CONSTITUTION
OF THE
NEW SALEM BAPTIST CHURCH
Monticello, New York

Adopted, May, 1982
Revised, September, 1994
Revised, September, 2000
IN THIS PAGE
Preamble
Name of Church
Purpose
Doctrine
Character
Amendments
By-Laws
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ARTICLE 1: PREAMBLE

In order to preserve and make secure the principles of our faith, to insure that this body may be governed in an orderly manner consistent with the accepted tenets of the Baptist faith, and to preserve the liberties inherent in each individual member of this church and the freedom of action of this body with respect to its relation to other churches of the same faith, we do declare and establish this constitution.

ARTICLE 2: NAME OF THE CHURCH

The name of this body shall be the New Salem Baptist Church, Incorporated, of Sullivan County, New York.

ARTICLE 3: PURPOSE

The purpose of the New Salem Baptist Church shall be to carry out the great commission of the Lord Jesus Christ as recorded in Matthew 28:19-20, Mark 16:15, and Acts 1:8; to develop Christian fellowship among the true believers, and to further their growth in the grace and knowledge of Jesus Christ.

ARTICLE 4: DOCTRINE

The Church's authority and guide in matters of faith and practice shall be the Bible, which it holds to be the inspired Word of God. The New Salem Baptist Church shall subscribe to the doctrinal statement as recorded in the 1963 version of "The Baptist Faith and Message."

ARTICLE 5: CHARACTER

Section 1: Polity

The government of New Salem Baptist Church shall be vested in the body of baptized believers who compose its membership. It is subject to the control of no other ecclesiastical body. It may choose to cooperate voluntarily with other Baptist bodies such as the Metropolitan New York Baptist Association and the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship if the doctrinal statement of these bodies is in agreement with the doctrinal statement of the church.

Section 2: Incorporation

The New Salem Baptist Church shall be incorporated in accordance with the laws of the State of New York governing religious bodies, and the handling of property shall be in accordance with those laws.

ARTICLE 5: AMENDMENTS

This Constitution may be amended by a three-fourths vote of the members present and voting at the annual business meeting, provided that the proposed revision shall have been submitted to the church in writing at least two months prior to the meeting.

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