Section I - Name
This Church shall be known as Community Baptist Church of Montoursville, hereafter referred to as Church. In its organization, it shall be independent and autonomous.

Section II - Authority
In all matters of discipline, order, and policy, the Bible shall be the authority.

The purpose for which this Church is established and ordained shall be to bear a united witness to the faith of its members in the whole Bible as the inspired Word of God; to preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ and the faith once for all delivered to the saints; to aid in missionary work and in the winning of the lost to the Lord Jesus Christ; and to build up its congregation in the most holy faith.

Section I - The Scriptures
We believe that the Bible is the inspired Word and revelation of God and therefore our only authority in faith and practice. (II Tim. 3:16; II Peter 1:19-21)

Section II - God
We believe that there is only one true and living God, manifesting Himself in three persons: Father, Son and Holy Spirit, yet one in essence and power.  (Ex. 20:2,3; I Cor. 8:6; Rev. 4:11)

Section III - Deity
We believe in the Deity of our Lord Jesus Christ, that He is Very God.

Section IV - Holy Spirit
We believe that the Holy Spirit is a divine person, equal with God the Father and God the Son and of the same nature; that He was active in the creation; that in His relation to the unbelieving world He restrains the evil one - Satan - until God’s purpose has been fulfilled; that He convicts of sin and of righteousness and of judgment; that He witnesses to the truth of the Gospel in preaching and testimony; that He is the agent in the New Birth and that He seals, endues, guides, teaches, witnesses, sanctifies, and helps the believer. (John 14:16,17; Heb. 9:14; Luke 1:35; Gen. 1:1-3; John 3:5,6; John 16:8-11; Acts 5:30-32; Mark 1:8; Acts 11:16; Rom. 8:14; Rom. 8:26,27)

Section V - Devil or Satan
We believe in the personality of Satan.  We believe that he is the unholy god of this age, the author of all the powers of darkness, and is destined to judgment in the Lake of Fire. (II Cor. 4:4; Mark 4:15; Rev. 20:10)

Section VI - Creation
We believe the Genesis account of creation; that man came by direct creation of God and not by evolution. (Gen. 1 and 2; Col. 1:16,17)

Section VII - Fall of Man
We believe that man was created in innocence under the Law of his Maker, but by voluntary transgression, fell from his sinless and happy state and in consequences of which all mankind are now sinners, not only by constraint, but by choice, and therefore under condemnation without defense or excuse and necessitates the need of the new birth.  (Gen. 3:1-6,24; Rom. 5:19; Rom. 3:10-19; Rom. 1:32)

Section VIII - Virgin Birth
We believe that Jesus Christ was begotten of the Holy Ghost in a Miraculous manner; born of Mary, a virgin, as no other man was ever born or can ever be born of women, and He is therefore God manifest in the Flesh. (Gen. 3:15; Isa. 7:14; Luke 1:35; John 1:14)

Section IX - Atonement
We believe that the salvation of sinners is wholly of Grace by the Son of God who by Divine appointment of the Father, freely took upon Himself our sin, yet without sin, and honored the Divine Law by His personal obedience, and by His death made a full and complete atonement for our sins; that His atonement consisted of not setting us an example by His death as a martyr, but was a voluntary substitution of Himself, in the sinner’s place, the Just dying for the unjust; Christ the Lord bearing our sins in His own body  on the tree.  (Eph. 2:8; Acts 15:11; I John 4:10; I Cor. 15:3; II Cor. 5:21; John 3:16; Heb. 2:14)

Section X - Salvation
We believe that faith in the Lord Jesus Christ is the only condition of salvation; that sinners, in order to be saved, must be born again; that the new birth is a new creation in Christ Jesus, that it is instantaneous and not a process; that in the New Birth the one who was dead in trespasses and sins is made a partaker of the Divine nature and receives eternal life, the free gift of God; that the New Birth is brought about in a manner above our comprehension solely by the power of the Holy Spirit in connection with Divine Truth.  (John 3:3; II Cor. 5:17; John 3:6,7; Acts 16:30-33; Eph. 2:1; I John 5:1)

Section XI - Sanctification
We believe that sanctification is the process by which, according to the Will of God, we are made partakers of His Holiness; that it is a progressive work; that it is begun in regeneration; and that it is carried on in the hearts of believers by the presence and power of the Holy Spirit, the Sealer and Comforter, in the continual use of the appointed means, especially the Word of God, self examination, self denial, watchfulness and  prayer. (I Cor. 6:11; II Cor. 3:18; I Thess. 3:12,13; I Thess. 4:3; 5:23)

Section XII - Local Church
We believe that the New Testament Church is a body of believers baptized on a credible confession of Faith in Jesus Christ, sovereign in polity, banded together for observance of the ordinances, worship, fellowship, work, and world-wide proclamation of the Gospel.  (Acts 2:41,42; I Tim. 3; Col. 1:18; I Cor. 11:2)

Section XIII - Ordinances
We believe that God’s Word commands every believer (and only believers) to be baptized.  We believe that the ordinance of the Lord’s Supper should be observed as Christ said, “In remembrance of Me” (of His broken body and shed blood for us) by believers only, and that it has no sacramental value. (Acts 8:36-39; John 3:23; Rom. 6:3-5; I Cor. 11:23-30)

Section XIV - Security of Saints
We believe that all who are truly born again are kept by God the Father for Jesus Christ.  (Phil. 1:6; John 10:28,29; Jude 1)

Section XV - Righteous and Wicked
We believe in the everlasting bliss of the Saved and the conscious separation from God of those who reject the Lord Jesus Christ as their personal Savior.
(Rev. 20:11-15)

Section XVI - Civil Government
We believe that civil government is of divine appointment, for the interests and good order of society; that magistrates and rulers are to be prayed for, conscientiously honored, and obeyed; except in things opposed to the Will of our Lord Jesus Christ who is the only Lord of our conscience, and the coming King of Kings of the earth.  (Rom. 13:1-7; II Sam. 23:3; Ex. 18:21-23; Acts 23:5; Matt. 22:21; Acts 5:29; 4:19,20; Dan. 3:17,18)

Section XVII - Resurrection, personal, visible, premillennial, return of Christ and related events
We believe in the bodily resurrection.  
(Matt. 28:6,7; Luke 24:39; John  20:27; I Cor.  15:4; Mark 16:6; Luke 24:6)
The ascension of Christ.
(Acts 1:9-11; Luke 24:51; Mark 16:19; Rev. 3:21; Heb. 12:2)
The High Priesthood of Christ.
(Heb. 8:6; I Tim. 2:5; I John 2:1; Heb. 2:17; 5:9,10)
The Second Coming of Christ.  
(John 14:3; Acts 1:11; I Thess. 4:16; James 5:8; Heb. 9:28)
The Resurrection of the Righteous dead.
(I Thess. 4:13-18; I Cor.15:42-44; I Cor. 15:52)
The Change of the Living in Christ.
(I Cor. 15:51-53; I Thess. 4:13-18; Phil. 3:20)
The Throne of David.  
(Luke 1:32; Isa. 9:6,7; Acts 2:29,30)
The Millennial Reign of Christ.
(I Cor. 15:25; Isa. 32:1; Psa. 72:8; Rev. 20:6)

Section XVIII - Charismatic Movement
We believe that the present day tongues movement does not have a Scriptural basis for its existence; but is a subjective and emotional manifestation of a false spirituality.  It is not in keeping with the doctrine of progressive sanctification (refer to Article III, Section XI) and does not follow the guidelines of Romans 12 and I Corinthians 12 and 14.  It is the very thing Paul is arguing against in the Corinthian Church.  We believe that God gives sovereignly of His gifts to the Church severally as He wills but the gifts are of a different nature and manifestation than those connected with the charismatic or Pentecostal movement.

Section XIX - Separation
We believe that all saved should live in such a manner as not to bring reproach upon their Savior and Lord; and that separation from all religious apostasy (departure from the Bible faith), and separation from all worldly and sinful pleasures, practices, and associations is commanded of God.  (Rom. 12:1,2; I Cor. 6:17,18; I Thess. 5:22; II Tim. 3:1-5).  We further believe that the true believer is responsible to live a godly, consistent Christian life; and that the evidence of saving faith is manifested in a desire to live in a manner that is pleasing to God.  (Rom. 8:5-9; Gal. 5:16-25)

Section I - Qualifications
All candidates for membership shall be recommended to the Church after having given testimony of their new birth and baptism to the Elders and having met with their approval.
Any person professing faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, giving satisfactory evidence of salvation, having been baptized by immersion and standing in agreement with the Confession of Faith and Church Covenant, may, by a ¾ vote of members present, be received into membership. 
No individual shall be received into membership if he/she is involved in a heterosexual union outside of Biblical marriage, or if he/she is a practicing homosexual or is involved in any form of same-sex unions. (Art XIII, Sec I)

Section II - Responsibilities
To honor, esteem, and love their Pastors and leaders, to pray for them fervently, to support them in their ministries, to submit to their Biblical leadership and to maintain a tender regard for their reputations.
To cultivate and cherish brotherly love for all members of the Church by practicing the spirit of the Church Covenant.
To attend the regular services of the Church and to participate in the business meetings.
To be involved in, and support in prayer, the ministries of the Church.
To uphold and manifest the lifestyle of a believer as described in the Church Covenant.
To be faithful in fulfilling responsibilities and obligations and to support the Church and its ministries as a good steward.
To be faithful in sharing the Gospel of Christ in word and deed.

Section III – Definitions
Active Members
Active members are those members in good standing who meet the qualifications of Section I above, the responsibilities as listed in Section II above, are not under Church discipline as described in Section IV below, and are generally active in participating in the Church’s corporate worship and in Church family life.
Inactive Members
Inactive members are those who are unable to participate regularly in the Church’s corporate worship and in Church family life, including but not limited to shut-ins, students away for studies, those away for military service, missionaries serving in other places, those under Church discipline, those who have been inactive in Church corporate worship and Church family life for six months or longer, etc.
The Board of Elders shall have the authority to determine those who are active or inactive members.

Section IV - Discipline
General
Should any member become an offense to the Church by reason of immoral conduct, or by persistent breach of the Church Covenant or the Confession of Faith (Art III), or by willfully promoting schism or discord among the brethren, the Elders may exercise discipline applying the principles of Scripture, as in Matt. 18:15-17; I Cor. 5:11-13; and Gal. 6:1.
The offending member shall be counseled by the Pastor(s) and/or the Board of Elders for the purpose of remedying any offense.
If there is no evidence of repentance the offender’s name will be removed from the membership roll of the Church by the Board of Elders.
Dismissed members shall be notified in writing by the Board of Elders.
Procedures
The Board of Elders shall have sole authority in determining heretical deviations from the Confession of Faith and violations of the Church Covenant.
Members are expected to demonstrate special loyalty and concern for one another. When a believer becomes aware of sin of such magnitude that it hinders spiritual growth and testimony, he is to go alone to the sinning party and seek to restore his brother. Before he goes, the individual should first examine himself. When he goes, he should go with a spirit of humility and have the goal of restoration.
 If reconciliation is not reached, a second member is to accompany the one seeking to resolve the matter. This second step should also be preceded by self- examination and exercised in a spirit of humility with the goal of restoration.
If the matter is still unresolved after the steps outlined in subsections B and C have been taken, the Board of Elders, as the Church representatives Biblically responsible, shall hear the matter. If the matter is not resolved, the Board of Elders shall recommend to the members of the Church that they, after self-examination, make an effort personally to go to the offending member and seek that member’s restoration.
If the matter is still unresolved after the steps outlined in B, C, and D have been taken, such members who refuse to repent and be restored are to be removed from membership of the Church.
No matter may be brought publicly before the Church unless the steps outlined in subsections B, C, and D have been taken.
If an unrepentant offending party is removed from the Church membership, all contact with her/him from that point forward (except by family members) must be for the sake of restoration.

Section V - Restoration
The Elder Board by majority vote may restore to membership any dismissed members upon confession of their sin and giving satisfactory evidence of their repentance to the Elder Board.

Section VI - Review
It shall be within the province of the Elder Board with the Pastor(s) to periodically review the membership roll.  Reasons for termination of membership are:
Procedures of Church Discipline.  (Art IV., Sec. III)
Membership in another church.
Request from the member who has left the Church.
Failure to carry out the responsibilities of membership (Art IV, Sec II) over a two-year period.
Death.

Section VII - Corporate Responsibility
All Church property shall remain in the corporate control of its members.