Articles, Rules and Resolutions

At the time of organization of the First Prairie Creek Baptist Church the members agreed upon the following Articles of Faith, Rules of Decorum and Resolutions.

Articles of Faith

Article I: We believe in only one true and living God, and that there are three that bear record in heaven--The Father, Word and the Holy Ghost and that the three are one.

Article II: We believe the scriptures of the Old and New Testaments are of Divine Authority and the only rule of faith and practice.

Article III: We believe in the fall of man and that all Adam's posterity are sinners by nature; and that they have neither will nor power to deliver themselves from that condition and sinful state by their ability which they possess by nature.

Article IV: We believe in the doctrine of election by Grace, and that Grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the world was.

Article V: We believe that sinners are justified in the sight of God only by the righteousness of Jesus Christ imputed to them, and are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation.

Article VI: We believe that good works are the fruits of the faith of God's elect, and follow after they are born of the Spirit of God, and only justifies them declaratively.

Article VII: We believe that baptism and the Lord's supper are ordinances of Jesus Christ appointed in the Church and none but true believers are the subjects and that the only proper mode of baptism is immersion.

Article VIII: We believe in the sanctity of the first day of the week or Lord's Day and ought to be observed and spent in public and private worship of God, and that we should abstain from our worldly concerns except in case of necessity and mercy.

Article IX: We believe in the resurrection of the body, both of the just and unjust but every one in his own order, they that have done good unto the resurrection of life and they that have done evil unto the resurrection of damnation and that God hath appointed a day in which He will judge the world in righteousness by Jesus Christ.

Article X: We believe the joys of righteousness will be eternal and the punishment of the wicked everlasting.

Rules of Decorum

  1. Meeting shall be opened and concluded by prayers.

  2. An invitation to members of sister churches present to a seat with us for their council.

  3. An inquiry whether there is any matter of grievance that gospel steps have been taken with that is ready to come before the church.

  4. A door open for the reception of members.

  5. References taken up and acted upon.

  6. Any member may make a motion and every motion seconded shall be attended to unless withdrawn by the person making it.

  7. But one person shall speak at one time, who shall raise from his seat and address the moderator, and while speaking shall attend strictly to the subject, and shall in no wise cast any reflection on any person who has spoken before.

  8. No person shall be interrupted in his speech except the moderator who shall call him to order if he departs from the subject.

  9. No person shall speak more than three times on the same subject without the consent of the church.

  10. Each member shall keep his or her seat in silence while the church is transacting her business and shall not withdraw without the consent of the church.

  11. All business shall be done by a majority except the receiving and dismissing of members and setting forth ministers which shall be done by an unanimous vote.

  12. The church when organized shall have a moderator and clerk. The duties of the moderator shall be to keep the church in order, state all propositions to the church and take their vote thereon and shall have no vote unless the church is equally divided in which case he shall give the casting vote. The duty of the clerk shall be to keep a fair record of all the proceedings of the church.

  13. The moderator shall have the same liberty of speaking as any other member provided his seat is filled.

  14. All business shall be done in public such as the church shall deem of as a public nature.

  15. Any member may call for order.

  16. All dealings of a private nature shall be attended to according to the 18th Chapter of Matthew.

  17. Any male member failing to attend for three meetings shall give a reason for such absence.

Resolutions

  1. Resolved that this church shall be called the First Prairie Creek Baptist Church.

  2. Resolved that our meeting shall be held on Saturday before the fourth Sunday in each month.

  3. Resolved that our communion be in May and October.

Happy 180th Birthday, 1816-1996, First Prairie Creek Baptist Church, 1966, 1996
By Norah M. Johnson, with revisions by Rev. Ray Dyer, Amy Watson and Nell Moore.
Pp. 14-16; Used with permission.

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