Constitution

PREAMBLE

 We declare and establish this Constitution to preserve and secure the principles of our faith and to govern the Church in an orderly manner while pursuing its ministry.  This constitution will preserve the liberties of each individual church member and the freedom of action of this body in its relation to other churches.  This constitution will guide this Church in conducting His ministry locally, nationally or across all borders as He leads.

I
NAME

 This Church shall be known as Oak Hill Baptist Church Inc. of Bastrop, Louisiana, a nonprofit organization, located at 901 Collinston Road, Bastrop, Louisiana 71220.

II
OBJECTIVES

 To be a dynamic spiritual body empowered by the Holy Spirit to teach, baptize, and
disciple as many people as possible (Matthew 28:18-20).

 To help members realize their spiritual gifts and encourage them to use these gifts in the sharing of Christ. (I Corinthians 12).
         
 To be a Church whose purpose is to be Christlike in our daily living by emphasizing total commitment to the lordship of Christ (1 Thessalonians 2: 1-13).

 To help members grow in the knowledge of God and man through Church programs of Bible teaching, training and education (Act 2: 42-47).

 To encourage members to support the ministry of this Church, Baptist association and convention through personal stewardship (Luke 6:38).
 

III
STATEMENT OF FAITH

 We affirm the Holy Bible as the inspired infallible word of God and the basis for our beliefs.  This Church subscribes to the doctrinal statement of The Baptist Faith and Message as adopted by the Southern Baptist Convention in 2000.  We voluntarily band ourselves together as a body of baptized believers in Jesus Christ personally committed to sharing the good news of salvation to lost mankind and to minister to all.  The ordinances of the Church are believer’s Baptism and the Lord’s Supper.

IV
CHURCH COVENANT

 Having been led as we believe by the Spirit of God to receive the Lord Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior and, on the profession of our faith, having been baptized in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, we do now in the presence of God and this assembly most solemnly and joyfully enter into covenant with one another as one body in Christ.
 We pledge, therefore, by the aid of the Holy Spirit to walk together in Christian love; to strive for the advancement of this body of believers in knowledge, holiness, and comfort; to promote their prosperity and spirituality; to sustain their worship, ordinances, doctrines, and discipline; to contribute cheerfully and regularly, as God has prospered us, toward the expenses, the relief of the poor, and the spread of the gospel through all nations.  In case of difference of opinion in the Church, we will strive to avoid a contentious spirit, and if we cannot unanimously agree, we will cheerfully recognize the right of the majority to govern.
 We also pledge to maintain family and personal devotions; to study diligently the word of God; to educate our children toward faith in Jesus Christ, to seek the salvation of our kindred and acquaintances; to walk cautiously in the world; to be just in our dealings, faithful in our engagements, and exemplary in our behavior; to avoid all tattling, backbiting, and excessive anger; to abstain from the sale and use of intoxicating drinks as a beverage, and to be zealous in our efforts to advance the kingdom of our Savior.  We pledge as a Church and to each other to take a stand against deeds of the flesh and to live according to the fruits of the spirit according to Galatians 5: 19-26.
 We further pledge to walk together in loving Christian fellowship, to pray for one another, to aid one another in times of need, and to rejoice with one another in times of gladness; to cultivate Christian compassion and courtesy in speech, to be slow to take offense, but always ready for reconciliation, to seek to live to the glory of God.
 We moreover pledge that in the event of our individual relocation, we will, as soon as possible, endeavor to unite with some other church where we can carry out the spirit of this covenant and the principles of God’s Word.
 

V
POLITY AND RELATIONSHIPS

 Our church is an autonomous body.  Its government is vested in the membership.  It is subject to the control of no other ecclesiastical body.  However, we are voluntarily affiliated with the Morehouse Baptist Association, the Louisiana Baptist Convention, and the Southern Baptist Convention, and therefore, cooperate with and support financially these bodies.  We are also glad to cooperate, insofar as it is practical, with other Christian groups in worthy endeavors.

VI
AMENDMENTS

 This Constitution may be amended at any regular business meeting of the church by a vote of two-thirds (2/3) majority of the members present provided that the proposed amendment has been presented in writing to the church at least thirty (30) days previously.