STATEMENT OF FAITH
THE SCRIPTURES
The Holy Bible was written by men divinely inspired and is the record of God’s revelation of Himself to man. It is a perfect treasure of divine instruction. It has God for its author salvation for its end and truth without any mixture of error for its matter. It reveals the principles by which God judges us; and therefore is and will remain to the end of the world the true centre of Christian union and the supreme standard by which all human conduct creeds and religious opinions should be tried. The criterion by which the Bible is to be interpreted is Jesus Christ.
GOD
There is one and only one living and true God. He is an intelligent spiritual and personal Being the Creator Redeemer Preserver and Ruler of the universe. God is infinite in holiness and all other perfections. To Him we owe the highest love reverence and obedience. The eternal God reveals Himself to us as Father Son and Holy Spirit with distinct personal attributes but without division of nature essence or being.
GOD THE FATHER
God as Father reigns with providential care over His universe His creatures and the flow of the stream of human history according to the purposes of His grace. He is all powerful all loving and all wise. God is Father in truth to those who become children of God through faith in Jesus Christ. He is fatherly in His attitude toward all men.
GOD THE SON
Christ is the eternal Son of God. In His incarnation as Jesus Christ he was conceived of the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary. Jesus perfectly revealed and did the will of God taking upon Himself the demands and necessities of human nature and identifying Himself completely with mankind yet without sin. He honoured the divine law by His personal obedience and in His death on the cross He made provision for the redemption of men from sin. He was raised from the dead with a glorified body and appeared to His disciples as the person who was with them before His crucifixion. He ascended into heaven and is now exalted at the right hand of God where He is the One Mediator partaking of the nature of God and of man.
GOD THE HOLY SPIRIT
The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of God. He inspired holy men of old to write the Scriptures. Through illumination He enables men to understand truth. He exalts Christ. He convicts of sin of righteousness and of judgement. He calls men to the Saviour and effects regeneration. He cultivates Christian character comforts believers and bestows the spiritual gifts by which they serve God through His church. He seals the believer unto the day of final redemption. His presence in the Christian is the assurance of God to bring the believer into the fullness of the stature of Christ. He enlightens and empowers the believer and the church in worship evangelism and service.
MAN
Man was created by the special act of God in His own image and is the crowning work of His creation. In the beginning man was innocent of sin and was endowed by his Creator with freedom of choice. By his free choice man sinned against God and brought sin into the human race. Through the temptation of Satan man transgressed the command of God and fell from his original innocence; whereby his posterity inherit a nature and an environment inclined toward sin and as soon as they are capable of moral action become transgressors and are under condemnation. Only the grace of God can bring man into His holy fellowship and enable man to fulfill the creative purpose of God. The sacredness of human personality is evident in that God created man in His own image and in that Christ died for man; therefore every man possesses dignity and is worthy of respect and Christian love.
SALVATION
Salvation involves the redemption of the whole man and is offered freely to all who accept Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour who by His own blood obtained eternal redemption for the believer. In its broadest sense salvation includes regeneration, sanctification and glorification. Regeneration or the new birth is a work of God’s grace whereby believers become new creatures in Christ Jesus. It is a change of heart wrought by the Holy Spirit through conviction of sin to which the sinner responds in repentance toward God and faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. Repentance and faith are inseparable experiences of grace. Repentance is a genuine turning from sin toward God. Faith is the acceptance of Jesus Christ and commitment of the entire personality to Him as Lord and Saviour. Justification is God’s gracious and full acquittal upon principles of His righteousness of all sinners who repent and believe in Christ. Justification brings the believer into a relationship of peace and favour with God. Sanctification is the experience beginning in regeneration by which the believer is set apart to God’s purposes and is enabled to progress toward moral and spiritual perfection through the presence and power of the Holy Spirit dwelling in him. Growth in grace should continue throughout the regenerate person’s life. Glorification is the culmination of salvation and is the final blessed and abiding state of the redeemed.
GOD’S PURPOSE OF GRACE
Election is the gracious purpose of God according to which He regenerates sanctifies and glorifies sinners. It is consistent with the free agency of man and comprehends all the means in connection with the end. It is a glorious display of God’s sovereign goodness and is infinitely wise holy and unchangeable. It excludes boasting and promotes humility. All true believers endure to the end. Those whom God has accepted in Christ and sanctified by His Spirit will never fall away from the state of grace but shall persevere to the end. Believers may fall into sin through neglect and temptation whereby they grieve the Spirit impair their graces and comforts bring reproach on the cause of Christ and temporal judgments on themselves yet they shall be kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation.
THE CHURCH
A New Testament church of the Lord Jesus Christ is a local body of baptized believers who are associated by covenant in the faith and fellowship of the gospel observing the two ordinances of Christ committed to His teachings exercising the gifts rights and privileges invested in them by His Word and seeking to extend the gospel to the ends of the Earth. This church is an autonomous body operating through democratic processes under the Lordship of Jesus Christ. In such a congregation members are equally responsible. Its Scriptural officers are pastors and deacons. The New Testament speaks also of the church as the body of Christ which includes all of the redeemed of all the ages.
BAPTISM AND THE LORD’S SUPPER
Christian baptism is the immersion of a believer in water in the name of the Father the Son and the Holy Spirit. It is an act of obedience symbolizing the believer’s faith in a crucified buried and risen Saviour the believer’s death to sin the burial of the old life and the resurrection to walk in newness of life in Christ Jesus. It is testimony to his faith in the final resurrection of the dead. Being a church ordinance it is prerequisite to the privileges of church membership and to the Lord’s Supper. The Lord’s Supper is a symbolic act of obedience whereby members of the church through partaking of the bread and the fruit of the vine memorialize the death of the Redeemer and anticipate His second coming.
THE LORD’S DAY
The first day of the week is the Lord’s Day. It is a Christian institution for regular observances. It commemorates the resurrection of Christ from the dead and should be employed in exercises of worship and spiritual devotion both public and private and by refraining from worldly amusements and resting from secular employments work of necessity and mercy only being expected.
THE KINGDOM
The Kingdom of God includes both His general sovereignty over the universe and His particular kingship over men who willfully acknowledge Him as King. Particularly the Kingdom is the realm of salvation into which men enter by trustful childlike commitment to Jesus Christ. Christians ought to pray and to labour that the Kingdom may come and God’s will be done on earth. The full consummation of the Kingdom awaits the return of Jesus Christ and the end of this age.
LAST THINGS
God in His own time and in His own way will bring the world to its appropriate end. According to His promise Jesus Christ will return personally and visibly in glory to the earth; the dead will be raised; and Christ will judge all men in righteousness. The unrighteous will be consigned to Hell the place of everlasting punishment. The righteous in their resurrection and glorified bodies will receive their reward and will dwell forever in Heaven with the Lord.
EVANGELISM AND MISSION
It is the duty and privilege of every follower of Christ and of every church of the Lord Jesus Christ to endeavour to make disciples of all nations. The new birth of man’s spirit by God’s Holy Spirit means the birth of love for others. Missionary effort on the part of all rests thus upon a spiritual necessity of the regenerate life and is expressly and repeatedly commanded in the teachings of Christ. It is the duty of every child of God to seek constantly to win the lost to Christ by personal effort and by all other methods in harmony with the gospel of Christ.
EDUCATION
The cause of education in the Kingdom of Christ is co-ordinate with the causes of missions and general benevolence and should receive along with these the liberal support of the churches. An adequate system of Christian schools is necessary to a complete spiritual program for Christ’s people. In Christian education there should be a proper balance between academic freedom and academic responsibility. Freedom in any orderly relationship of human life is always limited and never absolute. The freedom of a teacher in a Christian school college or seminary is limited by pre-eminence of Jesus Christ by the authoritative nature of the Scriptures and by the distinct purpose for which the school exists.
STEWARDSHIP
God is the source of all blessings temporal and spiritual; all that we have and are we owe to Him. Christians have a spiritual debtorship to the whole world a holy trusteeship in the gospel and a binding stewardship in their possessions. They are therefore under obligation to serve Him with their time talents and material possessions; and should recognize all these as entrusted to them to use for the glory of God and for helping others. According to the Scriptures Christians should contribute of their means cheerfully regularly systematically proportionately and liberally for the advancement of the Redeemer’s cause on earth.
COOPERATION
Christ’s people should as occasion requires organize such associations and conventions as may best secure cooperation for the great objects of the Kingdom of God. Such organizations have no authority over one another or over the churches. They are voluntary and advisory bodies designed to elicit combine and direct the energies of our people in the most effective manner. Members of New Testament churches should cooperate with one another in carrying forward the missionary educational and benevolent ministries for the extension of Christ’s Kingdom. Christian unity in the New Testament sense is spiritual harmony and voluntary cooperation for common ends by various groups of Christ’s people. Cooperation is desirable between the various Christian denominations when the end to be attained is itself justified and when such cooperation involves no violation of conscience or compromise of loyalty to Christ and His Word as revealed in the New Testament.
THE CHRISTIAN AND THE SOCIAL ORDER
Every Christian is under obligation to seek to make the will of Christ supreme in his own life and in human society. Means and methods used for the improvement of society and the establishment of righteousness among men can be truly and permanently helpful only when they are rooted in the regeneration of the individual by the saving grace of God in Christ Jesus. The Christian should oppose in the spirit of Christ every form of greed selfishness and vice. He should work to provide for the orphaned the needy the aged the helpless and the sick. Every Christian should seek to bring industry government and society as a whole under the sway of the principles of righteousness truth and brotherly love. In order to promote these ends Christians should be ready to work with all men of good will in any good cause always being careful to act in the spirit of love without compromising their loyalty to Christ and His truth.
PEACE AND WAR
It is the duty of Christians to seek peace with all men on principles of righteousness. In accordance with the spirit and teachings of Christ they should do all in their power to put an end to war. The true remedy for the war spirit is the gospel of our Lord. The supreme need of the world is the acceptance of His teachings in all the affairs of men and nations and the practical application of His law of love.
RELIGIOUS LIBERTY
God alone is Lord of the conscience and He has left it free from the doctrines and commandments of men which are contrary to His Word or not contained in it. Church and state should be separate. The state owes to every church protection and full freedom in the pursuit of its spiritual ends. In providing for such freedom no ecclesiastical group or denomination should be favored by the state more than others. Civil government being ordained of God it is the duty of Christians to render loyal obedience thereto in all things not contrary to the revealed will of God. The church should not resort to the civil power to carry on its work. The gospel of Christ contemplates spiritual means alone for the pursuit of its ends. The state has no right to impose penalties for religious opinions of any kind. The state has no right to impose taxes for the support of any form of religion. A free church in a free state is the Christian ideal and this implies the right of free and unhindered access to God on the part of all men and the right to form and propagate opinions in the sphere of religion without interference by the civil power.
CHRISTIAN AFFIRMATION OF MARRIAGE (Adopted Oct, 2005)
We believe that God’s intention for marriage is established throughout the scriptures of the Old and New Testaments; that God ordained marriage as a voluntary union for life of one man and one woman; that sexual intimacy is legitimate only within the bounds of marriage; that Christian marriage is not simply a contract between two persons, but is a covenant ratified in the presence of God; that in Christian marriages, the Church acts as the agent of God’s blessing, as a primary witness and as a supportive community; and that a healthy marriage is the best foundation for families and the raising of children.
Constitution
Midwest Baptist Association
Current As Of October 9, 2010
ARTICLE I – NAME
The name of the organization shall be the Midwest Baptist Association.
ARTICLE II – PURPOSE
The purpose of this association shall be:
To be a fellowship of churches of like faith and order, helping, challenging and strengthening each cooperating church to fulfill its mission as defined in the Great Commission, as found in Matthew 28:16-20, in cooperation with the Canadian Convention of Southern Baptists Denomination.
ARTICLE Ill-STATEMENT OF FAITH
The statement of faith shall be the Baptist Faith and Message including the preamble as adopted by the Canadian Convention of Southern Baptists Denomination at the 1985 Convention in Kelowna, British Columbia.
ARTICLE IV- MEMBERSHIP
Section 1.
The membership of this association shall be composed of messengers elected by the Baptist churches cooperating with and contributing to the work of this association, provided the church or churches making appointments shall have adopted the statement of faith as contained in this constitution, or one acceptable to the association, and shall have subscribed to this constitution and bylaws and shall have made application to the association tor membership and shall have been accepted.
Section 2
Each church in the association having fifty resident members or less, including its mission may send their pastor and three messengers, and one additional messenger tor every additional twenty-five resident members, provided that no church have more than ten messengers. These messengers shall have voting privileges.
Seclion3
Messengers from new churches may be seated at any annual associational meeting by a two-thirds (2/3) vote. Cooperation is voluntary and any church may withdraw at its discretion.
Should any church cease to cooperate with the association or become corrupt in doctrine or practice, as determined by the association, its messengers shall be refused seating. The church will be considered no longer in fellowship with the association untilit reapplies, and is accepted again for sealing of its messengers.
Section 4
New churches, which are in agreement with the principles, purposes, and methods of this association and which desire admission into its fellowship shall make application for constituent membership by petitionary letter to the moderator no later than one month prior to the annual meeting.
Section 5
The moderator shall refer the church’s petitionary letter to the credentials committee which shall inquire into the church’s articles of faith, fellowship, manner and the nature of organization. The committee shall state its recommendation at the next annual meeting and if the application is approved by a two-thirds (2/3) vote, the church shall be accepted and its messengers seated.
ARTICLE V- AUTHORITY
Section 1.
This association shall never exercise any authority whatsoever over any church, nor shall it interfere in any way with the by-laws of any church, or with the exercise of the sovereign absolute autonomy of the local group.
Section 2.
While this association does not assume any authority over the churches in its membership, it does reserve the right to withdraw the hand of fellowship from any church which shall become corrupt in faith and/or practice.
ARTICLE VI – DISSOLUTION
Upon dissolution of the association all assets will be distributed to the Canadian Convention of Southern Baptists Denomination or their heirs or the assigned of our choice that are qualified donees, registered under the Income Tax Act of Canada. This provision is unalterable.
ARTICLE VII AMENDMENTS
This constitution may be amended at any annual meeting provided the proposed amendment is presented in writing to the previous annual meeting and may be altered at the second meeting in wording only, but not in intent. Article VI is unalterable.
By-Laws
Midwest Baptist Association
ARTICLE I – MEETINGS
Section 1.
This association shall meet annually at such time and place as it may designate within the month of October. To facilitate organization and order, the following committees shall be appointed:
A. The Annual Meeting Program Committee will ensure that the program of the annual meeting is uplifting and focused on the current needs of the churches. The committee shall recommend to the association at each annual meeting the time location and keynote speaker for the following year’s meeting. This committee will have three members who will serve a three-year term on a rotating basis. The moderator shall appoint each year a new committee member to replace the one rotating off. No committee member shall serve more than one three year term without first having sat our a year between appointments.
B. The moderator as needed shall appoint the Resolution, Obituary, and Credentials committees.
Section 2.
The executive board shall meet at least once between annual meetings.
Section 3.
Special meeting of the association may be called by a majority vote of the executive board, with at least one month notice given to all member churches and any missions they may sponsor.
Section 4.
A special meeting of the executive board can be called by the moderator or any two members of the executive board, with at least two weeks notice given to all executive board members.
Section 5.
Messengers who are present from participating churches shall form a voting quorum for special and regular meetings.
All meetings of the association shall be governed according to Roberts Rules of Order, Latest Edition, except where these by-laws differ.
ARTICLE II – OFFICERS
Section 1.
The officers of this association shall consist of a moderator, vice-moderator, clerk and treasurer. They shall be elected by majority vote. Each shall assume office at the close of the annual session in which they are elected, and shall serve through the next annual session of the association except that the retiring clerk shall be responsible for the printing and distribution of the minutes of the annual meeting.
Section 2.
In order to achieve continuity and encourage long range planning, the moderator may be considered for nomination for three successive terms.
Section 3.
The moderator, vice-moderator, clerk and treasurer will serve as trustees. Any two of the trustees are authorized to sign documents to carry out the legal business of the association.
Section 4.
It shall be the duty of the moderator to preside over the deliberation of the association, and the executive board and to discharge such other duties as are usually incumbent upon the presiding officer of deliberative bodies. In the absence of the moderator, the vice-moderator shall serve as moderator.
Section 5.
It shall be the duty of the clerk of the association to keep a record of the proceedings of the association, and file and keep in order all papers considered important to the association. The clerk shall have custody of the seal and shall sign all official papers there with. The minutes of meetings and official records of the association shall be available for viewing after a two (2) week request to the clerk or duly assigned person in the annual meeting.
It shall also be the duty of the clerk to register new clergy (for the authority to perform marriages in Alberta) with the Province of Alberta Vital Statistics department. The Clerk shall once a year review the list of registered clergy and make the necessary updates to the listing and provide this update to Alberta Vital Statistics.
Section 6.
It shall be the duty of the treasurer of the association to receive, disburse, and keep a strict account of all association funds as it may direct and to make such a report to the executive board and the association. The treasurer’s books shall be audited or inspected annually and the report shall be made to the association. The financial books of the association shall be available for viewing after a two (2) week request to the treasurer or duly assigned person in the annual meeting.
Section 7.
The only remuneration for officers of the association shall be the amount set by the messengers at the annual meeting.
ARTICLE III – ASSOCIATIONAL MINISTRY COORDINATOR
Section 1.
A) The Associational Ministry Coordinator shall be directly accountable to the Midwest Baptist Association through the association’s executive board.
B) For legal considerations the Associational Ministry Coordinator shall be solely the employee of the Midwest Baptist Association and all legal references to the employer shall state that the Midwest Baptist Association is the employer.
C) The Associational Ministry Coordinator shall send a report to the moderator to be shared with the executive board at each of its periodic meetings and at the Association’s annual meeting.
Section 2.
The Associational Ministry Coordinator shall be remunerated by the Midwest Baptist Association. The actual amount shall be agreed upon annually.
ARTICLE IV – EXECUTIVE COUNCIL
Section 1.
The executive board will comprise of the four elected officers and two representatives from each area of the association. (Peace River, Yellowhead and Chinook.) Understanding that the association ministry Coordinator and assistant will be present at the executive council meetings but won’t have a voting role.
Section 2.
The executive board shall transact any and all business of the association during its recess, providing that nothing shall be done contrary to the constitution or these bylaws or the will of the association.
Section 3
The executive board shall exercise responsibility in the following areas.
A. The executive board shall approve a provisional annual meeting program for the association and send a copy to each of the churches of the association at least thirty days before the annual session, together with any other information or written reports of the work it may feel will be helpful and inspiring to the churches.
B. The executive board shall make an annual report to the association of all work done by the council, including an itemized statement of all receipts and disbursements, and such other matters as pertain to the business of the association, with such recommendations and suggestions of the council as they deem wise.
C. For the purpose of carrying out its objectives, the executive board may borrow or raise or secure the payment of money in such a manner as it thinks fit, and in particular by the issue of debentures;, but this power shall be exercised only under the authority of the Midwest Baptist Association and in no case shall debentures be issued without the sanction of a special resolution of the association.
D. The executive board shall plan and co-ordinate the calendar of activities for the association, which would include immediate and long range emphases and shall be presented at the annual meeting.
E. The executive board shall project a program of work consistent with Canadian Convention of Southern Baptist Program emphases.
F. The executive board shall prepare and/or revise a yearly budget for the association and its overall program and be responsible for its implementation. It shall have supervision over the budget under the authority of the executive board. It shall promote stewardship on the part of every church in the association to participate in world-wide causes through the Cooperative Program. It shall oversee the annual inspection and/or audit of the books of the treasurer.
G. The executive council shall examine all letters and credentials sent to the association for membership or recognition and make recommendations on each separate request to the association.
H. The executive council shall consider all personnel concerns related to associational staff. A job review shall be conducted annually. Other concerns may be addresses as needed. Discussion of these concerns may be initiated by council or associational staff. Recommendations for hiring or dismissing associational staff shall be made only at a special or annual meeting.
ARTICLE V- REPORTS
Section 1.
It shall be the duty of each cooperating church to make an annual report to the association, giving names of messengers, statistics, and financial conditions of the church, and any helpful or inspiring information available. Reports shall cover events from September 1 through August 31.
Section 2.
Fiscal year is January 1 to December 31.
ARTICLE VI- AMENDMENTS
These by-laws may be amended by the three-fourths (3/4) majority vote of the messengers present at any annual meeting provided the proposed amendment is presented to the executive board at least thirty days prior to the annual meeting.