We, the members of College Park Baptist Church, in orderly manner do hereby establish the following principles by which we mutually agree to be governed in the affairs of our Church.

Our name will be College Park Baptist Church located in the Triangle region of North Carolina.

For God's own glory, College Park Baptist Church is a Bible-based ministry committed to proclaiming the gospel of Jesus Christ, joining together His disciples for corporate worship and fellowship, and serving others in Christian love.

1. Scriptures: We believe that all the Scriptures are inspired of God and that every word possesses equal significance. Because of the superintending and empowering of the Holy Spirit we believe that the human writers did not write their private interpretations but the very words of God. We further believe that His inspiration extends to all matters of history, science, and other fields of knowledge. We strongly contend that our Bible, as originally given, to be without error. We believe that all parts of the Bible are fully inspired down to the smallest word or letter. We affirm that we should interpret the Scriptures normally, taking into account language that is figurative and allegorical while accepting the majority of the text to be literal.
   
   We affirm that the Scriptures are the supreme authority in all matters of life, faith, and practice. (II Peter 1:20-21, I Corinthians 2:1-33, Mark 12:26, Acts 1:16)

2. God: We believe that God has revealed Himself primarily in the BibleCthough He is revealed in His creationCand is the only being worthy of worship. He is the Creator, Redeemer, Sustainer, Provider, and Judge. He is perfect in holiness, wisdom, power, strength, and knowledge. We affirm that God has revealed Himself in three distinct, yet unseparable persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. We believe that these three persons make up the God-head and that they are all one God being co-equal, co-substantial, co-eternal; and that they possess the same attributes and are the source of our faith. (Deuteronomy 6:4, Matthew 28:19-20, Mark 12:29, John 1:14, II Corinthians 13:14, Hebrews 1:3)

   • Jehovah: We believe that the God the Father is the first Person of the Trinity and that He supremely controls all things. Further, we believe that prayer is made to the Father by faith, through the name of Jesus Christ by the influence and power of the Holy Spirit.

   • Jesus Christ: We believe that our Lord Jesus Christ, the second Person of the Trinity, became man without ceasing to be God. We believe that he was conceived of the Holy Spirit in the virgin Mary in order to reveal God's love to the world through the redemption of sinful man. We affirm that Jesus accomplished this by sacrificing Himself as our representative and that He vicariously took our punishment on Himself. I believe that Jesus conquered death by rising literally and physically from the dead.
     
     We believe that Jesus is now in heaven at the right hand of the Father making intercession for us as He fulfills His three offices: Prophet, Priest, and King.
     
     We believe that Jesus Christ is the head of the church, which is His body, and that all our Christians service is done unto God through Him.
     
     We believe that His return is imminent and watch steadfastly for the rapture of His church.

   • Holy Spirit: We believe that the Holy Spirit is the third Person of the Trinity. We affirm that He abides in everyone that has accepted Jesus as their personal Savior and that He seals all believers unto the day of redemption. We believe that He is the Divine Teacher who illumines Scripture, applies its truth to our lives convicting us of sin, and restores us to perfect fellowship with God. We believe that the Holy Spirit was present and active in the creative process at the beginning of the world, that He assumed a special role in the Old Testament and is now, the special gift of God to His church.
     
     We believe that all Christians are responsible to be filled with the Spirit allowing Him to guide and lead us into all truth.

3. Creation: We believe that the Genesis account of creation is to be taken literally. God spoke into being the heavens and the earth and all that is in them. Man and the earth were created by God wholly apart from any other process. We deny therefore, all forms of evolution, theistic or atheistic as they contradict the Bible, contradict the laws of nature, and undermine the rightful authority of God over nature. (Genesis 1-2; Psalm 33:6-9; Mark 10:6; John 1:3; Colossians 1:16; Hebrews 11:3)
   

4. Man: We believe that man was created perfectly and in the image of God. This perfection, however, was destroyed by the sin of Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden. We believe further that in "Adam's fall, we sinned all" and that every person is born into this world as a sinner. We believe that whatever "good" sinful man does is evidence of God's original, perfect state and not proof of man's deity.
   
   We further believe that man is completely depraved and has no ability within himself to "win Christ." We acknowledge that our salvation then is totally of grace and that our sinful nature cannot choose God without that grace.
   
   We believe that man's ultimate rejection of Jesus Christ as God causes him to face the eternal and righteous wrath of God.
   

5. Salvation: We believe that salvation from sin is a gift of God brought to man by grace and in the person of Jesus Christ. Grace works in us to produce saving faith. We believe that faith is the coupling of repentance for sin and complete confidence in Jesus Christ. We believe that faith is not a work that man can accomplish but evidence of the work done for him in the atonement and sacrifice of Jesus on the cross. We further maintain that since we did not do any work to accomplish our salvation that no work of man can cause us to lose it. We believe, therefore, that sin cannot separate a Christian from the love of God.
   
   Further, we believe that every Christian now possesses two natures, the first natural and sinful, and the second which is spiritual and righteous. We believe that provision has been made through the indwelling power of the Holy Spirit for victory over the old nature. (Romans 5:1, 6:13, 8:1, 12-13; Galatians 5:16-25; Ephesians 2:1-9, 4:22-24; Colossians 3:10; I Peter 1:14-16; I John 3:5-9)
   

6. Angels: We believe that Angels are beings created by God to worship Him and serve man. We affirm that one third of the angelic host fell with Lucifer, God's most highly created angel, and now serve him in their ultimately sinful state. We believe that there is no salvation for fallen angels.
   
   We believe that the angels who remained faithful to God are ministering spirits sent by Him to aid his saints.
   

7. Separation: We believe that the redeemed of God should live in such a manner as to not bring reproach upon their Savior; that separation from all religious apostasy, all worldly and sinful pleasures and practices, and all wicked associations is commanded by God. (II Timothy 3:15; Romans 12:1-2; I John 2:15-17; II John 9:11; II Corinthians 8:7-13; Philippians 2:12-13)
   

8. Eschatology: We believe that the rapture of the church by Jesus Christ is the next event on God's prophetic time-table. After the rapture we believe that the world will be judged in a seven year period called the tribulation. At the end of the tribulation there will be the Glorious Appearing of Jesus and the overthrow of anti-Christ, the Beast, the false prophet, and their forces. Jesus Christ will establish His one thousand year reign on the earth and Satan shall be bound in the bottomless pit. At the close of the millennial reign of Christ, Satan will be loosed and he will again deceive the unsaved of the nations. Christ, however, will conquer Satan at a final battle and will establish a new heaven and a new earth and all peoples who have received the grace of God by faith will worship God forever.
   

9. Church: We believe that all those born again by the Holy Spirit in this dispensation of grace are members of the kingdom of Jesus Christ, and into which all true believers of the present age are baptized immediately by the Holy Spirit. We further maintain that all the various members of this one spiritual kingdom should assemble themselves together in local churches (body of Christ) for worship, prayer, fellowship, teaching, united testimony, and the observance of ordinances of our Lord. (Ephesians 4:4, 5:25-32; Matthew 16:18; Acts 2:47; I Corinthians 12:12-13; Hebrews 10:25; Acts 2:41-47)
   
   We believe in two ordinances: baptism and the Lord's Supper. Baptist shall be administered in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit upon profession of faith in Jesus Christ as Savior. The Lord's Supper is the partaking of the bread and cup by which believers symbolically commemorate together the dying love of Jesus. This Supper should always be preceded by rigorous self-examination. Participation is not limited to members but to every believer who has been baptized.

Section A: Designation

Voting Member: This constitutes a member in good standing who is at least 16 years old and has been formally introduced to the church and accepted by the membership by public vote. A voting member has all the privileges of membership.

Section B: Eligibility for Membership

1. Any person who has received Jesus Christ as his personal Savior, and has been baptized after his conversion, can be voted into the membership of this church.

2. Members from other churches of the same faith and order may be received the same as above, and by letter recommending them from their previous church.

Section C: Process for Becoming a Member

1. Any person may apply for membership by publicly demonstrating his desire during the invitation at the end of any Sunday service.

2. Applicatees must meet with the pastor and confess their faith in Jesus Christ alone and affirm their Christian baptism.

3. A 50% vote of approval will be required to become a member of the church.

Section D: Dismissal of Members

1. By Letter: Any member in good standing may request a letter of recommendation to another church of like faith and order.

2. By Abandonment: A member may be dismissed if he has more than 75% of the church's public services within any three month period. Upon pastoral recommendation his name will be removed from the membership roles at the next annual business meeting.

3. By Death: if any member dies his name will be removed from the membership roles at the next annual business meeting.

Section E: Membership Discipline

1. The church, as the visible body of Christ, has the authority to exercise discipline over any member who is found guilty of any conduct worthy of church discipline so enumerated in I Corinthians 5:11-13 and Matthew 18:15-17.

2. The Senior Pastor will recommend to the church for discipline any member who the Senior Pastor believes is worthy of church discipline.

3. A majority vote of the present church membership will constitute the recommended member formally disciplined by College Park Baptist Church.

4. A member will be received back into the membership only after public repentance of sin.

Section A: Pastor

1. A Pastor has been called of God and shall serve for an undesignated period of time.

2. The Senior Pastor shall meet the Biblical qualifications as given in I Timothy 3:1-7 and Titus 1:6-9.

3. He shall be responsible for the duties of pastor including the preaching, administering of ordinances, and overseeing all affairs of the church.

4. He shall be the moderator of all congregational meetings of the church.

5. He is responsible for the hiring of all church staff.

Section B: Deacons

1. Every deacon shall meet the Biblical qualifications found in Acts 6:3 and I Timothy 3:8-13.

2. The duties of the deacons shall be to assist the pastor; helping him in visitation, administering of ordinances, and recommending financial guidelines to the church.

3. Deacons shall be appointed in a three-fold process.

   1. They are first to be recommended to the other deacons by the pastor.

   2. The recommendation must be unanimously agreed to by the other deacons.

   3. They are to be approved by majority vote by the congregation.

4. Deacons will serve three-year terms. They may serve consecutive terms.
   
5. Deacons may be removed by the recommendation of the pastor and a unanimous vote of the other deacons.

Section C: Trustees:

1. Trustees shall be those recommended by the pastor and shall be ratified by majority vote by the church membership.

2. The duties of the trustees shall be in accordance to the laws of North Carolina. They will hold, encumber, or transfer real property of the church as directed by the pastor and ratified by the church membership by majority vote in a duly called business meeting.

Section A: There shall be at least one business meeting each year.

Section B: Special business meetings may be called by the Pastor or, in the case of there being no Senior Pastor, by a majority of the deacons.

Section C: No quorum is necessary when voting on business issues that are non-staff related. Special meetings to remove the senior pastor must have a quorum of at least 70% of the church's voting membership.

Section D: All business meetings will be conducted parlimentarily under Roberts Rules of Order.

Section A: Auxiliary groups shall be organized at the discretion of the pastor.

Section B: All officers of church organizations shall be members of College Park Baptist Church.

Section C: Sunday School

1. A Superintendent shall be appointed by the pastor.

2. Teachers and officers to serve any portion of the year shall be appointed by the pastor and/or Superintendent.

3. Every teacher serves at the will of the pastor.

Section D: The Senior Pastor shall be a member ex-officio of all church groups or organizations.

Article 8: Standardization

1. We hereby authorize that the King James Version of the Bible is to be used as the standard text from the pulpit, and in every class associated with College Park Baptist Church and its ministries.

2. We also authorize that all forms of music that dishonors God including but not limited to pop rock, country, R&B, jazz, rap, and folk ballads will not be allowed in any service or function of College Park Baptist Church. This preclusion also includes Christian Contemporary Music.

This constitution may be amended or revised by first a recommendation of the deacons and a ratification of the church membership at any annual business meeting. Article 3 is not subject to revision. Articles 4 and 8 can be amended only by recommendation by the pastor and unanimous approval by the deacons.