Constitution of Cornerstone Baptist Church
Adopted 1985 - Revised September 1988, November 20, 2002 and August 20, 2003

Preamble

We declare and establish this constitution to preserve and secure the principles of our faith and to govern the body in an orderly manner. This constitution will preserve the liberties of each individual church member and the freedom of action of this body in relation to other churches.

I. Name

This body shall be known as Cornerstone Baptist Church of Stafford County, Virginia.

II. Purpose

The purpose of this body shall be to provide regular opportunities for public worship; to sustain the ordinances, doctrines, and ethics set forth in the New Testament for the Church of our Lord Jesus Christ; to nurture its members through a program of Christian education; to channel its offerings to the support of the objectives of the Redeemer’ s Kingdom; and to preach and propagate among all people the gospel of the revelation of God through Christ Jesus as Savior and Lord.

III. Statement of Beliefs

1. The Scriptures

We believe that the Holy Bible was written by men divinely inspired; that it has God as its author, salvation as its end, and truth, without error, for its matter; that it forms the only all-sufficient and infallible standard and authority in guiding mankind in all matters of Christian faith and moral duty. (Ephesians 2:22; Matthew 22:29; John 1:45; 2nd Timothy 3:14—17; Hebrews 1:1; 2’~ Peter 1:19-21)

2. God

There is one and only one living and true God, an intelligent, spiritual, and personal Being, the Creator, Preserver, and Ruler of the universe, infinite in holiness and all other perfections, to whom we owe the highest love, reverence, and obedience. He is revealed to us as the Father who loves and disciplines us; the Son, Jesus Christ; and the Holy Spirit who comforts us, empowers us, and guides us.

3. The Way of Salvation

We believe that man, created in the image of God and without sin, fell because of his own rebellion against God, and that he is saved only by the atoning blood of Christ. We believe in the necessity of regeneration by the power of the Holy Spirit and by repentance and the exercise of saving faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. The salvation of sinners is the gift of God through faith and belief in His son, Jesus Christ. Through His blood, the forgiveness of sin is in accordance with the riches of God’s grace. (Ephesians 1:7-14; John 3:16; Genesis 1:27; Genesis 3:22-24; John 1:12-13)

4. The Church

Cornerstone Baptist Church is a local body of baptized believers under the Lordship of Jesus Christ who are associated by covenant in the faith and fellowship of the gospel. This Church is an autonomous body, operating through democratic processes. (Acts 14:21-24; Matthew 28:29; Ephesians 1:4-7)

5. Baptism and the Lord’s Supper

We believe that baptism by immersion and the Lord’s Supper are ordinances of the Church, instituted by the Lord Jesus Christ. Baptism is an act of obedience of every believer, as a sign of his fellowship with the death and resurrection of Christ, of remission of sins, and of His giving of Himself up to God, to live and walk in the newness of life. The Lord’s Supper is to be administered with the bread and the fruit of the vine, symbolic of His sacrifice. It is to commemorate His death, to confirm our faith, and to renew our communion with Him and our church fellowship. (Matthew 29:-19-20; Matthew 26:26-27; Luke 22:19; Mark 16:15-16)

6. Marriage

This church rejects same sex marriages and will not allow such marriages to be performed in the Church building or on any part of Church property. This decision is based on Biblical references found in Genesis 2:18, Deuteronomy 7:13, Leviticus 18:22, Joshua 23:12 & 13, Nehemiah 13:23-25, Psalm 128, Proverbs 31:10 & 11; Romans 1:26-32, and Hebrews 13:4. (Adopted November 20, 2002)

7. Evangelism and Missions

It is the duty of every Christian to seek to extend the gospel to everyone as it 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 sanctioned by the Gospel of Christ. (Matthew 10:5-13; Matthew 13:1-23; Matthew 22:8-10; Matthew 28:19-20; Mark 16:15-16)

8. Stewardship

We believe that God is the source of all blessings, temporal and spiritual. All that we have and are we owe to Him. We have a spiritual debtorship to the whole world, a holy trusteeship in the gospel, and a binding stewardship in our possessions. We are, therefore, under obligation to serve Him with our time, talents, and material possessions and should recognize all these as entrusted to us to use for the glory of God and helping others. Christians should cheerfully, regularly, systematically, proportionately, and liberally contribute of their means in advancing the Redeemer’s cause on earth. (Leviticus 27:30; Malachi 3:8-10; Matthew 23:23; Matthew 25:14-30; Luke 12:41-48; I Corinthians 16:2)

IV. Membership

The membership of this Church shall be composed of those persons who confess Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord, have been baptized, and have been received by vote of the Church. Members are expected to subscribe to the covenant and constitution of this Church.

V. Church Covenant

Because each of us has experienced the love of God who has called us together to be
His witnesses to the world, and having followed Him in baptism, we enter into
covenant with one another as one body in Christ.

We engage, therefore, by the aid of the Holy Spirit, to walk together in Christian love and love one another as Christ loves us by:

		accepting each other as we are,
		forgiving as we want to be forgiven,
		praying in Spirit and truth,
		studying God’s Word together,
		assembling together in worship,
		bearing one another’s burdens,
		maintaining family and personal devotions,
		and providing religious education for our children.

Furthermore, we covenant to be His witnesses in our community, across this State, and to the ends of the earth as led by the Holy Spirit:

		in our daily walk,
		by giving proportionately of our time, talents and money to support the ministries of this Church,
		by ministering to the total person in the name of Jesus Christ,
		by cooperating with other bodies of faith, and e. by maintaining a concern for the lost.

We make this covenant in Thanksgiving and Praise for what God has done for us through His Son, Jesus Christ. To Him be the Glory and Honor Forever and Ever. Amen.

VI. Polity and Relationships

The government of this Church is vested in the body of believers who compose it.
Persons duly received by the members shall constitute the membership.

All internal groups created and empowered by the Church shall report to and be accountable only to the Church, unless otherwise specified by Church action.

This is a sovereign and democratic Baptist Church under the Lordship of Jesus Christ. This Church is subject to the control of no other ecclesiastical body, but it recognizes and sustains the obligations of mutual counsel and cooperation which are among Baptist Churches. Insofar as is possible, this Church will cooperate with and support the local association, the state convention, and the Southern Baptist Convention. The general officers of this Church are: the Pastor, Associate Pastor, Ministerial Staff, Deacons, Moderator, Clerk, Treasurer, Membership Secretary, three (3) Trustees, Missions Director, and Music Director. (Revised August 20, 2003)

All meetings shall be conducted in an orderly manner in a spirit of love for our Lord and one another, using Robert’s Rules of Order as a guide.

Changes in this Constitution and subsequent ByLaws can be made by presenting such change to the Constitution and ByLaws Committee for presentation to the Church body at the next regular Visions and Progress meeting, or at one called by the Constitution and ByLaws Committee for this purpose with at least two weeks’ notice. Copies of proposed changes will be available to members at least one week before such meeting. Amendments to this Constitution shall be by two-thirds vote of members present. Amendments to the ByLaws shall be by majority vote of members present at the meeting.

This Constitution shall be considered accepted and in immediate effect when two-thirds of the members present at the meeting at which vote is taken shall vote in favor of same.