FBC Gray Gables Bylaws

Article III

Church Membership

Section 1: General

A member of this church is one who:

     (a) Has made a public profession of faith in Jesus Christ.
     (b) Has given evidence of being born again by the Holy Spirit.
     (c) Has been baptized by immersion in obedience to Christ.
     (d) Is actively serving and submitting to Christ as Lord today.

 

 

 

Membership shall be extended to all who have had - and whose
lives evidence - a genuine experience of regeneration through faith in and
acceptance of the Lord Jesus Christ as Personal Savior; Who renounce
sin; Who endeavor to live a consecrated life wholly unto the Lord; Who
fully subscribe to the Statement of Faith contained herein; Who enter into
the Church Covenant contained herein; Who agree to submit to the
authority of the church and its leaders as set forth herein; and upon
compliance with the following conditions (including completion of New
Members Orientation Class) :

     (1) By Faith and Baptism (Immersion) as a true believer in
Christ Jesus as personal Savior. Each person making
a profession of faith in Christ and wishing to unite with
this church will be baptized by immersion.

     (2) By Letter of Transfer from another Southern Baptist
Church (SBC), Upon receipt of a letter indicating the
person is a member in good standing.

     (3) By Statement of prior conversion experience through
faith followed by baptism by immersion in a church of
like faith.

 

Anyone seeking membership must meet with the Deacon
assigned to their family or with the Pastor, or both before joining the
church. Each person will contact the church office or inform someone
during any service of their interest. Each interested party will then set up
an interview with the Pastor and Deacon assigned to their family.

Anyone seeking membership of the church will be enrolled in the
next scheduled New Member Orientation Class. Each new member will
be given appropriate materials to ground them in the Word of God and
familiarize them with the ministry of the church. Upon completion of the
New Members Orientation Class, all rights and privileges of church
membership will be granted.

(In some extreme cases a person who by reason of age or illness cannot
present themselves to the church either to make a public profession of
faith, or be baptized may be allowed to join by approval of the
congregation)

 

 

 

A member of the First Baptist Church of Gray Gables will be expected to:

     1. Be in agreement with the church’s Statement of Faith and Purpose.
     2. Discover, develop, and deploy their spiritual gifts in the ministries of the church.
     3. Be diligent to live according to the statements of the Church Covenant.
     4. Be faithful in attendance to worship services and Bible study.
     5. Become a student of the Word of God and of prayer.
     6. Make a commitment to personal evangelism and discipleship.
     7. Be Faithful in Scriptural stewardship of time, talents, tithes, and offerings.

 

 

Meeting criteria from section I, all members, over 18 years of age,
who are physically present at a duly called business meeting of the church
shall be entitled to vote. There shall be no proxy or absentee voting. The
practice of voting in the new testament church is not solely a democratic
process, but rather a spiritual process whereby the people of God seek to
determine the will of God.

 

Section V: Restoration and Discipline

 

Discipline is an exercise for which the church is responsible to
attempt to restore members living in a state of continual un-confessed /
un-repented sin. Such conduct reflects a rejection of the Lordship of
Christ and the conviction of the Holy Spirit and is contrary to the Biblical
standards of Christian living (Matthew 16:19; 18:15-20; Luke 17:3; John
20:23; Acts 16:4; Ephesians 5:11; I Timothy 5:20; II Timothy 4:2; Hebrews
13:17). The purpose of discipline is to promote repentance and
restoration through exposing and confronting sinful behavior. It is
redemptive in nature as well as corrective. Any member of this church is
subject to discipline on the basis of unbiblical conduct or doctrinal
departure of the Baptist Faith and Message. The Pastor, Staff, and
Fellowship of Deacons will follow the disciplinary procedure set forth in
Matthew 18:15-18 (1 Corinthians 5 describes the application of this
principle) when dealing with a erring church member. Ultimately, the
church, by congregational vote will affirm their actions. This section does
not involve the disciplining or dealing with employees of the church
regarding employment issues.

 

 

 

Membership shall be terminated in the following ways:

     1. Upon a member’s death
     2. By members transfer to another Baptist Church
     3. By joining a church of another denomination
     4. By disciplinary action of this church as provided in Article III, Section V.
     5. By personal request for name to be removed from church membership.
     6. By dropping out of fellowship, per Article III, section III, #4.

Note: Letters of transfer shall be granted only to other SBC churches and
not to individual members requesting termination of membership.