Revised as of October 9, 2023. Second revision as of October 25, 2025. Accepted on this day October 28, 2023, 112th Annual Meeting of the association. CONSTITUTION AND BYLAWS FOR THE RIO GRAND VALLEY BAPTIST ASSOCIATION ARTICLE I “NAME" The name of this body shall be RIO GRANDE VALLEY BAPTIST ASSOCIATION: and hereafter shall be called "ASSOCIATION". Serving Cameron, Willacy, Hidalgo, and Starr Counties. ARTICLE Il "PURPOSE" "GENERAL OBJECTIVES" The purpose of the Association shall be (1) to aid in the establishment and promotion of missionary, benevolent and educational work within our Association area; (2) The Association exists to create, develop and foster partnerships that help churches fulfill God's mission in their context. (3) to promote the interest of the Kingdom of Jesus Christ throughout the world in harmonious cooperation with the Baptist General Convention of Texas and may be in harmonious cooperation with the Southern Baptist Convention of Texas, Hispanic Baptist Convention of Texas, and Southern Baptist Convention, SECTION B "RELATIONSHIPS" Sub. Sec. 1 - This Association shall be composed of autonomous churches and shall not exercise authority over such churches. Sub. Sec, 2 — This Association may share relationships with other Christian entities that are in line with our historical statements of faith. Sub. Sec. 3 - This Association may cooperate with other Baptist entities, such as National Conventions, State Conventions, Baptist Associations or other entities in an endeavor to fulfill our mission, core values and strategy for kingdom impact. ARTICLE III "MEMBERSHIP" SECTION A "PRINCIPLE" As a basic principle involved in the interpretation of the term "association," this body holds that the association of churches possesses a two-fold nature. This affirms the two-fold sense in which that term shall be used: Sub. Sec. 1 — The Association is a common fellowship constituted by regular Baptist Churches that are in harmony and cooperation with the objectives set forth in these Bylaws. The word regular" shall be construed to mean a church whose membership is made up wholly of individuals who have been scripturally baptized into a Baptist church of like faith and order. Sub. Sec. 2 —As an independent autonomous body at the time authoritatively assembled, it is composed of messengers duly elected by the churches and from such other churches as shall be admitted to its fellowship by a unanimous vote of the assembled messengers at any Annual Meeting of the Association. SECTION B "QUALIFICATIONS" Sub. Sec. 1 — Churches shall regularly be independent bodies organized on accepted principles common to Baptist General Convention of Texas Sun'. Sec. 2 — The policy of church government for each church shall be congregational to assure full and unrestricted control of (1) its membership (2) its component organizations, and (3) its officers. Sub. Sec. 3 — The pastors of member churches shall preach, and their congregations endorse such doctrines believed by Baptist General Convention of Texas to be taught in the Bible. Sub. Sec. 4 — Each church shall cooperate and support of the Association and shall contribute regularly to the financial support of the Association by giving a minimum of $300.00 annually before the first Executive Board meeting or no later than January 30th, whichever comes first for the most recent associational approved annual budget to maintain voting privileges. Sub. Sec. 5 — Each church shall be a member of only one local association, the Rio Grande Valley Baptist Association. Sub. Sec. 6 — Churches shall furnish letters containing detailed information as to total membership to establish number of messengers. Sub. Sec. 7 - The Association may recognize an unaffiliated Baptist Church, in other words one that does not meet any or all the above six qualifications for membership, to enter into a relationship through an affiliation agreement with the Association. The Association Executive Board shall set the terms of any affiliation agreement. The Association, at its annual meeting, may or may not approve any such agreement. SECTION C "REPRESENTATION" Each cooperating church shall elect messengers to the Annual Meeting of the association. Churches shall be entitled to representation on the following basis: Sub. Sec. 1 — Churches with a resident membership of three hundred (300), or less, shall be entitled to five messengers. Sub. Sec. 2 — Churches with a resident membership of more than three (300) members shall be entitled to one (1) additional messenger for each additional one hundred (100) resident members or major fraction thereof. Sub. Sec. 3 — No church shall have more than fifteen (15) messengers. Sub. Sec. 4 — Because of the unique nature of the work of the Rio Grande Valley Baptist Association, all congregations and churches shall be entitled to representation on the same basis as set out in Sub. Sec. 1 and Sub. Sec. 2. SECTION D "SEATING OF MESSENGERS" Sub. Sec. 1 — Messengers from the churches shall be seated upon certification by the clerk of their election by their respective churches ("seated" shall mean in person). Sub. Sec. 2 - It shall be the privilege of any member to challenge the seating of the messengers of any church. Such challenge must be presented in writing and may be based on only one or more of the six (6) qualifications set out in section B of this article. Div. A — The challenged messengers shall have the right to vote until their case shall have been decided by a majority vote of messengers present and voting in open session. Div. B — If the body wishes, the manner may be dealt with immediately with equal time being given to the challenged and/or challengers. Div. C - If, however, the body wishes to proceed with the order of the day, the matter shall be referred to the committee of Credentials for study and recommendation at some other hour during the Annual Meeting, or at a special meeting of the Association, subsequent to the Annual Meeting. Div, D — In any case, the challenged messengers shall have the right of defense and/or refutation. SECTION E “RECEPTION INTO THE FELLOWSHIP" Sub. Sec. 1 —Any new church desiring representation in the Association shall be at least one year old at the time of the annual Meeting of the Association. Application shall be made at least sixty (60) days before the first secession of the Annual Meeting of the Association through a petitionary letter presented by messengers duly elected by the applying church, stating: Part (1)—The manner by which the church was constituted; and, Part (2) —That the church has adopted the 1963 Baptist Faith and Message; Plus, Article XVIIE added in 1998 to Baptist faith and Message in reference to the family. and Par. (3) — That the church is contributing to the Rio Grande Valley Baptist Association, the Baptist General Convention of Texas, and be encouraged to contribute to the Southern Baptist Convention of Texas, the Hispanic Baptist Convention and the Southern Baptist Convention through the cooperative program. Sub. Sec. 2 — If the Credential/Petitioners committee finds that the applying church qualifies according to the requirements in Section B of this Article, it shall present its report as the first order of business in the first session after the Annual Meeting has been organized. The recommendation to accept the petitioning church will then proceed only if there is representation of that church, in the session of the same annual meeting. The principle of unity of fellowship among the churches, as expressed by a UNANIMOUS VOTE in the admission of new Churches, shall be observed. In the case of objection, the matter will be referred to the Credential/Petitioners letters committee immediately without discussion to determine in committee conference the validity of the objections, whether the objection involves the matter of fellowship between or among the churches. Recommendation must be carried out by a 75% majority roll call vote of the messengers present. The Moderator shall then extend the hand of fellowship for the Association. SECTION F "LETTERS AND REPORTS" Each church in the fellowship of the Association shall furnish Annual letters containing detailed information as to membership, finances, and statistics concerning the various organizations of the church and other such data revealing the spiritual condition of the reporting church no later than 30 days before the Associational Annual meeting. This report shall be admitted on a form approved by the Association. SECTION G "MEETINGS" The Association shall meet annually at such time and place as will be voted upon by the Association, ARTICLE IV "JURISDICTION SECTION A "DETERMINATION" Sub. Sec. 1 — The Association does not claim for itself any authority or ecclesiastical jurisdiction over any church in the fellowship either in its origin, in its act of constitution, into a church or in the conduct of its own affairs. Sub. Sec 2 — However, since the qualifications of a church (as set forth in Section B — Article Ill to hold membership it its fellowship are matters which involves the harmonious working together of the church, the Association, when authoritatively assembled, shall reserve for itself certain rights, namely: Div. A — It shall be the sole judge of the membership of its own body. Par. (1) — It shall determine in the Annual Meeting the qualifications and fitness of its own membership, both to churches of the common fellowship, and as to the individual messengers. Par. (2)—It reserves the right to deny membership to the messengers of any church. Div. B — It shall have the right to inquire into matters involving regularity, polity spirit of the cooperation of a church. Par. (1)—Following such inquiry, the church under criticism shall be given a hearing in an open meeting of the Association. Par. (2)—To avoid fraction, the Association may recommend to any group contemplating the formation of a new church to seek the counsel of its officers as to the advisability of establishing a new church in the geographical area it proposes to locate itself. Div. C — It may sever its relations with any church that in its judgment, as determined in open session, may have erred from the faith and practice expressed in the New Testament as commonly held by Baptist General Convention of Texas, and which shall fail to meet the above qualifications for a church to hold membership it its fellowship. Part (1)—The Association shall take such action only after the Credential/Petitioner Letter Committee has conferred with the church to work out the differences. Part (2)—If a thorough and prayer guided investigation justifies, the Association may declare in open session that a church may no longer be a member of the Association upon a majority vote of the messengers present and voting. SECTION B "RELATIONS OF MEMBER CHURCHES" Sub. Sec. 1 — It shall be the duty of each church in the fellowship contribute regularly to the work of Baptists as fostered by the Rio Grande Valley Baptist Association, The Baptist General Convention of Texas, and also be encouraged to contribute to the Southern Baptist Convention of Texas, the Hispanic Baptist Convention and the Southern Baptist Convention through the cooperative program. Sub. Sec. 2 - Any Churches failing to contribute to such denominational missionary programs for a period of one year or longer shall be strongly encouraged in brotherly love to grow in the spirit of mission giving. ARTICLE V "OFFICERS" SECTION A "ELECTION" Sub. Sec. 1 — The body of the Association annually shall elect people to serve as Moderator, Vice-Moderator, Clerk, Assistant Clerk, and Treasurer who shall be known as Executive Officers of the Association. Sub. Sec. 2 - The body shall annually elect five (5) people to serve as Trustees for the Association. Sub. Sec. 3 — The body shall annually elect standing Associational Committees as Follows: Budget and Finance Committee Constitution and By-Laws committee Credential/Petitioners Letters Committee Nominating Committee Personnel Committee Missions Committee Evangelism Committee Committee members shall elect their chairperson, and such chairpersons shall be considered administrative officers. Sub. Sec. 4 — All people nominated for positions in the Association must be a member of a church in good standing within the Association. Such people will only hold one Association Elected Position at a time within the Association. SECTION B "METHOD OF ELECTION" Sub. Sec. l — Executive Officers shall be nominated by the Nominating Committee at the First session of the Annual Meeting, after which opportunity shall be given for nominations from the floor. If there is more than one nomination for any office, that vote shall be by ballot. They shall be elected by majority vote during the last session of the annual Meeting. Div. A — No person shall serve as Moderator for more than two (2) successive years. Div. B — These Executive Officers shall be presented as nominees at the July meeting of the Executive Board. Sub. Sec. 2 - The Trustees shall be nominated by the Nominating Committee and elected by the Association. SECTION C “FUNCTION AND DUTIES" Sub. Sec. 1 - The functions duties of the Executive Officers shall include: Div. A the Moderator shall preside at all meetings of the Association. He shall be an ex-officio member of all committees, attending all such meetings with personal privilege of discussion as he deems necessary but without the power of the committee vote. He also shall serve as Chairman of the Executive Board. Moderator/Chairman may not participate in voting, debating, or making of motions. Moderator/Chairman shall be impartial, objective, and maintain order according to "Robert's Rules of Order". Div. B — The Vice-Moderator shall succeed the Moderator to position Moderator in the case of vacancy of that office. The Executive Board shall then elect a person to fill the vacancy of Vice-Moderator so created. Div. C —The Clerk shall keep accurate record of the proceedings of the Association and shall supervise the printing of the minutes and attend to such work as belonging to his office. Div. D — The Assistant Clerk shall assist the clerk in any way deemed advisable in the dispatch of the Clerk's duties. In the event the Clerk becomes unable to perform his duties, this officer shall serve as Clerk, until the next Annual Meeting of the Association. Div. E The Treasurer shall receive and disburse all funds belonging to the Association as the Association may direct. Monthly reports shall be furnished to the Association Executive Board and Annual Report to the Association. Signatures for all accounts shall be the Treasurer and Chair of the Budget and Finance committee. Both signatures shall be required on all checks. Sub. Sec. 2 - The Trustees shall be official legal representatives for the Association in all legal matters involving property, personal or real, and such other functions as the Executive Board or the Association at its annual meeting may direct. Sub. Sec. 3 — The Administrative Officers of the organization all perform the duties ordinarily associated with their respective offices and shall direct and promote the work of their organizations and committees in the best manner possible. Although each respective committee elects these officers annually, they shall be eligible for re-election as often as it is mutually agreeable between such officers and their committees. Sub. Sec. 4 - All Administrative officers shall assume their duties at the first meeting of their perspective committees after the closing of the Annual Meeting. and shall serve through the next Annual Meeting or until their successor shall be elected. Sub. Sec. 5 – The Nominating Committee shall incorporate the volunteers to serve in their respective positions for one (1), two (2), or Three (3) years. SECTION D "VACANCIES" The Executive Board shall elect successors for all vacancies occurring between the Annual Meeting of the Association for the remaining portion of the Associational year when no provision for filling vacancies has been made in these By-Laws. ARTICLE "EXECUTIVE BOARD" SECTION A "MEMBERSHIP" Sub. Sec. 1 — The Lead or Senior pastor of each cooperative church, and the officers of the Association shall be members of the Board. Sub. Sec. 2 - Two (2) additional Board members of each cooperative church and the nominations shall be certified via the submission of the church's Annual Letter (Annual Church Profile form) to the Association. Churches with resident membership of above five hundred (500) members shall be eligible for an additional elected member for each five hundred (500) resident's members, or major fraction thereof. No church shall be eligible for more than four (4) elected members. Div. A— Each nominee shall possess a missionary spirit and manifest a strong interest in the program of the Association. Div. B —These nominees for the Executive Board from the cooperating churches shall be subject to elections by the Association in its Annual Meeting. SECTION B "MEETINGS" Sub. Sec. 1 — The Executive Board shall hold meetings every two months. Sub. Sec. 2 - Should any special Executive meetings be necessary, the Chairman/Moderator shall have the authority empowered to call such meeting after a five (5) business day notice has been sent to all Board members. Sub. Sec. 3 - If for any reason the Executive Board Membership, "AT LARGE," wishes to meet, ten churches of the Executive Board may call a meeting. Same five business days' notice shall apply. The meeting shall be for a specific reason only and no topics other than what is Posted and sent out with notice will be discussed. Sub. Sec. 4 - All appendices, documents and/or materials to be used during any Executive Board meeting relating to the line items on agenda must be distributed five (5) business days before such meeting. Failure to do so will mean no action will be taken. Such items shall not be discussed or voted on. Sub. Sec. 5 — All committee, Boards and council meetings will be considered "Open Meetings" to all Associational messengers for observation purposes only, (save and exempt personnel committee). Any messenger attempting to engage in debate or disruptions Wilf be required to leave the meeting. Sub. Sec. 6 — Ali ex-officio members of all boards, committees or council shall not be accounted toward quorum. SECTION C "FUNCTIONS" Sub. Sec. 1 — The Board shall serve as the Executive Board for the Association between its Annual Meeting and shall have charge of its missionary, benevolent and educational ministries. Sub. Sec. 2 -In the event of vacancies among the Trustees or Executive Officers, or members of the Standing Committees, (save and except the nominating committee), between Annual Meetings of the Association, the Nominating Committee shall recommend people to the Executive Board to be elected to fill the existing vacancies until the next Annual Meeting of the Association. Recommendations shall be allowed from the floor. Sub. Sec. 3 — The Executive Board shall be responsible for nominating the nominating committee at the Annual Associational meeting. The Board shall also be responsible for filling any vacancies on the nominating committee in between annual Associational meeting. SECTION D "OFFICERS" Sub. Sec. 1 The Executive Officers for the Executive Board shall be the elected Executive Officers of the Association, namely Moderator, Vice Moderator, Clerk, Assistant Clerk, and Treasurer. Sub. Sec. 2 — The Board shall have authority to elect and employ such Associational staff personnel as follows, as deemed necessary. Div. A — Director of Missions shall be elected by the Board to serve if it is mutually agreeable. He shall maintain the Associational office and direct such employed personnel as may be necessary for effective ministry of the Association in conjunction with such appropriate committees as elected by the Association. Div. B — The Board shall elect and employ missions Associates as they feel may be necessary in expanding the total ministry of the Association. Such Elected personnel shall be responsible to the Director of Missions and to the Association as set forth in written job descriptions authorized and approved by the Board. Div. C — The Association staff and personnel shall serve at the pleasure of each individual board, committee, and council. They shall be ex-officio members of all Boards, committees and council with the privilege of making recommendations and entering all discussions but without the power to vote. SECTION E "ASSOCIATIONAL COUNCIL" Sub. Sec. 1 the Associational council shall be made up of: Div. A — The duly elected Executive Officers of the Association: namely Moderator, Vice Moderator (only in the absence of the Moderator), Clerk, Assistant Clerk (only in the absence of Clerk), and Treasurer. Div. B — The duly elected Administrative Officers of the Chairperson committee as set out in Article V, Sub. Sec. 3. Div. C — the Associational Staff officers namely Director of the Missions and Missions Associate who shall serve as ex-officio members (non-voting) Div. D — Degree of Relationship: No family member in the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, or 4th degree of staff, part-time or full-time employee, may serve on the Budget and Finance Committee, the Personnel Committee, or in any position that would be serving on the Associational Council. Sub. Sec. 2 — The council, in its advisory capacity, shall have no powers other than herein stated or as may be assigned by the Executive Board. Div. A — The Council shall plan the agenda for the meeting of the Executive Board, making such reports deemed necessary. Resolutions and Letters that are requested on behalf of the Executive Board or Rio Grande Valley Baptist Association will be deferred to the Associational Council for discussion. After the discussion the resolution or letter will be presented in writing to the subsequent Executive Board meeting for consideration and action. Div. B — The Council shall serve as the Associational Budget Committee preparing the Proposed Annual Associational Budget recommendations in unison with Budget and Finance Committee: Part (1)—Such budget recommendations shall include the necessary expenses for the Associational committees. Part (2) - Such Budget recommendations shall be presented to and approved by the Executive Board at least thirty (30) days prior to the Annual Meeting for the Association and final approval Part (3)—After approval by the Executive Board the Proposed Budget shall be Presented to and voted on in the Annual Meeting of the Association. Part (4)—The Moderator for the Associational Council shall be elected from among the council members Div. C — The Council shall meet at such times as it shall set for itself for making adequate preparation and necessary reports to the stated meeting of the Executive Board. ARTICLE VIl "AMENDMENTS" SECTION A "PROPOSALS" All proposals for changes, revision and/or amendments to these By-Laws shall be presented in writing to the Constitution and By Laws Committee at least forty-five (45) days prior to the first session of the Annual Meeting of the Association. SECTION B "AMENDMENTS" Sub. Sec. 1 — Such recommended amendment or amendments shall be presented to the Association in the first session of the Annual Meeting by the Constitution and By-Laws committee. Sub. Sec. 2 — Action on such proposed amendments shall be deferred to some subsequent session of this same Annual Meeting. Sub. Sec. 3 — All such amendments shall and must be approved by a two-third (2/3) majority vote of the messengers present and voting. SECTION C "INTERPRETATION" Any and all questions for clarification of the intent or meaning of this constitution by anyone shall be (directed) addressed to the Constitution and by-Laws committee. The Committee's response to any of the above-mentioned questions shall be the formal interpretation. The committee shall have such authority as to interpretation. If any confusion due to translation in the writings of this Constitution and By Laws arises, the English version shall always be used to resolve any issues. ARTICLE VIll "ORDER OF BUSINESS" Sub. Sec. 1 — The latest edition of Robert's rule of Order shall govern the deliberation of this body. Sub. Sec. 2 - The Moderator may have the advice of the parliamentarian if he so chooses. ARTICLE IX "DISSOLUTION" The Association is organized and operated primarily for the purpose set forth under Article Il "Purpose" of this Constitution. The Association is to be operated in such a way that it does not result in the accrual of distribution profits, realization of private gain resulting from payment of compensation more than a reasonable allowance for salary or other compensation for services rendered, or realization of any other form of private gain. The Association pledges its assets for use in performing the Association's religious and charitable functions. The Association directs that in case of a discontinuance of the Association by dissolution or otherwise, the assets are to be transferred to the Baptist General Convention of Texas. ARTICLE X "SPECIAL PROVISION" Those churches that are on the current membership list of the Association and have met financial requirements of the Association for the previous two (2) calendar years but do not meet qualifications as members under the old or newly revised Constitution, should be grandfathered into the Association as of the date the New Constitution is adopted. ADDENDUM A 1963 STATEMENT l. THE SCRIPTURES The Holy Bible was written by men divinely inspired and is the record of 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. 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. The criterion by which the Bible is to be interpreted is Jesus Christ. Ex. 24:4; Deut 4:10; 17:19; Josh. 8:34; Psalms 19:7-10; 119:11, 89, 105, 140; Isa. 34:16; 40:8; Jer. 15:16; 36; Matt. 5:17-18; 22:29; Luke 21:33; 24:44-46; John 5:39; 16:13-15; 17:17; Acts 2:16ff.; 17:11; Rom. 15:4; 16:25-26; 2 Tim. 3:15-17; Heb. 1:1-2; 4:12; 1 Peter 1:25; 2 Peter 1:19-21. ll. 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. To Him we owe the highest love, reverence, and obedience. The eternal 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 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. Gen. 1:1; 2:7; Ex. 3:14; 6:2-3; 15:11ff.; 20:1ff.; Levit. 22:2; Deut. 6:4; 32:6; 1 Chron. 29:10,• Psalms 19:1-3; Isa. 43:3; 15; 64:8,• Jer. 10:10; 17:13; Matt. 6:9ff.; 7:11; 23.19; 28:19; Mark 1:9-11; John 4:24; 5:26; 14:6-13; 17:1-8; Acts 1:7,• Rom. Cor. 8:6; Gal. 4:6,• Eph. 4.•6,• col. 1:15; 1 Tim. 1:17; Heb. 11:6,• 129; 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 the demands and necessities of human nature and identifying Himself completely with mankind yet without sin. He honored the divine law by His personal obedience, and in His 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, partaking of the nature of God and of man, and 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. Gen. 18:1ff.; Psalms 2:7ff.; 110:1ff.; Isa. 7:14; 53; Matt. 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 20; Rom. 5:6-21; 34; .10:4; 1 Cor. 1:30; 2:2; 8:6; 15:18, 24-28; 2 Cor. 5:19-21; Gal. 4:4-5; Eph. 1:20; 3:11; 4:7-10; Phil. 2:5-11,• col. 1:13-22; 2:9,• 1 Thess. 4:14-18; 1 Tim 2:5-6; 3:16; Titus 2:13-14; Heb. 1:1-3; 4:1415,• 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; 2 John 7-9; Rev. 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. He inspired holy men of old to write the Scriptures. Through illumination He enables men to understand truth. He exalts Christ. He convicts of sin, of righteousness and of judgment. He calls men to the Savior, and effects regeneration. He cultivates Christian character, comforts believers, and bestows the spiritual gifts by which they serve God though His church. He seals the believer until the day of final redemption. His presence in the Christian is the assurance of God to bring the believer into the fulness of the stature of Christ. He enlightens and empowers the believer and the church in worship, evangelism, and service. Gen. 1:2; Judg. 14:6; Job 26:13,• Psalms 51:11; 139:7ff.; Isa. 61:1-3; Joel 2:28-32; Matt. 1:18; 3:16; 4:1; 12:28-32; 28:19,• Mark 1:10, 12; Luke 1:35; 41, 18-19; 11:13; John 4:24; 14:16-17, 26; 15:26; 16:7-14,• Acts 1:8,• 2:14, 38; 4:31; 7:55; 8:17, 39; 10:44; 13:2; 15:28; 16:6; 19:1-6; Rom, 8:9-11, 14-16, 26-27; 1 Cor. 2:10-14,• 3:16; 12:3-11,• Gal. 4:6; Eph. 1:13-14; 4:30; 5:18; 1 Thess. 5:19; 1 Tim. 3:16; 4:1; 2 Tim, 1:14; 3:16; Heb. 9:8, 14; 2 Peter 1:21; 1 John 4:13; 5:6-7; Rev. 1:10; 22:17. Ill. MAN Man was created by the special act of God, in His own image, and is the crowning work of His 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, and as soon as they are capable of moral action become transgressors and are under condemnation. Only the grace of God can bring man into His holy fellowship and enable man to fulfil 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 man possesses dignity and is worthy of respect and Christian love. Gen. 1:26-30; 2:5, 7, 18-22; 3; 9:6; Psalms 1; 51.•5,• Isa. 6:5; Jer. 17:5; Matt. 16:26; Acts Rom. 1:19-32; 3.•10-18, 23; 5:6, 12, 19; 6:6; 7:14-25; 8:14-18, 29; 1 Cor. 15:19, 21-22; Eph. 2:1-22,• col. 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 Savior, who by His own blood obtained eternal redemption for the believer. In its broadest sense salvation includes regeneration, sanctification, and glorification. 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 Savior. 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 into a relationship of peace and favor with God. 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 perfection through the presence and power of the Holy Spirit dwelling in him. Growth in grace should continue throughout the person's life. Glorification is the culmination of salvation and is the final blessed and abiding state of the redeemed. Gen. 3:15; Ex. 3:14-17; 6:2-8; Matt, 1:21; 4:17; 16:21-26; Luke 1:68-69; 2:28-32; John 1:11-14, 29; 3:321, 36; 5:24; 10:9, 28-29; 17:17; Acts 2:21; 4:12; 15:11; 16:30-31,• 20:32; Rom 1:16-18; 2:4; 3:2325; 4:3ff,; 5:8-10; 6:1-23; 8:1-18, 29-39; 10:9-10, 13; Cor. 1:18, 30; 6:19-20; 15:10; 2 Cor. 5:17-20; Gal. 2:20; 3:13; 5:22-25; 6:15; Eph. 1:7; 2:8-22,• 4:11-16; Phil. 2:12-13; Col, 1:9-22; 3:1ff.,• 1 Thess. Tim. 1:12; Titus 211-14; Heb. 9:24-28; 11:1-12, 8, 14; James 2:14-26,• I Peter 1 John Rev. 3:20; V . GOD'S PURPOSE OF GRACE Election is the gracious purpose of God, according to which He regenerates, 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 a 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, 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. Gen. 12:18; Ex. 19:5-8; 1 Sam. 8:4-7, 19-22; Isa. 5:1-7; Jer. 31:31ff.; Matt. 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; Rom. 8:28-39,• 10:12-15; 11:5-7, 26-36; 1 Cor. 1:1-2; Eph. 1:4-23; 2:1-10; 3:1-11; col. Thess. Tim. 1:12; 2:10, 19; Heb. 1 Peter 1:25 13; 2:4-10; 1 John 3:2. VI. THE CHURCH A New Testament church of the Lord Jesus Christ is a local body of baptized believers who are associated by covenant in the faith and fellowship of the gospel, observing the two ordinances of Christ, committed to His teachings, exercising the gifts, rights, and privileges invested in them by His Word, and seeking to extend the gospel to the ends of the earth. This church is an autonomous body, operating through democratic processes under the Lordship of Jesus Christ. In such a congregation members are equally responsible. Its Scriptural officers are pastors and deacons. The New Testament speaks also of the church as the body of Christ which includes all of the redeemed of all the ages. Matt. 16:15-19; 18:15-20,• Acts 2.•41-42, 47; 5:11-14,• 6:3-6,• 13:1-3,• 14:23, 27; 16:5,• 20:28; Rom. 1:7; 1 Cor. 1:2; 3:16; 5:45; 7:17; Eph. 1:22-23; 2:19-22; 3:8-11, 21; 5:22-32; Phil. 1.•1,• Col. 1:18; 1 Tim, 3:1-15,• 4:14; 1 Peter 5:1-4; Rev. 2-3; 21:2-3. 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' 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. Matt. 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; 8:3539; 16:30-33,• Acts 20:7; Rom. 6:3-5; 1 Cor. 10:16, 21; 11:23-29; col. 2:12. IIX. 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 be employed in exercises of worship and spiritual devotion, both public and private, and by refraining from worldly amusements, and resting from secular employments, work of necessity and mercy only being excepted. Ex. 20:8-11,• Matt. 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; 1 Cor. 16:1-2; col. 2:16; 3:16; Rev. 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 I(kingdom awaits the return of Jesus Christ and the end of this age. Gen. 1:1; Isa. 9:6-7; Jer. Matt. 3:2; 4:8-10, 23; 12:25-28,• 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; Rom. 5:17; 8:19; 1 Cor. 15:24-28; col. 1:13; Heb. 11:10, 16; 12:28; 1 Peter Rev. 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. Isa. 2:4; 11:9; Matt. 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; John 14:1-3,• Acts 1:11; 17:31; Rom. 14:10; 1 Cor. 35„58,• 2 Cor. 5:10; Phil. 3:20-21; col. 1:5,• 3:4; 1 Thess. 4:14-18; 5:1ff.; 2 Thess. 1:7ff.; 2; 1 Tim. 6:14; 2; 2 Tim. 4:1, 8; Titus 2:13; Heb 9:27-28,• James 5:8,• 2 Peter 3:7ff.; 1 John 2:28; 3:2,• Jude 14; Rev. 1:18; 3:11; 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. It is the duty of every child of God to seek constantly to win the lost to Christ by personal effort and by all other methods in harmony with the gospel of Christ. Gen. 12:1-3; Ex. 19:5-6; Isa, 6:18; Matt. 9:37-38; 10:5-15,• 13:18-30, 3743; 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; 13:28; Rom. 10:13-15; Eph, 3:1-11; 1 Thess. 1:8; 2 Tim. 4:5; Heb. 2:1-3,• 1 Peter 2:4-10; Rev. 22:17. XII. EDUCATION 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 schools 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. Deut. 4:1, 5, 9,14; 6:1-10; 31:12-13; Neil, 8:1-8; Job 28:28; Psalms 19:7ff.; 119:11; Prov. 3:13ff.,• 11; 15:14; Eccl. 7:19; Matt. 5:2,• 7:24ff.; Luke 2:40; 1 con 1:18-31,• Eph. Phil. 4:8; Col. 2:3, 8-9; 1 Tim. Tim, 2:15; 3:14-17,• Heb. James 1:5; 3:17. 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. Gen. 14:20; Lev. 27:30-32; Deut. 8:18; Mal. 3:8-12; Matt. 6:1-4, 19-21; 19:21; 23:23; 25:14-29; Luke 12:16-21, 42; 16:1-13; Acts 2:4447; 5:1-11; 17:24-25; 20:35; Rom. 1 Cor. 4:1-2; 6:19-20; 12; 16:1-4; 2 Cor. 8-9; 12:15; Phil, Peter 1:18-19. 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 co-operate 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 co-operation for common ends by various groups of Christ's people. Co-operation is desirable between the various Christian denominations, when the end to be attained is itself justified, and when such co-operation involves no violation of conscience or compromise of loyalty to Christ and His Word as revealed in the New Testament. Ex. 17:12; 18:17ff.,• Judg, 7:21; Ezra 1:3-4; 2:68-69; Neh. 4; 8:1-5; Matt. 10:5-15; 20:1-16,• 20; Mark 2:3; Luke 10:1-ff.; Acts 1:13-14; 2:1ff.,• 13:2-3,• 15:1-35; 1 Cor. 1:10-17; 2 Cor. 8-9; Gal. 1:6-10,• Eph. 4:1-16; Phil. 1:15-18. THE CHRISTIAN AND THE SOCIAL ORDER Every Christian is under obligation to seek to make the will of Christ supreme in his own life 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 Christ Jesus. The Christian should oppose in the spirit of Christ every form of greed, selfishness, and vice. He should work to provide for the orphaned, the needy, the aged, the helpless, and the sick. 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. Ex. 20:3-17; Lev. 6:2-5; Deut. 10:12; 27:17; Psalms 101:5; Mic. 6:8; Zech. 8:16; Matt. 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; Rom. 12-14; 1 Cor. 5:9-10; 6:1-7; 7:20-24; Gal. 3:26-28; Eph. 6:5-9; col. 3:12-17; 1 Thess 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. Isa. 2:4; Matt. 5:9, 38-48; 6:33; 26:52; Luke 22:36, 38; Rom, 12:18-19,• Heb. 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 protection and full freedom to every church 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 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. Gen. 1:27; 2:7; Matt. 6:6-7, 24; 16:26; 22:21; John 8:36; Acts 4:19-20; Rom. Gal. 5:1, 13; Phil. 3:20; 1 Tim. 2:1-2; James 4:12; 1 Peter 2:12-17; 3:11-17; 4:12-19. ADDENDUM B 1998 AMENDMENT TO THE BAPTIST FAITH AND MESSAGE 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; 127; 128; 139:13-16 ; Proverbs 1:8; 5:15-20; 6:20-22; 13:24; 14:1: 17:6; 18:22; 22:6,15; 23:13-14; 24:3; 29:15,17; 31:10-31; Ecclesiastes Matthew 5:31-32; 19:39; Mark 10:6-12,• Romans 1:18-32; 1 Corinthians 7:1-16,• Ephesians 5:21-33; 6:1-4; Colossians 1 Timothy 2 Timothy 1:3-5; Titus Hebrews 13:4; Peter 3:1-7,