The standard manual for Baptist churches

1 ,EdwardThurston, ;M' , ,Authorof"TheBaptisttShortMethod,""StarM inisters,""TheStarBookSeries""Pastors'Ma nual," :AMERICANBAPTISTPUBLICATIONSOCIETY, ,intheyear1800,bytbiAmericanBaptistPubli cationSociety,IntheofficeoftheLibrariano fCongress,atW& , *i8 TiaitChurch,11 CHAPTEBILC hukchOfficers, .14 CHAPTEBIILC hurchOrdinances, ,23 CHAPTEBV,ChukchDiscipline,TtCHAPTEBVLCas e*ofAppeal,ftCHAPTEBVTLC hurchBusiness,< ,.. ,80 CHAPTERXLTheLord'sSupper,108 CHAPTERXILI htantBaptism,,129 CHAPTERXIILC hurchGovernment, , ,. "BaptistChurchDirectory"preparedbythewri ter, , ,particu-larlyinperplexingcasesliabletoa rise, ,moreorlessfully,intosixorsevendifferent languagesbyourmission-aries,foruseinourm issionsandforeignfields,! , ,sixteenyearsago,thewriterpreparedthelit tle"StarBookonBaptistChurchPolity,"which manychurcheshaveadopted, ;andboththisandthe"Directory" "BaptistShortMethod," ,especiallyastotheordi-nancesandchurchor der; ,andbyanarrangementwiththepastor, , , ,NewYorkCity, "Directory,"andmoreful!

2 Thanthe"StarBook/'embrac-ingcertainfeatu resofthe"ShortMethod/'Whencompleted,itwa sthoughttobe,onthewhole,somuchsuperiorto anythingeverbeforeprepared,asamanualforg en-eraluseinBaptistchurches,thatbymutual consent,itwasdecidedtohaveitpublishedfor generalcirculation, ,suchamanual,itishoped,willproveavaluabl ehelperintheinterestofchurchorder, ,somanythousandsofwhomareyearlyad-mitted tothefellowshipofthechurches,withanunlim itedfranchise,whilebutim-perfectlyinstru ctedastoeitherdoctrinesororder, ,transparentinarrangementofmatters*conve nientinform,andcheapincost,pastorswillfi ndittotheirownadvantage,aswellastothatof theirmembers, ,forwhoseuseitspreparationwasunder-taken ,showshisestimateofitsvalue,andsetsother pastorsawiseandworthyexam-ple,byordering inadvanceofpublication, ,asotherworkshavebeenmade,ameansoffurthe ringgoodorder,spiritualvitality,andeffic ientserviceforChrist, , ,January84, "church"is,incommonlan-guage, ,toacongregationofChristianworshipers,to areligiousestablishment,toagivenformofec clesiasticalorder,totheaggregateofallChr istianbelievers, ,rendereduchurch"isderivedfromawordmeani ng910 BTAJTOARDMAOTAX ucalledout," ,itdesignatedacompanyofpersonspossessedo ftherightsofcitizen-ship,andchargedwithc ertainimportantfunctionsofadministration inpublicaffairs,summoned,orcalledout, ,theekJdtxiaisacompanyofpersonscalledout andseparatedfromthecommonmultitudebyadiv inecalling,chosentobesaints,investedwith theprivileges, ,therefore,accordingtotheNewTestamentide a,isacompanyofpersonsdivinelycalledandse paratedfromtheworld,baptizedonaprofessio noftheirfaithinChrist,unitedincovenantfo rworshipandChristianservice,underthesupr emeauthorityofChrist, ,orecclesiasticalsystem,undersomecentral authority, ,theEpiscopalChurch,thePresbyterianChurc h wheretheworduchurch" ,butnotoftheBaptistChurch, "thechurchinJerusalem,""thechurchoftheTh essalonians.

3 ""thechurchofBabylon,""thechurchoftheLao di-ceans";but"thechurchesofMacedonia,""t hechurchesofAsia,""thechurchesofJudea."A church,therefore,isnotasystemofcongregat ionsconfederatedunderageneralgovernment, ,almostuniformly, *thelightoftheworld"and"thesalt0112 STANDARDMANUAL,theearth."Theyareordained forthegloryofGod,as"thegroundandpillarof thetruth," ,andtolivethegospelbeforemen, ,therefore, , ,asabody,iswhatitsindividualmembersarein theirreligiouslifeandinflu-ence, AbodyofChristiandisciplesmayfailSomeetso meoftherequirementsofthegospels,andstill beatruechurchofChrist, Butwhenabodyceasestoacknowledgeandsubmit toChristasitsSupremeRuler,andtoreceivehi swordasitssupremelaw, ,andissimplyareligioussociety, Achurchisnotalegislative, , Butinmatterspertainingtoorderandmethodso fadministration,merelyoptionalanddis-cre tionary,notInvolvingfundamentalprinciple s,thechurchistoexerciseitsliberty, Andstillfurther,whileachurchcannotbecome anauthoritativeexpounderofeithertruthord uty,tobindtheconsciencesevenofitsmembers ,yetitdoespossessajudicialfunctionforthe inter-pretationandtheenforcementofthelaw sofChristforitselfasabody,and,therefore, foritsmembers, Eachchurchowescourtesyandcomity,fellowsh ipandfraternity.

4 Toallothers;butitowe*subjectionandallegi ancetonone, Inmattersofbusinessandintheexerciseofits authorityinadministration, , Councilsmaybecalled,presbyteriescon-vene d,orcommitteesofreferencechosenforadvice incasesofmoment,buttheyarealladvisoryonl y, ,andnoothereourtofappealinecclesiastical affairs, "presbyters,""elders,"and"overseers."The irdutiesandserviceshavemainlyreferenceto thespiritualinterestsofthebody, , ,however, Pastorsanddeacons,asteachersandleadersof theflock,cannotbeselectedforandIm-posedu ponthechurchesbyanyexternalauthoritywhat ever,eithercivicorreligious;butareelecte diThisandsereralofthefollowingsection*ar econsistentwiththeMStarBookonBaptistChur chPolity," ,withoutcompulsionorrestraint,fromamongt hem-selves, Intheelectionofeitherapasteroxdeacon, ,andatleastthree-qtutrter$ofthevotescast shouldbenecessaryfortheelectionofapastor , , Bothpastorsanddeaconsareproperlyelectedf orunlimitedtermsofservice, ,andofthosewhobearthem,thanalimitedandsp ecifiedtime,thoughdeaconsaresome-times,a ndperhapsproperly,chosenforalimitedtermo fservice,subjecttore-election, Thechurchistofixontheamountof Thecalltoapastorissuesfromthethurehasabo dy, ,thoughnotessential, ,asthelegalrepresentativesofthecor-porat ion,toconfirmtheactionofficially,sofaras thesalaryisconcerned, , Therelationsbetweenpastorandthechurchmay bedissolvedattheoptionofeither^bjgivingt hreemonthsnotice.

5 Orotherwise,bymutua) ,therelationsmaybedissolvedattheoptionof eithe* Achurchclerkiselectedannually,atabusines smeeting, , ,orifthelawsorequires, ;deaconsmightprop-erlydischargeallthefun ctionsoftheseoffices,iNote9. Theofficesoftrustandserviceina*InuomeSta te*thelawsdonotrecognizethechurch,thatbe ingaspiritualbody,butincorporateasociety ,asitlacalled, ,holdandkeepinrepairitsproperty, ,asprovidedforbylaw, ,andthetrusteeselected, ,andisincon-sistentwiththefreedomofohurc haction, ,achurchshouldbeallowedtomanageitsownaff airs, , , ,theyshouldbewidelydispensed;iftheyarebu rdens, > Achurchcannotuniteinanycorporatecapacity withotherorganizationsforreligious,be-ae volent,moralreform,orotherpurposes;butit mayOperatewiththeseforanygoodobject,andg ivetosuchsocietiesitsmoralsupport,sympat hy, Butmembersofchurcheecan,aaIndi-viduals,u nitewithoutsideorganizations,foranypurpo se,notinconsistentwiththeirprofessionasC hristians, *12. Churchescannotalienatetheirrespon-sibili ties,nordelegatetheirauthoritytoanyman,o rtoanybodyofmen, ,andteperformservicesforthem,underinstru ction,andt ,inthelargestsense,areanyinstitutions,or regulationsofdivineappointment,establish edasmeansofgraceforthegoodofmen, ,notonlyarebaptismandtheLord'sSupperordi nances,butpreaching,prayer,hearingthewor d,fasting,andthanksgivingarealsoordinanc es, ,inanarrowersense, ,bywhichtheyaretobedistinguished, , ,ordipping,ofacandidateinwater,onaprofes sionofhisfaithinChristandonevidenceofreg enera-tion;thebaptismtobeministeredin,or intothenameoftheFather,theSon, ,andinafigurede-claresthecandidate'sdeat htosinandtheworld, ,andprofessesthecandidate'shopeofaresurr ec-tionfromthedead, 'sSupperisaprovisionofbreadandwine,usedt orepresentthebodyandthebloodofChrist,par takenofbymem-bersofthechurchassembledfor thatpur-pose.

6 InwhichservicetheycommemoratetheloveofCh ristexhibitedinhisdeathforthem, Nopersoncanrightfullyorproperlybe-come&c hurchmemberexcepthebefirstbaptized,asthe distinguishingmarkandprofessionofhisdisc i* TheSupperisachurchordinance, ,also,sincebaptismprecedeschurchmem-bers hip,itmustprecedeandbepre-requisitetothe Lord' SincetheSupperisdistinctivelyachurchordi nance,itistobeobservedbychurchesonly,and notbyindividuals;neitherinprivateplaces, norinsickrooms,noronsocialoccasions, ,andinitsofficialcapacity,meetinaprivate house,asickroom,orwhereveritmayelect, Bothordinancesareordinarilyandprop-erlya dministeredbyordainedandaccreditedminis- ters;butbothwouldbeequallyvalidifadminis teredbyunordainedpersons, ,theNewTestamentissilent, Astothetime,place,andfrequencyoftheordin ances, , , TheparticipationoftheelementsintheSupper shouldbedoneaccordingtothespecialdirec-t ionofChrist, ."Ititnot,therefore,atestortokenofChrist ianfellowship, "thelivingbread," TheordinancesarenottacramenU,astaughtbys ome, ,theirimportancemustno* * BaptismIsnotessentialtosalvation,feroarc hurchesutterlyrepudiatethedogmaof"bap-ti smalregeneration''";butitisessentialtoob edience, , whentherewasbut"oneLord,onefaith,andoneb aptism,"andnodifferingdenomi-nationsexis ted,thebaptismofaconvertbythatveryact,co nstitutedhimamemberofthechurch, ,"baptismwasthedoorintothechurch.

7 "Now,itisdifferent;andwhilethechurchesar edesir-ousofreceivingmembers, ,maketheirstatement,givetheir"experience ," , , Thechurchhavinglis-tenedtothereligiousex perienceofthecandidate,andbeingsatisfied withthesame,andwithhisChristiandeportmen t,votestoreceivehimtoitsfellowship,"onbe ingbaptized." Thecandidatepresentsaletterofdismissiona ndrecommendationfromsomeotherBaptistchur chwithwhichhehasbeenconnected, ,beingsatisfied, Personshavingbeenbaptized,butforsomereas onbeingwith-outmembershipinanychurch, ,givingsatisfactoryevi-denceofChristianc haracter,andsubstan-tialagreementinmatte rsoffaithandprac-tice,arereceivedbyvote, asinothercases,Notb1. ,however,accepted,ascertificatesofChrist iancharacter, -Whilethechurchesdonotrequirecandi-dates tosignanycreed,confesaion,orarticlesoffa ith,yettheydoexpectasubstantialagreement la34 STANDARDMANUAL mattersoffaithandpracticeontheirpartases sentialbothtothecomfortoftheindividual, Shouldanymemberobjecttotherecep-tionofac andidate,tuchreceptionshouldbedeferred, ; ,aftertheirexperienceorlettershavebeenpr esented, Anymemberingoodstanding,isentitled,atany time,toaletterofdismission,intheusualfor m, Lettersareusuallymadevalidforsixmonth*on ly,duringwhichtimetheymustbeused, ,theymayberenewedbythechurch, Eachonereceivingaletterisstillamem-berof thechurch,andunderitswatcbcareanddis-cip line, ,atanytime,toreceiveacertificateofstandi ng, *9.

8 Nomembercanwithdrawfromthechurch,orhaveh isnamedropped, NorcanamemberhavealettervotedFORBAPTISTC HURCHES,2ftandforceduponhimwithouthi , Memberslivingremotefromthechurchareexpec tedtounitewithsomeBaptistchurchneartheir residence; ,theyareex-pectedtoreportthemselvestothe churchatleastonceeachyear,andcontributet oitssupport, Lettersofdismissionmayberevokedatanytime beforebeingused,if,inthejudgmentofthechu rch,therebesufficientcauseforsuchaction, Notb13. Churchfellowshipwillbewithdrawnfrommembe rswhounitewithotherdenominations;because ,howeverexcellenttheircharacter,orsincer etheirintentions,theyhavebrokencovenantw iththechurch, Personsexcludedfromotherchurchesarenotto bereceivedtomembership,exceptafterthemos tcarefulinvestigationofallthefactsinthec ase,andnotunlessitbemanifestthattheexclu sionw unjustifiable, , ,andgiven"toanychurchofthesamefaithandor der/'Orifdirectedtoone,itmaybepresentedt o, Itisexpectedthatallpecuniaryliabilitytot hechurchwillbecanceled,andallpersonaldif fi-cultiesinthechurchwillbesettledbyamem ber,shouldsuchexist,beforeheshallreceive aletter Eachmember,withoutexception,itex-pectedt ofillMaplaceinthechurch,byattendanceonit sappointments,asProvidencemayallow,andal sotocontributeofhismeansforthepecuniarys upportofthebody, ,andrefuses,hebe-comesacovenant-breaker, ,andisusuallysoenteredontherecords, ItisneitheraChristiannoranhonor-ablecour seforachurchtograntanunworthymem-beraval idletter.

9 Andsendhimtoanotherchurchasoneingoodandr egularstanding,inordertoberidofadisturbe rofthepeace, Nochurchisobligedtoreceiveapersontomembe rship, ,inwhomthepeaceofGodrules,andwhowalkandw orkin"theunityoftheSpirit,andthebondofpe ace."Butunhappily,eventhesaintsaresancti fiedonlyinpart, , ,ifpossi-ble, ;butitisbettertopreventthem, ,however,bettertohealandremove, , ,neglected,orinsomewayinjured;thematterb eingchieflyimagi-nary, ,deacons,andin-fluentialmembersdonotcare fullyandcon-stantlyenoughwatchthebeginni ngsofstrife, ,whileothersaredrawnintothestrife,andcon tentiouspartiesinsensiblyareformed, ,thechurchislikelytoundertakethediscipli newithjudicialseverity,andnotinthespirit ofmeekness, , ,unjust,andoppressivetoindividuals, ;privateorper-sonal, ,buttheyareincommonuse, ,havingnodirectreferencetothechurchasabo dy, ,thecourseprescribedbyourSaviour( :15-17)istobestrictlyfollowed, Thememberwhocon-sidershimselfinjuredmust gototheoffender,tellhimhisgrief,andbetwe enthemselvesalone,ifpossible,adjustandse ttlethedifficulty.

10 "Ifthybrothershalltrespassagainstthee,go andtellhimhis8*90 STANDARDMANUAL fault,betweentheeandhimalone."Thiemostbe done,nottocharge,upbraid-,orcondemntheof fender,buttowinhim."Ifheshallhearthee,th ouhastgainedthybrother." Ifthisshallfail,thentheoffendedmembermus ttakeone01twoofthebrethrenwithhimaswitne sses,seekaninterviewwiththeoffender,and, ifpos-sible,bytheirunitedwisdomandpiety, removetheoffenseandharmonizethedif-ficul ty,"Butifhewillnothearthee,thentakewitht heeoneortwomore,thatinthemouthoftwoorthr eewitnesses,everywordmaybeestablished." Ifthisstepshouldproveunavailing,thentheo ffendedmembermusttellthewholemattertothe churchyandleaveitintheirhandstobedispose dof,astothemmayseemwisestandbest."Andifh eshallneglecttohearthem,tellittothechurc h." IfthiscourseofkindlyChristianlaborproves finallyineffectual,andtheoffendershowshi mselfincorrigible, ,andwhoseauthorityhedisregards."Andifhen eglecttohearthechurch,lethirabeuntotheea sanheathenman,andapublican.