Member Page

February 17, 2016

Amendment II:

On page 2 of the basic document, at the end of Section V, Polity And Relationships, the following statement is added:

 

STATEMENT ON MARRIAGE, GENDER, AND SEXUALITY

We believe that God wonderfully and immutably creates each person as male or female. These two distinct, complementary genders together reflect the image and nature of God (Gen. 1: 26-27). Rejection of one’s biological sex is a rejection of the image of God within that person.

We believe that the term “marriage” has only one meaning: the uniting of one man and one woman in a single, exclusive union, as delineated in Scripture (Gen. 2: 18-25). We believe that God intends sexual intimacy to occur only between a man and a woman who are married to each other (1 Corinth. 6: 18; 7: 2-5; Heb. 13: 4). We believe that God has commanded that no intimate sexual activity be engaged in outside of a marriage between a man and a woman.

We believe that in order to preserve the function and integrity of the church as the local Body of Christ, and to provide a biblical role model to the church members and the community, it is imperative that all persons employed by the church in any capacity, or who serve as volunteers, agree to and abide by this Statement on Marriage, Gender, and Sexuality (Matt. 5: 16; Phil. 2: 14-16; 1 Thess. 5: 22).

We believe that God offers redemption and restoration to all who confess and forsake their sin, seeking His mercy and forgiveness through Jesus Christ (Acts 3: 19-21; Romans 10: 9-10; 1 Corinth. 6: 9-11).

We believe that every person must be afforded compassion, love, kindness, respect, and dignity (Mark 12: 28-31; Luke 6: 31). Hateful and harassing behavior or attitudes directed toward any individual are to be repudiated and are not in accord with Scripture nor the doctrines of the Church.

 

 

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