlist an associate at his/her discretion to assist in the performance of duties.
Vacation Bible School: For the sake of continuity at the national and state convention levels, VBS operates under the Sunday School umbrella. For practical purposes in the association, VBS has its own line-item in the budget.
1. Duties – To assist churches of the association in preparing their leaders to conduct the Vacation Bible School of the Southern Baptist Convention. Each year the director enlist a VBS Team of leaders of the various age groups to be trained when the Alabama Baptist VBS Team conducts its Associational VBS Clinics. The associational team then schedules an Associational VBS Clinic where VBS Teams from the churches of the association can be trained to conduct their own VBS.
2. Leaders – Associational VBS Director who enlists his own team.

Article VII - Executive Committee

Section 1. Purposes: In the interim between Annual Association sessions, the business of the Association shall be committed to an Executive Committee.

Section 2. Membership: The Executive Committee shall be composed of the pastor and one lay-member from each affiliated church, the officers of the association, the elected Mission Performance Program Directors, all Committee Chairmen and Chairman of Trustees.

Section 3. Meetings:

The Executive Committee shall meet as soon after the Annual Associational session for organization purposes, and regularly each quarter thereafter, with the time and place to be designated by the Committee.
There are times when the transaction of business must occur prior to a regularly scheduled meeting. Therefore, special meetings may be called by the Moderator, Vice Moderator in the absence of the Moderator, or the Director of Missions after proper notifications has been given in order to conduct such business in a timely manner. Only that business for which the meeting was called will be conducted.

Section 4. Officers: The officers of the Association shall be the officers of the Executive Committee.

Section 5. Power: The Executive Committee shall have the power to declare and fill vacancies that might occur between the annual session of the Association.

Section 6. Instructions: This Committee shall endeavor to carry out the instructions of the Association to the best of its ability, and to promote its work throughout the year.

Section 7. Reports: The Executive Committee will make a report to the Annual Association meeting.

Section 8. Quorum: Ten members present at regularly announced meetings, after written notice has been given, shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business.

Article VIII - Committees

Section 1. Standing Committees:

The Standing Committees are: 1. Committee on Committees, 2. Nominating Committee, 3. Budget Committee, 4. Program Committee, 5. Historical Committee, 6. Memorial Committee, 7. Time, Place and Preacher Committee, 8. Resolution, 9. Constitution Committee, 10. Hospitality, 11. Petitionary Letters, 12. Campus Ministry, 13. Buildings and Properties.
Membership:
1. The membership shall vary from three to seven.
2. No two members shall be from any one church.

Section 2. A. Committees on Committees:

Membership: The Committee on Committees shall consist of three members appointed by the Moderator at the Annual Associational meeting. The Committee shall elect its own Chairman.
Duties of Committees: The Committee on Committees shall recommend to the Association for election the Chairman and members of all other standing committees of the Association and the Trustee elect.
Reports: The Committee on Committees shall recommend to the Executive Committee by September 1 the names of persons for Chairman and membership of all other standing committees of the Association for the year ahead and shall make a full and complete report to the Association at the Annual meeting for the purpose of election by the Association.

Section 2. B. Nominating Committee:

Membership: – The Nominating Committee shall consist of three members. When the Program Directors are named, they become members of the Nominating Committee for the purpose of assisting in the selection of their workers.
Duties: The Nominating Committee shall recommend to the Association for election the Directors and workers of the on-going programs of the Association; (Sunday School, Discipleship Training, Music, Evangelism, Missions Development, Stewardship, Family Ministry, Christian Life, Brotherhood, and Woman’s Missionary Union).
Reports: – The Nominating Committee shall recommend to the Executive Committee by April 30, the names of the Directors of the on-going programs of the Association for the year ahead and shall recommend to the Executive Committee by September 1, the names of all persons staffing the on-going programs for the year ahead and shall make a full and complete report to the Association at its Annual Meeting for the purpose for election by the Association.

Section 2. C. Budget Committee:

Duties: – This committee shall confer with all Officers and Program Directors and prepare the annual budget, based on needs. It shall make any suggested revisions in the budget during the year as necessity demands and with the approval of the Executive Committee.
Reports: – The Budget Committee shall present the budget to the Executive Committee by September 1, and to the Association for adoption at the annual meeting.

Section 2. D. Program Committee:

Duties: The Program Committee shall be responsible for putting the program together for the Association Annual meetings.
Reports: This Committee shall present the program at the first session of the annual meeting for adoption by the known messengers of the association who are present for the annual meeting.

Section 2. E. Historical Committee:

Duties: This Historical Committee shall be responsible for collecting and assembling historical information for the Association and helping to keep the churches informed as to importance of church records for historical purposes. This committee shall also be of assistance to churches when needed for helping them locate places of information for compiling their church history.
Reports: This Committee shall make regular reports at the annual meetings.

Section 2. F. Memorial Committee:

Duties: This Committee shall prepare a proper expression of honor to the saints from each church who have gone on to meet the Lord in the past year.
Reports: The Memorial Committee shall present their report to the Association at the annual meeting in a proper and fitting manner.

Section 2. G. Time, Place and Preacher Committee:

Duties: This Committee shall tentatively set the dates, places of meetings, and secure the preachers for the annual meetings.
Reports: The Time, Place and Preacher Committee shall make a full report at the annual meeting.

Section 2. H. Resolution Committee:

Duties: The Resolution Committee shall prepare and present to the Association expressions of courtesy and appreciation to host churches. It shall also formulate resolutions that are deemed necessary or requested by the association.
Reports: This Committee shall bring any and all resolutions before the Executive Committee and/or the Annual Meeting for approval.

Section 2. I. Constitution Committee:

Duties: It is the duty of this Committee to review and make any changes in the constitution that need to be made, with the approval of the association.
Reports: This Committee shall bring before the voting body of the association at the annual meeting, any changes or additions to the constitution for approval.

Section 2. J. Hospitality Committee:

Duties: This Committee will arrange and coordinate meals and any social event of the Association that will not be sponsored by an individual church.

Section 2. K. Petitionary Letters Committee:

Duties: This Committee shall act on any Petitionary letter from any church wishing to become a member of the association by inquiring into petitioning church’s Articles of Faith and Practice, manner and nature of constitution, fellowship, and its approval, by vote of the Association’s Constitution and By-laws.
Reports: This Committee shall make a full report of any Petitionary action received by them to the Executive Committee and to the annual meeting.

Section 2. L. Campus Ministry Committee:

Duties: This Committee shall advise and assist the Campus Minister in enabling students at Alabama Southern Community spiritually. They shall report to the ExecutiveCommittee as needed.

Section 2. M. Building and Properties Committee:

Duties: This Committee shall oversee the well-being and up-keep of all association buildings and properties and bring all necessary recommendations for improvements to the Executive Committee.

Section 3. Special or Ad Hoc Committees

Appointment – The Executive Committee or the Association may appoint a Special or Ad Hoc Committee to perform work required for a short-term or on a temporary basis.
Duties – Duties for this Committee shall be assigned at the time of their appointment. After completion of assigned duties, the Special or AD Hoc Committee will cease to function.
Reports – This Committee shall make full reports on assigned work in a timely and appropriate manner.

Article IX - Rules of Order

“Robert’s rules of Order,” Revised, as far as applicable, shall be followed in the government of the Association.

Article X - Trustees

Section 1. Membership:

The Association shall elect three trustees to hold property, both personal and real in the name of the Association.

Section 2. Nomination:

These Trustees shall be nominated by the Committee on Committees, and providing that nominations may also be made from the floor, be elected by the Association. One Trustee shall rotate off each year: no Trustee shall be qualified to succeed himself after three years. He may return to office after one year.
The Chairman shall be the senior member.

Section 3. Reports:

The Trustee’s Chairman shall be requested to make a monthly report to the Executive Committee.
The Trustee’s shall give a full report to the Association at its Annual Meeting.

Article XI - Holding Property

Section 1. The Association may hold property in its own name. This may be real estate, (houses which include home for the Director of Missions, office building), furniture, and equipment to maintain these in proper order and care. It may, for future purposes, and as need arises, own automotive transportation.

Section 2. Matters involving property, by purchase or sale, shall be done in the Annual Association meeting or a special called session of the Association.

Section 3. A complete file of holding documents shall be held and secured in a safety deposit box in a bank, and a copy be maintained on file at the Association’s office.

Article XII - Amendment

Section 1. This Constitution may be amended at any regular session of the Association by a two-thirds majority of the members present and voting, provided: a notice of such change shall be given at the first session of the Annual Meeting and voted on at the last session.

Bylaws

The provisional program for each Annual Meeting of the Association shall provide for not less than two session.
All session of the Association shall be opened with devotional exercises and closed with prayer.
Unless the Association directs otherwise, all reports shall be in writing.
In all matters of discussion, the speakers shall be required to confine their remarks to the subject before the body.
No member shall be interrupted while speaking unless such member departs from the subject under discussion or for personal reflections.
No member shall speak more than once on the same subject without permission of the Association.
A place shall be made in the order of business of the Association for miscellaneous business at each session of the Association.
No new matters of business shall be presented in the last session of the Association, except matters to be referred to the next Annual Meeting.
Should any church disqualify itself by practices, conduct, or preaching of doctrine contrary to the Statement of Faith of this association, the Executive Committee may, after failing to reconcile such church, recommend in our annual meeting such action to be taken as seems appropriate.
These By-Laws may be amended or altered in an Annual Meeting provided such amendment or alteration has been proposed in writing and read to the Association at the first annual session and voted on at the last session. A two-thirds vote shall be required to amend or alter these By-Laws.

(Constitution and By-Laws revised 10/25/93 and amended 10/17/2000. Last revision to the Constitution made October 15, 2002.)

Steve Dunn

Associational Missionary

steve@bethlehemba.org

Donna Kirchharr

Ministry Assistant

donna@bethlehemba.org

Barbara McMillan

Grady Milstead

Candis Busby

Anne Lambert

Jim Lambert

Baptist Faith & Message 2000

As a fellowship of churches, we affirm the Baptist Faith & Message as our shared statement of biblical conviction, guiding our beliefs and mission. Rooted in Scripture, it expresses our commitment to Christ, the authority of God’s Word, and the calling to make disciples of all nations. Read the full statement below.

I. The Scriptures

The Holy Bible was written by men divinely inspired and is God’s revelation of Himself to man. It is a perfect treasure of divine instruction. It has God for its author, salvation for its end, and truth, without any mixture of error, for its matter. Therefore, all Scripture is totally true and trustworthy. It reveals the principles by which God judges us, and therefore is, and will remain to the end of the world, the true center of Christian union, and the supreme standard by which all human conduct, creeds, and religious opinions should be tried. All Scripture is a testimony to Christ, who is Himself the focus of divine revelation.

Exodus 24:4; Deuteronomy 4:1-2; 17:19; Joshua 8:34; Psalms 19:7-10; 119:11,89,105,140; Isaiah 34:16; 40:8; Jeremiah 15:16; 36:1-32; Matthew 5:17-18; 22:29; Luke 21:33; 24:44-46; John 5:39; 16:13-15; 17:17; Acts 2:16ff.; 17:11; Romans 15:4; 16:25-26; 2 Timothy 3:15-17; Hebrews 1:1-2; 4:12; 1 Peter 1:25; 2 Peter 1:19-21.

II. God

There is one and only one living and true God. He is an intelligent, spiritual, and personal Being, the Creator, Redeemer, Preserver, and Ruler of the universe. God is infinite in holiness and all other perfections. God is all powerful and all knowing; and His perfect knowledge extends to all things, past, present, and future, including the future decisions of His free creatures. 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, essence, or being.

A. God the Father

God as Father reigns with providential care over His universe, His creatures, and the flow of the stream of human history according to the purposes of His grace. He is all powerful, all knowing, all loving, and all wise. God is Father in truth to those who become children of God through faith in Jesus Christ. He is fatherly in His attitude toward all men.

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; 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.

B. God the Son

Christ is the eternal Son of God. In His incarnation as Jesus Christ He was conceived of the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary. Jesus perfectly revealed and did the will of God, taking upon Himself human nature with its demands and necessities and identifying Himself completely with mankind yet without sin. He honored the divine law by His personal obedience, and in His substitutionary death on the cross He made provision for the redemption of men from sin. He was raised from the dead with a glorified body and appeared to His disciples as the person who was with them before His crucifixion. He ascended into heaven and is now exalted at the right hand of God where He is the One Mediator, fully God, fully man, in whose Person is effected the reconciliation between God and man. He will return in power and glory to judge the world and to consummate His redemptive mission. He now dwells in all believers as the living and ever present Lord.

Genesis 18:1ff.; Psalms 2:7ff.; 110:1ff.; Isaiah 7:14; Isaiah 53:1-12; 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; 9:12-15,24-28; 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.

C. God the Holy Spirit

The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of God, fully divine. He inspired holy men of old to write the Scriptures. Through illumination He enables men to understand truth. He exalts Christ. He convicts men of sin, of righteousness, and of judgment. He calls men to the Saviour, and effects regeneration. At the moment of regeneration He baptizes every believer into the Body of Christ. He cultivates Christian character, comforts believers, and bestows the spiritual gifts by which they serve God through His church. He seals the believer unto the day of final redemption. His presence in the Christian is the guarantee that God will bring the believer into the fullness of the stature of Christ. He enlightens and empowers the believer and the church in worship, evangelism, and service.

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.

III. Man

Man is the special creation of God, made in His own image. He created them male and female as the crowning work of His creation. The gift of gender is thus part of the goodness of God’s creation. In the beginning man was innocent of sin and was endowed by his Creator with freedom of choice. By his free choice man sinned against God and brought sin into the human race. Through the temptation of Satan man transgressed the command of God, and fell from his original innocence whereby his posterity inherit a nature and an environment inclined toward sin. Therefore, as soon as they are capable of moral action, they become transgressors and are under condemnation. Only the grace of God can bring man into His holy fellowship and enable man to fulfill the creative purpose of God. The sacredness of human personality is evident in that God created man in His own image, and in that Christ died for man; therefore, every person of every race possesses full dignity and is worthy of respect and Christian love.

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.

IV. Salvation

Salvation involves the redemption of the whole man, and is offered freely to all who accept Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour, who by His own blood obtained eternal redemption for the believer. In its broadest sense salvation includes regeneration, justification, sanctification, and glorification. There is no salvation apart from personal faith in Jesus Christ as Lord.

A. Regeneration, or the new birth, is a work of God’s grace whereby believers become new creatures in Christ Jesus. It is a change of heart wrought by the Holy Spirit through conviction of sin, to which the sinner responds in repentance toward God and faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. Repentance and faith are inseparable experiences of grace.

Repentance is a genuine turning from sin toward God. Faith is the acceptance of Jesus Christ and commitment of the entire personality to Him as Lord and Saviour.

B. Justification is God’s gracious and full acquittal upon principles of His righteousness of all sinners who repent and believe in Christ. Justification brings the believer unto a relationship of peace and favor with God.

C. 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. Growth in grace should continue throughout the regenerate person’s life.

D. Glorification is the culmination of salvation and is the final blessed and abiding state of the redeemed.

Genesis 3:15; Exodus 3:14-17; 6:2-8; Matthew 1:21; 4:17; 16:21-26; 27:22-28:6; Luke 1:68-69; 2:28-32; John 1:11-14,29; 3:3-21,36; 5:24; 10:9,28-29; 15:1-16; 17:17; 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; 8:1-18,29-39; 10:9-10,13; 13:11-14; 1 Corinthians 1:18,30; 6:19-20; 15:10; 2 Corinthians 5:17-20; Galatians 2:20; 3:13; 5:22-25; 6:15; Ephesians 1:7; 2:8-22; 4:11-16; Philippians 2:12-13; Colossians 1:9-22; 3:1ff.; 1 Thessalonians 5:23-24; 2 Timothy 1:12; Titus 2:11-14; Hebrews 2:1-3; 5:8-9; 9:24-28; 11:1-12:8,14; James 2:14-26; 1 Peter 1:2-23; 1 John 1:6-2:11; Revelation 3:20; 21:1-22:5.

V. God's Purpose of Grace

Election is the gracious purpose of God, according to which He regenerates, justifies, sanctifies, and glorifies sinners. It is consistent with the free agency of man, and comprehends all the means in connection with the end. It is the glorious display of God’s sovereign goodness, and is infinitely wise, holy, and unchangeable. It excludes boasting and promotes humility.

All true believers endure to the end. Those whom God has accepted in Christ, and sanctified by His Spirit, will never fall away from the state of grace, but shall persevere to the end. Believers may fall into sin through neglect and temptation, whereby they grieve the Spirit, impair their graces and comforts, and bring reproach on the cause of Christ and temporal judgments on themselves; yet they shall be kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation.

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

VI. The Church

A New Testament church of the Lord Jesus Christ is an autonomous local congregation of baptized believers, associated by covenant in the faith and fellowship of the gospel; observing the two ordinances of Christ, governed by His laws, exercising the gifts, rights, and privileges invested in them by His Word, and seeking to extend the gospel to the ends of the earth. Each congregation operates under the Lordship of Christ through democratic processes. In such a congregation each member is responsible and accountable to Christ as Lord. Its two scriptural offices are that of pastor/elder/overseer and deacon. While both men and women are gifted for service in the church, the office of pastor/elder/overseer is limited to men as qualified by Scripture.

The New Testament speaks also of the church as the Body of Christ which includes all of the redeemed of all the ages, believers from every tribe, and tongue, and people, and nation.

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; 5:22-32; Philippians 1:1; Colossians 1:18; 1 Timothy 2:9-14; 3:1-15; 4:14; Hebrews 11:39-40; 1 Peter 5:1-4; Revelation 2-3; 21:2-3.

**Note: This article was amended June 14, 2023, by action of the 2023 Southern Baptist Convention**

VII. 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 an act of obedience symbolizing the believer’s faith in a crucified, buried, and risen Saviour, the believer’s death to sin, the burial of the old life, and the resurrection to walk in newness of life in Christ Jesus. It is a testimony to his faith in the final resurrection of the dead. Being a church ordinance, it is prerequisite to the privileges of church membership and to the Lord’s Supper.

The Lord’s Supper is a symbolic act of obedience whereby members of the church, through partaking of the bread and the fruit of the vine, memorialize the death of the Redeemer and anticipate His second coming.

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; Colossians 2:12.

VIII. The Lord's Day

The first day of the week is the Lord’s Day. It is a Christian institution for regular observance. It commemorates the resurrection of Christ from the dead and should include exercises of worship and spiritual devotion, both public and private. Activities on the Lord’s Day should be commensurate with the Christian’s conscience under the Lordship of Jesus Christ.

Exodus 20:8-11; Matthew 12:1-12; 28:1ff.; Mark 2:27-28; 16:1-7; Luke 24:1-3,33-36; John 4:21-24; 20:1,19-28; Acts 20:7; Romans 14:5-10; I Corinthians 16:1-2; Colossians 2:16; 3:16; Revelation 1:10.

IX. The Kingdom

The Kingdom of God includes both His general sovereignty over the universe and His particular kingship over men who willfully acknowledge Him as King. Particularly the Kingdom is the realm of salvation into which men enter by trustful, childlike commitment to Jesus Christ. Christians ought to pray and to labor that the Kingdom may come and God’s will be done on earth. The full consummation of the Kingdom awaits the return of Jesus Christ and the end of this age.

Genesis 1:1; Isaiah 9:6-7; Jeremiah 23:5-6; Matthew 3:2; 4:8-10,23; 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; 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.

X. 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; and Christ will judge all men in righteousness. The unrighteous will be consigned to Hell, the place of everlasting punishment. The righteous in their resurrected and glorified bodies will receive their reward and will dwell forever in Heaven with the Lord.

Isaiah 2:4; 11:9; 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 14:10; 1 Corinthians 4:5; 15:24-28,35-58; 2 Corinthians 5:10; 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; Revelation 1:18; 3:11; 20:1-22:13.

XI. Evangelism and Missions

It is the duty and privilege of every follower of Christ and of every church of the Lord Jesus Christ to endeavor to make disciples of all nations. The new birth of man’s spirit by God’s Holy Spirit means the birth of love for others. Missionary effort on the part of all rests thus upon a spiritual necessity of the regenerate life, and is expressly and repeatedly commanded in the teachings of Christ. The Lord Jesus Christ has commanded the preaching of the gospel to all nations. It is the duty of every child of God to seek constantly to win the lost to Christ by verbal witness undergirded by a Christian lifestyle, and by other methods in harmony with the gospel of Christ.

Genesis 12:1-3; Exodus 19:5-6; Isaiah 6:1-8; Matthew 9:37-38; 10:5-15; 13:18-30, 37-43; 16:19; 22:9-10; 24:14; 28:18-20; Luke 10:1-18; 24:46-53; John 14:11-12; 15:7-8,16; 17:15; 20:21; Acts 1:8; 2; 8:26-40; 10:42-48; 13:2-3; Romans 10:13-15; Ephesians 3:1-11; 1 Thessalonians 1:8; 2 Timothy 4:5; Hebrews 2:1-3; 11:39-12:2; 1 Peter 2:4-10; Revelation 22:17.

XII. Education

Christianity is the faith of enlightenment and intelligence. In Jesus Christ abide all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. All sound learning is, therefore, a part of our Christian heritage. The new birth opens all human faculties and creates a thirst for knowledge. Moreover, the cause of education in the Kingdom of Christ is co-ordinate with the causes of missions and general benevolence, and should receive along with these the liberal support of the churches. An adequate system of Christian education is necessary to a complete spiritual program for Christ’s people.

In Christian education there should be a proper balance between academic freedom and academic responsibility. Freedom in any orderly relationship of human life is always limited and never absolute. The freedom of a teacher in a Christian school, college, or seminary is limited by the pre-eminence of Jesus Christ, by the authoritative nature of the Scriptures, and by the distinct purpose for which the school exists.

Deuteronomy 4:1,5,9,14; 6:1-10; 31:12-13; Nehemiah 8:1-8; Job 28:28; Psalms 19:7ff.; 119:11; Proverbs 3:13ff.; 4:1-10; 8:1-7,11; 15:14; Ecclesiastes 7:19; Matthew 5:2; 7:24ff.; 28:19-20; Luke 2:40; 1 Corinthians 1:18-31; Ephesians 4:11-16; Philippians 4:8; Colossians 2:3,8-9; 1 Timothy 1:3-7; 2 Timothy 2:15; 3:14-17; Hebrews 5:12-6:3; James 1:5; 3:17.

XIII. Stewardship

God is the source of all blessings, temporal and spiritual; all that we have and are we owe to Him. Christians have a spiritual debtorship to the whole world, a holy trusteeship in the gospel, and a binding stewardship in their possessions. They are therefore under obligation to serve Him with their time, talents, and material possessions; and should recognize all these as entrusted to them to use for the glory of God and for helping others. According to the Scriptures, Christians should contribute of their means cheerfully, regularly, systematically, proportionately, and liberally for the advancement of the Redeemer’s cause on earth.

Genesis 14:20; Leviticus 27:30-32; Deuteronomy 8:18; Malachi 3:8-12; Matthew 6:1-4,19-21; 19:21; 23:23; 25:14-29; Luke 12:16-21,42; 16:1-13; Acts 2:44-47; 5:1-11; 17:24-25; 20:35; Romans 6:6-22; 12:1-2; 1 Corinthians 4:1-2; 6:19-20; 12; 16:1-4; 2 Corinthians 8-9; 12:15; Philippians 4:10-19; 1 Peter 1:18-19.

XIV. Cooperation

Christ’s people should, as occasion requires, organize such associations and conventions as may best secure cooperation for the great objects of the Kingdom of God. Such organizations have no authority over one another or over the churches. They are voluntary and advisory bodies designed to elicit, combine, and direct the energies of our people in the most effective manner. Members of New Testament churches should cooperate with one another in carrying forward the missionary, educational, and benevolent ministries for the extension of Christ’s Kingdom. Christian unity in the New Testament sense is spiritual harmony and voluntary cooperation for common ends by various groups of Christ’s people. Cooperation is desirable between the various Christian denominations, when the end to be attained is itself justified, and when such cooperation involves no violation of conscience or compromise of loyalty to Christ and His Word as revealed in the New Testament.

Exodus 17:12; 18:17ff.; Judges 7:21; Ezra 1:3-4; 2:68-69; 5:14-15; Nehemiah 4; 8:1-5; Matthew 10:5-15; 20:1-16; 22:1-10; 28:19-20; Mark 2:3; Luke 10:1ff.; Acts 1:13-14; 2:1ff.; 4:31-37; 13:2-3; 15:1-35; 1 Corinthians 1:10-17; 3:5-15; 12; 2 Corinthians 8-9; Galatians 1:6-10; Ephesians 4:1-16; Philippians 1:15-18.

XV. The Christian and the Social Order

All Christians are under obligation to seek to make the will of Christ supreme in our own lives and in human society. Means and methods used for the improvement of society and the establishment of righteousness among men can be truly and permanently helpful only when they are rooted in the regeneration of the individual by the saving grace of God in Jesus Christ. In the spirit of Christ, Christians should oppose racism, every form of greed, selfishness, and vice, and all forms of sexual immorality, including adultery, homosexuality, and pornography. We should work to provide for the orphaned, the needy, the abused, the aged, the helpless, and the sick. We should speak on behalf of the unborn and contend for the sanctity of all human life from conception to natural death. Every Christian should seek to bring industry, government, and society as a whole under the sway of the principles of righteousness, truth, and brotherly love. In order to promote these ends Christians should be ready to work with all men of good will in any good cause, always being careful to act in the spirit of love without compromising their loyalty to Christ and His truth.

Exodus 20:3-17; Leviticus 6:2-5; Deuteronomy 10:12; 27:17; Psalm 101:5; Micah 6:8; Zechariah 8:16; Matthew 5:13-16,43-48; 22:36-40; 25:35; Mark 1:29-34; 2:3ff.; 10:21; Luke 4:18-21; 10:27-37; 20:25; John 15:12; 17:15; Romans 12–14; 1Corinthians 5:9-10; 6:1-7; 7:20-24; 10:23-11:1; Galatians 3:26-28; Ephesians 6:5-9; Colossians 3:12-17; 1 Thessalonians 3:12; Philemon; James 1:27; 2:8.

XVI. Peace and War

It is the duty of Christians to seek peace with all men on principles of righteousness. In accordance with the spirit and teachings of Christ they should do all in their power to put an end to war.

The true remedy for the war spirit is the gospel of our Lord. The supreme need of the world is the acceptance of His teachings in all the affairs of men and nations, and the practical application of His law of love. Christian people throughout the world should pray for the reign of the Prince of Peace.

Isaiah 2:4; Matthew 5:9,38-48; 6:33; 26:52; Luke 22:36,38; Romans 12:18-19; 13:1-7; 14:19; Hebrews 12:14; James 4:1-2.

XVII. Religious Liberty

God alone is Lord of the conscience, and He has left it free from the doctrines and commandments of men which are contrary to His Word or not contained in it. Church and state should be separate. The state owes to every church protection and full freedom in the pursuit of its spiritual ends. In providing for such freedom no ecclesiastical group or denomination should be favored by the state more than others. Civil government being ordained of God, it is the duty of Christians to render loyal obedience thereto in all things not contrary to the revealed will of God. The church should not resort to the civil power to carry on its work. The gospel of Christ contemplates spiritual means alone for the pursuit of its ends. The state has no right to impose penalties for religious opinions of any kind. The state has no right to impose taxes for the support of any form of religion. A free church in a free state is the Christian ideal, and this implies the right of free and unhindered access to God on the part of all men, and the right to form and propagate opinions in the sphere of religion without interference by the civil power.

Genesis 1:27; 2:7; Matthew 6:6-7,24; 16:26; 22:21; John 8:36; Acts 4:19-20; Romans 6:1-2; 13:1-7; Galatians 5:1,13; Philippians 3:20; 1 Timothy 2:1-2; James 4:12; 1 Peter 2:12-17; 3:11-17; 4:12-19.

XVIII. 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.

Marriage is the uniting of one man and one woman in covenant commitment for a lifetime. It is God’s unique gift to reveal the union between Christ and His church and to provide for the man and the woman in marriage the framework for intimate companionship, the channel of sexual expression according to biblical standards, and the means for procreation of the human race.

The husband and wife are of equal worth before God, since both are created in God’s image. The marriage relationship models the way God relates to His people. A husband is to love his wife as Christ loved the church. He has the God-given responsibility to provide for, to protect, and to lead his family. A wife is to submit herself graciously to the servant leadership of her husband even as the church willingly submits to the headship of Christ. She, being in the image of God as is her husband and thus equal to him, has the God-given responsibility to respect her husband and to serve as his helper in managing the household and nurturing the next generation.

Children, from the moment of conception, are a blessing and heritage from the Lord. Parents are to demonstrate to their children God’s pattern for marriage. Parents are to teach their children spiritual and moral values and to lead them, through consistent lifestyle example and loving discipline, to make choices based on biblical truth. Children are to honor and obey their parents.

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; Psalms 127; Psalms 128; 139:13-16; Proverbs 1:8; 5:15-20; 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; Ecclesiastes 4:9-12; 9:9; Malachi 2:14-16; Matthew 5:31-32; 18:2-5; 19:3-9; Mark 10:6-12; Romans 1:18-32; 1 Corinthians 7:1-16; 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.

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Baptist Faith & Message 2000

Steve Dunn

Associational Missionary

steve@bethlehemba.org

Donna Kirchharr

Ministry Assistant

donna@bethlehemba.org

Barbara McMillan

Grady Milstead

Candis Busby

Anne Lambert

Jim Lambert

Baptist Faith & Message 2000