Belonging to this church

Foremost, we accept the canonized sixty-six books of the Holy Bible as authoritative, inerrant, and sufficient in matters of faith, word, and practice.

We are orthodox. We affirm the Nicene Creed.

We are Protestant. We affirm the five solas of the Reformation: Scripture alone, faith alone, grace alone, Christ alone, glory to God alone.

We are Baptist. We affirm the Baptist Faith and Message (2000).

The chief purpose of Jefferson Park Baptist Church is to glorify God and enjoy Him forever. To this end, we will faithfully proclaim the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ both locally and beyond, making and living as His disciples through the power of the Holy Spirit.

As baptized believers in the Lord Jesus Christ, we gladly enter into this covenant as members of Jefferson Park Baptist Church. By God's grace, we therefore dedicate ourselves to live together as His disciples.

(Galatians 3:26-28; 1 Peter 2:4-5; James 5:12)

We will regularly join in public worship, Bible study, and prayer as a church family. We will also observe baptism and the Lord's Supper, the ordinances of Christ.

(Ephesians 5:19-20; 2 Timothy 3:16-17; Matthew 26:26-29; 28:19; Romans 6:3-4; 1 Corinthians 11:23-29)

We will maintain private and family worship, Bible study, and prayer. We will uphold godly homes and marriages where Christ is honored.

(2 Timothy 3:16-17; Genesis 2; Deuteronomy 6; Proverbs 22:6; Ephesians 5:22-6:4)

We will be good stewards of our time and resources. We will fulfill our call to serve the body with our gifts. We will also be good stewards of our bodies, not abusing ourselves through addiction or excess.

(Matthew 25:19-23; 1 Peter 4:10-11; 1 Corinthians 6:19-20; Ephesians 5:18)

We will watch over each other in brotherly love. We will pray for each other. We will participate in each other's joys, and endeavor with tenderness and sympathy to bear each other's burdens and sorrows.

(John 13:34-35; Galatians 6:2; Ephesians 4:1-3)

We will humbly warn a brother who is in danger of falling into disobedience or error. We will speak the truth in love, be slow to take offense, and be eager to seek swift and lasting reconciliation.

(Galatians 6:1; Ephesians 4:15)

We will pray for our leaders and submit to them as they lead us to Christ through Scripture, teaching and correcting with gentleness.

(Ephesians 4:11-16; 5:21; 2 Timothy 2:24-26; Hebrews 13:17; 1 Peter 5:1-3)

We will faithfully proclaim the gospel and evangelize the lost. We will cooperate with other believers to advance the cause of Christ in whatever ways God leads us.

(Matthew 28:18-20)

If we leave this church, we will, in a timely manner, seek to join with another church of like purpose and doctrine, where we can carry out the spirit of this covenant.

(Hebrews 10:25)

Any member consistently neglectful of his or her duties expressed in the Covenant or guilty of conduct by which the name of our Lord Jesus Christ may be dishonored, and so opposing the welfare of the church, shall be subject to the admonition of the elders and the discipline of the church. The elders shall follow the biblical guidelines for corrective church discipline as outlined in Matthew 18:15-17; Romans 12:18; 1 Corinthians 5:4-5; 2 Corinthians 2:6-7; Galatians 6:1; and 1 Timothy 5:19-20.

Corrective church discipline should ordinarily be contemplated after individual private admonition has failed. Anyone with a charge against a fellow member shall attempt to address the concern in accordance with Jesus' instructions in Matthew 18. Should one's brother or sister in Christ refuse to listen, the concern shall be taken to the elders. The elders shall be entrusted with the responsibility of pursuing both formative and corrective discipline, including admonition; suspension from the Lord's Table; removal from ministry, service, and teaching responsibilities; and, if necessary, recommendation of removal from membership. A two-thirds vote at any members' meeting with two weeks' notice is required for dismissal.

Any member having moved out of the local area who has not already transferred membership to another church shall be removed from membership in this church after six months, unless the elders recommend continued membership due to particular circumstances.

First and foremost, this church and its members are under the Lordship and headship of Jesus Christ, as he is revealed in Scripture.

(Ephesians 1:22-23; Colossians 1:18)

The biblical offices in the church are elders and deacons,

(1 Timothy 3:1-13; Philippians 1:1; Titus 1:5-9)

but final earthly authority is vested in the assembled congregation.

(Matthew 18:17; Acts 6:5; 11:29; 15:4, 12, 22-23; 1 Corinthians 5:4-5; 12:27; 2 Corinthians 2:6; 1 Peter 2:5, 9-10)

• Recommendation and approval of elders and deacons
• Approval of membership and discipline matters
• Approval of the Statement of Faith and Covenant
• Approval of the Constitution and any amendments
• Approval of the annual budget and other significant financial decisions
• Approval of mission partnerships
• Approval of such other matters as may be submitted to a vote

Only members shall be entitled to serve in the ministries of the church; non-members may serve on an ad-hoc basis with the approval of the elders. Notwithstanding, non-members may serve the church for purposes of administration and professional consultation.

• Care for the body
• Shepherd the body through edification, discipleship, and equipping members for service, as well as by admonition and correction
• Be examples to the body, which they love as under-shepherds of Christ
• Lead in prayer and the ministry of the word
• Oversee public worship services and the ordinances
• Oversee teaching, appoint teachers, and protect doctrine
• Oversee the deacons and their ministries
• Evaluate and nominate elder and deacon candidates
• Appoint and oversee any committees, coordinators, and agents as needed
• Lead the church through the membership and discipline processes
• Lead the church in evangelism, outreach, missions, and mission partnerships
• Pray over and anoint the sick, when called upon
• Exercise primary responsibility for the employment, supervision, and evaluation of staff
• Approve any outside speakers or other uses of the facilities

All elders are equal in authority. All elders are uniquely gifted and should complement each other. Staff elders are called out for specific purposes as gifted.

• Caring for the physical needs of the church's members
• Assisting the elders in promoting, receiving, holding, and disbursing a fund for benevolence, reporting on its use to the elders at their request, and reporting to the church its total receipts and total disbursements only
• Maintaining and promoting the physical upkeep of properties and facilities
• Assisting the elders in preparing and managing the church's budget
• Supervising the collection and counting of the offering
• Maintaining and promoting church and member hospitality
• Preparing and organizing for public ministry and worship, including (but not limited to): assisting with the Lord's Supper and baptism; greeting worship attenders before worship and fellowshipping with worship attenders after worship; and setting up, maintaining, and taking down equipment for church functions

Deacons, with the agreement of the elders, may establish unpaid administrative positions or committees of members to assist them in fulfilling their responsibilities to the church.

We recognize the practical necessity of certain administrative positions.

The treasurer shall be nominated annually by the elders and approved by vote at a members' meeting to serve a renewable one-year term. No active elder, deacon or paid staff member of the church shall be eligible for the office of treasurer. The treasurer may be removed from office upon the recommendation of the elders and the subsequent approval by vote at a members' meeting.

The assistant treasurer shall assist the treasurer as needed and shall be empowered to sign checks during the temporary absence of the treasurer, reporting any such activity promptly upon the treasurer's return. The assistant treasurer shall meet the same eligibility requirements and be nominated, elected, and removed in the same manner as the treasurer.

There shall be a regular members' meeting at least quarterly, at some time apart from a public worship service agreed upon by the membership. Additional members' meetings may be called as required by the elders, or by the church in a members' meeting. The date, time, and purpose of any meeting shall be announced at least two weeks before the meeting. As necessary, the elders may postpone any meeting for one week when unusual circumstances may prevent a sufficient number of members from attending.

A moderator designated by the elders shall preside at all members' meetings of the church. The elders shall see that the stated meetings of the church are regularly held and that required reports are submitted to the church by the responsible members.

Provided all constitutional provisions for notification have been met, the members present shall constitute a quorum. All votes shall be tallied based on the number of votes cast by members present; in addition, any member serving under the commission of this church on the mission field shall also be eligible to vote remotely.

At any members' meeting, officers may be elected and positions filled as needed, so long as all relevant constitutional requirements have been met.

Those who have been allocated funds in the budget may spend such allocations according to established procedure without further approval of the church as long as the treasurer who releases such funds concurs that the expenditure is within the budgeted allotment and verifies that the church has the money to cover the expenditure.

Those bringing a motion before a members' meeting to spend church funds that are not budgeted or that are in excess of a budgeted item must first confer with the elders and any deacon with related responsibility regarding the proposed expenditure.

The elders, in consultation with any deacon with related responsibility, may authorize individual non-budgeted expenditures of up to $5000.00 without consulting the church in a members' meeting. Any such expenditure shall be reported at the next members' meeting.

No money shall be solicited by or on behalf of the church or any of its ministries without the approval of the elders.

The Statement of Faith or Covenant may be amended upon the recommendation of the elders and the subsequent approval by a two-thirds vote at a members' meeting with two weeks' notice, provided the amendment shall have been offered in writing at the previous members' meeting.

Any other article of this Constitution may be amended by a two-thirds vote at a members' meeting with two weeks' notice, provided the amendment shall have been offered in writing at the previous members' meeting.