WORTHINGTON BAPTIST CHURCH

CONSTITUTION

ARTICLES OF FAITH

INTRODUCTION

Following six weeks of evangelistic services, the first morning worship of this Baptist Church was held in the town hall of Worthington, PA on October 12, 1930. James King was the preacher.

On November 7, 1930, the council for recognition of the First Orthodox Baptist Church of Worthington, Pennsylvania was called.

On July 7, 1932, it was decided to build a church. The present building which was at McVille, Pennsylvania was torn down, and rebuilt at its present location.

On June 4, 1933, our church was dedicated to the service of the Lord.

Reverend James King was called as the first pastor on November 28, 1932.

Reverend A.F. Colwell was called in August, 1934.

Reverend Lawrence Bailey was called as Pastor on April 26, 1939.

Reverend Oliver P. Strong was called as Pastor on February 23, 1944.

Pastor Ralph Burns was called as Pastor on July 5, 1950.

Pastor Howard Addleman was called as Pastor on January 30, 1957.

Pastor Donald Lumeree was called as Pastor on August 2, 1961.

Pastor Walter Pifer was called as Pastor on November 9, 1980.

Pastor Louis Friend III was called as Pastor on July 28, 1996.

Pastor Joseph T. Simpson was called as Pastor on Monday, August 2, 1999. His ministry began on August 22, 1999.

CONSTITUTION

PREAMBLE

Let all things be done decently and in order. I Corinthians 14:40. That we may the more readily help one another in our Christian service as members of this church, we adopt by revision the following as our Confession of Faith, Covenant, Constitution and By-Laws.

Article 1 Name and Object

Section 1 Name – This church shall be known as “Worthington Baptist Church” of  Worthington, Pennsylvania.

Section 2 Object

This church, believing in the Bible as the inspired word of God and acknowledging its adherence to all the teaching therein, declares its objects to be:

1. To provide a place for and maintain regular services, both devotional and for public worship.

2. To minister in the Word by earnestly proclaiming the Gospel message of salvation by grace through personal faith in Christ’s finished work and to urge personal acceptance of Him.

3. To cooperate heartily by prayer, gifts, and service in the effort to preach the Gospel to all the world.

4. To carry on systematically such teaching work in Bible Schools and classes as will properly fit all students prepared for Christian service and that their lives may be deepened in Christ.

5. Building up in the most Holy Faith those who have been born again.

SECTION 3 ASSOCIATIONS

1. A New Testament Church cannot join anything outside itself, but only affiliate therein on the ground of fellowship. This church declares itself in fellowship with:

1. The Association of Independent Baptist Churches of Western Pennsylvania.

2. The Association of Regular Baptist Churches of Pennsylvania.

2. In defense of the faith together with other separated groups loyal to the Word of God, the Church takes its stand with:

1. The American Council of Christian Churches.

ARTICLE 2 CONFESSION OF FAITH

Whereas: The scripture distinctly teach that in the last days the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall heap to themselves teaches having itching ears; and shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables. II Timothy 4:3 & 4.

Resolved, that we , by the grace of God, maintain a work of evangelism as well as the teaching of the inspired Word of God for the perfecting of the saints, and for the edifying of the body of Christ;

Resolved, that we declare our adherence to the following doctrinal truth upon which this church is founded and we believe should be perpetuated:

SECTION 1 THE SCRIPTURES

We believe that the Holy Bible as originally written was verbally inspired of the Holy Spirit and the product of Spirit controlled men. Believing in the infallible authority of the scriptures, we accept the whole Bible, both Old Testament and New Testament as the Word of God, by which all human conduct, creeds and opinions should be tried. II Timothy 3:16-17, II Peter 1:19-21

SECTION 2 THE TRUE GOD

We believe there is one, and only one living and true God; that the Scriptures reveal God as eternally existing and manifesting Himself in three persons: The Father, The Son, and The Holy Spirit, equal in every divine perfection and executing distinct but harmonious offices in the great work of redemption:

Exodus 20:2-3 I Corinthians 8:16 Matthew 3:16-17

II Corinthians 13:14 I John 5:7 John 19:3

SECTION 3 JESUS CHRIST

1. Deity and Virgin Birth: We believe that Jesus Christ is absolute Deity, being co-equal with God; begotten of the Holy Spirit in a miraculous manner, born of Mary, a virgin, as no other man was ever born or can be born of woman, and that He is both True God and True Man:

John 1:1-2 Philippians 2:6 Genesis 3:15 John 1:14 Isaiah 7:14 Matthew 1:18-25 Luke 1:35

B. His Atonement for Sin: We believe that the salvation of sinners is wholly of grace; through the mediatorial offices of the Son of God, who by the appointment of the Father, freely took upon Himself our nature, yet without sin, honored the divine law by His personal obedience, and by His death made a full and vicarious atonement, through the

shedding of His blood for our sin; that His atonement consisted not in setting us an example by His death as a martyr, but was the voluntary substitution of Himself in the sinners place, the just for the unjust; Christ, the Lord, bearing our sins in His body on the tree; that having risen from the dead, He is now enthroned in Heaven and uniting in His wonderful person the tenderest sympathies with divine perfection, He is in every way qualified to be the only, compassionate and all sufficient Savior.

Ephesians 2:8 Acts 15:11 Romans 3:24 John 3:16

Matthew 18:11 Philippians 2:7 Hebrew 2:14 Isaiah 53:4-7

Romans 3:25 I John 4:10 I Corinthians 15:3 II Corinthians 5:21

John 10:18 Philippians 2:8 Galatians 1:4 I Peter 2:24

I Peter 3:18 Isaiah 53:11 Hebrews 12:1 I Corinthians 15:20

Isaiah 53:12 Hebrews 9:12-15 Hebrews 7:25 I John 2:2

C. His Bodily Resurrection: We believe in the resurrection of the crucified body of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Matthew 28:6-7 Luke 24:39 John 20:27 I Corinthians 15:4

4. His Ascension and Intercession: We believe that the risen glorified Lord ascended into Heaven; that His present ministry is as our great High Priest and Advocate at the right hand of the throne of God.

Acts 1:9-11 Luke 24:51 Mark 16:19 Hebrews 12:2 Hebrews 3:6 I Timothy 2:5 I John 2:1 Hebrews 2:17

Hebrews 5:9-10 Revelation 3:21

E. His Second Coming: We believe in the personal, premillennial and imminent return ofour Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ; that the Scriptures teach it to be in two phases: First, the rapture of the church, the body of Christ, into the glorious presence of the Son of God. Second, the revelation of Jesus Christ, as He returns to reign upon the earth on the throne of His father, David.

6. His Millennial Reign: We believe that Jesus Christ will reign, in righteousness, upon the earth for a thousand years.

I Corinthians 15:25 Isaiah 32:1 Psalms 72:8

Revelations 20:1-4 Revelations 20:6 Isaiah 11:4-5

SECTION 4 THE HOLY SPIRIT

We believe that the Holy Spirit is a divine person; equal with God the Father and god the Son, and of the same nature; that He was active in creation; that in relation to the unbelieving world, He restrains the evil one until God’s purpose is fulfilled; that He convicts of sin, of righteousness and of judgment; that He bears witness to the truth of the Gospel in preaching and testimony; that He is the agent of the new birth; that He seals, endues, guides, teaches, witnesses, sanctifies and helps the believer. We are opposed to the Charismatic movement and any aspect of its ministry.

John 14:16-17 Matthew 28:19 Hebrews 9:14 Luke 1:35

Genesis 1:1-3 II Thessalonians 2:7 John 16:8-11 John 15:16-17

Acts 5:30-32 John 3:5-6 Ephesians 1:13-14 Mark 1:8

John 1:33 Acts 11:16 Luke 24:49 John 16:13

John 14:26 Romans 8:14-16 II Thessalonians 2:13

I Peter 1:2 Romans 8:26-27

SECTION 5 THE DEVIL OR SATAN

We believe in the personality of Satan; that he is the unholy god of this age; the author of all powers of darkness; and is destined to the judgment of an eternal justice in the Lake of Fire.

Matthew 4:1-3 Mark 1:13 II Corinthians 4:4

Ephesians 2:2 Revelations 20:10

SECTION 6 THE CREATION

We believe and accept the Genesis account of creation and believe that man came by the direct creation of God and not by evolution; that man was “created in God’s own image”.

Genesis 1 & 2 Colossians 1:16-17 John 1:3

Genesis 1:27 Genesis 2:7

SECTION 7 THE FALL OF MAN

We believe that man was created in innocence, under the law of His Maker, but by voluntary transgression, fell from his sinless and happy state in consequence of which all mankind are now sinners, not only by constraint, but of choice; and therefore under just condemnation without defense of excuse.

Genesis 3:1-6 Romans 5:12 Romans 5:19 Romans 3:10-29

Ephesians 2:1-3 Romans 1:18 Romans 1:32 Romans 1:20

Galatians 3:22

SECTION 8 THE NEW BIRTH

We believe that in order to be saved, sinners “must be born again”, that all who receive by faith the Lord Jesus Christ are born again of the Holy Spirit and thereby become the children of God; that the new birth is a new creation in Jesus Christ; that it is instantaneous and not a process; that in the new birth, the one dead in trespasses and in sins is made a partaker of the divine nature and receives eternal life, the free gift of God; that the new birth is brought about in a manner above our comprehension, not by culture, not by character, nor by the will of man, but wholly and solely by the power of the Holy Spirit in connection with divine truth, so as to secure our voluntary obedience to the gospel; that its proper evidence appears in the holy fruits of repentance and faith and newness of life.

John 3:3 Galatians 3:26 Acts 16:31

II Corinthians 5:17 I John 5:1 John 3:6-7

Acts 16:30-33 II Peter 1:4 Romans 6:23

Ephesians 2:1 II Corinthians 5:19 Colossians 2:13

John 3:8 John 1:12-13 Galatians 5:22

Ephesians 5:9

SECTION 9 JUSTIFICATION

We believe that the great gospel blessing which Christ secures to such as believe in Him is Justification:

1. That Justification included pardon of sin, and the gift of eternal life on principles of His righteousness

2. That it is bestowed, not in consideration of any works of righteousness which we have done, but solely through faith in the Redeemer’s blood, His righteousness is imputed unto us.

Acts 13:39 Isaiah 53:11 Zechariah 13:1 Romans 8:1

Romans 5:9 Romans 5:1 Titus 3:5-7 Romans 1:17

Hebrews 2:4 Galatians 3:11 Romans 4:1-8 Hebrews 10:38

SECTION 10 SANCTIFICATION

We believe that Sanctification (to be “set apart”) is the process by which God makes us partakers of His holiness that it is a progressive work that is begun in regeneration and continued in our hearts by the work of the Holy Spirit, in connection with Bible reading, self-examination, self-denial, watchfulness and prayer, and completed at the return of Christ for His own.

I Corinthians 6:11 II Peter 3:18 I Thessalonians 3:13 I John 3:2

SECTION 11 THE SECURITY OF THE BELIEVER

We believe that all who are truly born again are kept eternally by God the Father for Jesus Christ.

John 6:37-40 John 10:27-30 I Corinthians 1:4-8

I Peter 1:5 Philippians 1:6 Jude 1 Romans 8:35-39

We believe that it is the privilege of believers to rejoice in the assurance of their salvation through the testimony of God’s Word; which, however, clearly forbids the use of Christian liberty, as an occasion to the flesh.

Romans 1:13-14 Galatians 5:13 Titus 2:11-15

SECTION 12 SEPARATION

We believe that all the saved shall live in such a manner as not to bring reproach upon their Savior and Lord; that separation from all religious apostasy, all worldly and sinful pleasures, practices and associations is commanded by God.

II Timothy 3:15 Romans 12:1-2 Romans 14:13 II Corinthians 7:1

I John 2:15-17 II John 9-11 II Corinthians 6:14

SECTION 13 THE TWO NATURES

We believe that every saved person possesses two natures, spiritual and carnal, with provision for victory of the new nature over the old nature through the power of the indwelling Holy Spirit; and, that all claims to the eradication of the old nature in this life are unscriptural.

Romans 6:13 Romans 8:12-13 Galatians 5:16-17 Ephesians 4:22-24

Colossians 3:10 I Peter 1:14-16 I John 3:5-9

SECTION 14 THE LOCAL CHURCH

We believe that a local church is a voluntary association of members of the body of Christ, of baptized believers, equal in rank and privilege, subject to the Word of God and independent of any external ecclesiastical control whatsoever; associated by a covenant of faith and fellowship of the Gospel, observing the ordinances of Christ; governed by His laws, and exercising the rights and privileges invested in them by His Word, that the true mission of the church is the faithful witnessing of Christ to all men as we have opportunity. We hold that the local church has absolute right over any hierarchy of individuals or organizations, and that the one and only head is Christ, through the Holy Spirit. On all matters of membership; of policy; of government; of discipline; of benevolence – the will of the local church is final.

Acts 2:41-42 I Corinthians 11:2 Ephesians 1:22-23

Ephesians 4:11 Acts 10:17-18 I Timothy 3:1-7

Colossians 1:18 Ephesians 5:23-24 Acts 15:13-18

SECTION 15 THE ORDINANCES

A. We believe God’s Word commands every believer (and only believers) to be baptized; that Christian and Bible baptism is the immersion of a believer in water, to show forth in a solemn and beautiful emblem our faith in the crucified, buried and risen Saviour, with its effect in our death to sin and resurrection to a new life.

Romans 6:3-5 Acts 8:36-39 John 3:23

Matthew 3:16 I Peter 3:21

B. We believe that the Lord’s Supper is the commemoration of His death until He comes, and thus should be observed as Christ said “in remembrance of His broken body and shed blood for us;” that the Supper should be preceded always by solemn self-examination. I Corinthians 11-23-28

Neither Baptism nor the Lord’s Supper has any sacramental virtues (saving grace).

SECTION 16 EVANGELIZATION

A. We believe that it is the solemn obligation of every believer to be a personal soul-winner, and to do the utmost to carry out the Saviour’s command to give the Gospel to the whole world.

Ephesians 4:12 Mark 16:15 Acts 1:8

B. It shall be the policy of the church to support only missions engaged principally in evangelization. They shall be known to be in hearty agreement with our Confession of Faith, both in doctrine and practice, and be Baptist in name as well as in policy. The percentage of giving shall be designated in the annual missionary budget.

C. It shall be the policy of this church to support only those schools who are known to be in hearty agreement with our Confession of Faith, both in doctrine and practice, and be Baptist in policy.

This mission policy shall be in effect at the time of this revision and shall affect all future missionary support excluding our support to the Jewish missions.

SECTION 17 THE RESURRECTION OF THE JUST AND UNJUST

A. We believe that such as through faith are justified in the name of Jesus Christ, and sanctified through the Spirit of God, are truly righteous in His esteem; that the just shall be resurrected at the rapture of the Church to the everlasting grace and fellowship of the Lord; that they shall reign with Him for a thousand years and shall sit in judgment with Christ; that their works shall be rewarded at the Judgment Seat of Christ.

Malachi: 3:18 Romans 6:17-18 Romans 5:1

I Thessalonians 4:13-18 I Corinthians 15:42-44 I Corinthians 15:52

II Corinthians 5:10 I Corinthians 3:11-15

B. We believe that such as continue in impenitence and unbelief are in His sight, wicked, and under the curse; that the unjust shall be resurrected to everlasting punishment of the lost at the end of Satan’s “little season”, that their works shall be judged at the Great White Throne Judgment.

John 8:21 Matthew 7:13-14 John 5:28-29

Luke 16:25 Mark 9:32-48 Revelations 20:11-15

SECTION 18 THE CIVIL GOVERNMENT

We believe that Civil Government is of divine appointment for the interest and good order of human society; that magistrates are to be prayed for, conscientiously honored and obeyed; except, in things which are opposed to the will of our Lord Jesus Christ, who is the only Lord of the kings of the earth.

Romans 13:1-7 II Samuel 23:3 Exodus 18:21-22

Acts 23:5 Matthew 22:21 Titus 3:1

I Peter 2:13-14 I Peter 2:17 Acts 5:20

Acts 4:19-20 I Peter 2:17 Acts 5:20

Acts 4:19-20 Daniel 3:17-18 Matthew 10:23

Matthew 23:10 Revelations 10:16 Psalms 72:11

SECTION 19 REVISED VERSIONS OF THE BIBLE

The Worthington Baptist Church of Worthington, Pennsylvania holds to the King James Version as our only text book for preaching and teaching and is opposed to any version of the Bible which leans to the trend of modernism in its translation, i.e. dealing with the Deity of Christ, the Blood of Christ, etc.