The Church: We believe that our Lord Jesus Christ founded the Church, and commissioned it, and that a church is a group of baptized believers in whom Christ dwells, and they in Him, under the discipline of the Word of God, organized for evangelism, education, worship, and the administration of the ordinances. Each local church is to be self-governing and congregational in government. Further, each local church is to be the sole judge of measure and manner of its cooperation; in all matters of membership, of policy, of government, of discipline, and of benevolence; the will of the local church is final. Christ is the Chief Shepherd; the Pastor is the undershepherd of the flock. The congregation follows and supports the Pastor, as he follows Christ. Heritage is independent. The only authority over it is Christ and the Word of God.
[Acts 20:28; I Peter 5:1-4; Heb. 13:7,13, Matt. 16:18 and 28:19-20.]