Beliefs and Practices of the Union Association of Regular Baptists
BELIEFS AND PRACTICES OF THE UNION ASSOCIATION OF REGULAR BAPTISTS
Articles of Faith
1. We believe in one true and living God, Father, Son, and Holy Ghost and these three are one.
2.. We believe that the Old and New Testaments Scriptures are the written word of God, and the only rule of faith and practice.
3. We believe in the doctrine of election by grace.
4. We believe in the doctrine of original sin, and man's impotency to rescue himself from the fallen state he is in by nature by his own free will ability.
5. We believe that sinners are called, converted, regenerated and sanctified by the Holy Spirit and all are so regenerated and born again by the Spirit of God shall never fall finally away.
6. We believe sinners are justified in the sight of God only by the imputed righteousness of Jesus Christ.
7. We believe that baptism, the Lord's Supper and feet washing are ordinances of Jesus Christ and that true believers are the only proper subjects of these ordinances, and we believe the only true mode of baptism is by immersion.
8. We believe in the resurrection of the dead and a general judgement and that the joys of the righteous and the punishment of the wicked will be eternal.
9. We believe no minister has the right to administer the ordinances of the Gospel, except such as are regularly called and come under the imposition of hands by a presbytery of the church.
Constitution
From a long series of experiences, we, the churches of Jesus Christ being legally baptized upon a profession of our faith in Christ and convinced of the necessity of a combination of churches in order to have a union and communion among us, and preserve, perpetuate, and maintain a correspondence with each other in our union, we, therefore, propose to keep the order and rules of an association in accordance to the following plan or form of government:
1. The Association shall be called the "Union Association of Old Regular Baptist of Jesus Christ."
2. The Association shall be composed of members of the different churches in our union and duly sent to represent them in the Association, who shall be members whom they judge best qualified for that purpose, and producing letters from their respective churches certifying to their appointment these shall be entitled to a seat.
3. In the letters from the different churches shall be expressed their number in full fellowship, those baptized, received by letter, dismissed, excommunicated and deceased since last Association.
4. The members thus chosen and convened shall have no power to lord it over God's heritage, nor shall they have any clerical power over the churches of the union.
5. The Association, when convened shall be governed by a regular and proper decorum.
6. The Association shall elect the officers by vote of the delegates present and shall vote for a Moderator, Assistant Moderator, Clerk and Assistant Clerk.
7. New churches may be admitted to this union, which shall petition by letter and delegates and if found, upon examination to be orthodox and orderly, shall be received by the Association and manifested by the Moderator giving the right hand of fellowship.
8. Every church in the union shall be entitled to representation in the Association.
9. Every query presented by a church to the Association, being first debated in their own church shall come under the consideration of the Association.
10. Every motion made and seconded shall be considered by the Association except it be withdrawn by the party who made it.
11. We think it absolutely necessary that we have an Association fund, for defraying the expenses of the same. For the raising of which we think is the duty of each church in the union to contribute such funds voluntarily as they think proper and send it by their delegates to be deposited with the Treasurer, who shall be responsible to the Association for and pay the same out as the Association may direct. There shall be an Association Book kept in which the proceedings of every Association shall be regularly recorded by the Secretary who shall receive annual compensation.
12. The Minutes of the Association shall be read and corrected, if need be, and signed by the Moderator and Clerk before the Association rises.
13. Amendments of this plan of government may be made, at any time by a majority of the union when it may so desire.
14. The Association shall endeavor to furnish the churches with minutes of the Association. The best method of affecting the same shall be determined by the Association.
15. All matters coming before the Association shall be decided by a majority of the members present except receiving and dismissing Churches and Associations which shall be by unanimous voice. The Association shall have the power to provide for the general union of the churches and to preserve an inviolate chain of communion among the same; give the churches all necessary advice in matters of church difficulty; inquire into the cause why any church shall fail to represent at any time in the Association: appropriate the money received to any purpose it may think proper: appoint any members. By their consent, to transact any business it may think necessary; withdraw from any church in the union which may violate any of the rule of the Association or deviate from the orthodox principles of religion: admit any orderly minister of our faith and order to a seat in the Association: and adjourn to any future time and place it may deem convenient.
Rules of Decorum
1. The Association shall be opened and closed by prayer.
2. The Association shall elect the officers by vote of the delegates present and shall vote for a Moderator, Assistant Moderator Clerk and Assistant Clerk.
3. Only one member shall speak at a time and shall rise from his seat and address the Moderator when he is about to speak.
4. The person thus speaking shall not be interrupted in his speech by anyone except the Moderator until he is done.
5. He shall strictly adhere to his subject and in no wise reflect on the preceding speaker but shall define his ideas on the proposition so far as he can.
6. No person shall abruptly absent himself from the Association without leave of the same.
7. No person shall rise to speak more than three times on any one subject without permission from the Association.
8. No member of the Association shall have the liberty to laugh during the sitting of the same or whisper in time of public speech.
9. No member shall address another in any other form or term than that of "Brother" or "Sister".
10. The Moderator shall not interrupt a brother or prohibit him from speaking until he gives his views on the subject unless he shall violate the Rules of Decorum.
11. The names of the several members of the Association shall be enrolled by the Clerk and called over as often as the Association shall violate the Rules of Decorum.
12. The Moderator shall he entitled to same privilege of speech as any member provided the chair he filled but he shall have no vote unless the Association be equally divided in which event he shall give the deciding vote.
13. Any member who willfully and knowingly violates any of these rules shall be reprimanded by the Association as it may think proper.
