I. The Scriptures –- Jesus on the occasions of withstanding Satan’s temptation, quoted Scripture. He is the only one Whom we need to give authority to the Bible He inspired. The most well known Scripture passage referring to itself is 2 Timothy 3:15-17 which says; from childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work. Let’s look at verse 16 more closely.
- All – from the Greek word pasa which literally means the whole in this case, the whole of Holy Scripture.
- Scripture–from the Greek word graphe, meaning writing within religious books. This word’s root is grapho, meaning, to engrave which alludes to God’s engraving the Ten Commandments upon the Tablets of Moses.
- Inspiration – from the Greek word theopgeustos meaning God-breathed. The basic word means breath, spirit, mind.
- Profitable – from the Greek word hophslemos meaning to help, profit, benefit. Being future, it translate as will help, will be profitable, will be a benefit.
- Doctrine – from the Greek word dedaskalian. Its root word is didakay, meaning teaching. In the voice of the Greek language, this noun describes the act of or occupation of teaching precepts, thoughts, and doctrines.
- Reproof – from the Greek word elegmon meaning to reprove, or confute. The idea is Scripture is to be used to bring a person/s to the point of conviction of their mis-deeds, attitudes, and or actions.
- Correction – from the Greek word epanorthosin meaning to set upright again; to set to reformation. After Scripture is used to bring conviction, it also is to be used to put sinful man on a right track of behavior.
- Instruction – from the Greek word paideian meaning to educate, train up, nurture, discipline. It is used with the idea of teaching a child how to act properly. It is opposite of disciplining of a wayward child, or a non-Christian. Instruction is to be used with love, thus the meaning of nurture.
- Righteousness – from the Greek word dikaiosune meaning to invest with the attribute of righteousness, or a provision or means for one’s justification.
When one has a high view of Scripture, the truth of 2 Timothy becomes important for it gives Scripture the right place in one’s life to equip him and complete him for the Master’s use. Having such a high view of Scripture, other doctrinal truths are not difficult to accept regardless of one’s understanding.
II. God — God is! That should be sufficient for all true Christians. The Scripture says He is Spirit (John 4:24), for no one can see God unless He reveals Himself to him. He has revealed Himself to man as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, distinctly different in attributes, without any separation of person.
A. God the Father – Within Scripture one finds the Trinity expressed through the analogy of
the personal relationship of father and son and their guiding spirit. The term God the
Father presents God as the Federal Head of all creation. He is also expressed as the
Father of the Son, because, the Son was in human form.
Although the plural pronouns were used referring to God in [these] four passages. . . .
(Gen. 1:26; 3:22; 11:7; & Isa. 6:8), God was revealed to the Hebrew people as one
personality. . . . He is generally revealed in the Old Testament, as God the Father.
Moreover, in the New Testament, in a great many passages where the appellation God”
appears. . . . the reference is altogether to God the Father (cf. John 3:16)(FN 1).
B. God the Son – The two most important Christological passages in the Bible is John 1:1-5,
14; and Hebrews 1:1--2:9. When Jesus declared He and the Father were one in John 10:
30, He was declaring that the only difference between the Son and the Father was the
Son’s humanity. Both the John 1 and Hebrews 2 passages speak as to why He is referred
to as the Son. Always, the Son reflects the purpose of God in providing redemption for
fallen man. We would never know God the Father except through the redeeming work of
the Son.
C. God the Spirit – Because God is Spirit, one might understand, more readily, the full
essence of His deity, than of the Son’s. Some have reduced the impact of His deity by
assuming He is only the influence of God. Jesus called Him the Helper (John 14:16; 16:7),
and the Spirit of Truth (John 14:17; 16:13). The word Helper is parakletos. This is a
compound word taking its meaning from both root words. Para – in the way it is used in
this word carries the meaning of being sent along side of, or to attach itself to. Kaleo
means to be sent to, or, the caller or one who exhorts, encourages, helps, comforts. God
the Spirit is all this. He is sent by the Father because of the redeeming work of God the
Son, to be the God of guidance, encouragement, exhortation, and helps to attach Himself
to the Believer of whom He has convicted of his lostness, proven to him his judgment, and
seals him with His presence until the day the Son comes and takes him to forever be with
the Father.
III. Man --- Man, in his created state was the crown representation of God in flesh. God had created him in His image (Gen. 1:26). In this created state, man was free. He was given blessed position with God to name the other created life and to take care of all created things. He had freedom of moral choices and the ability to make his own decisions about relationships. Until he willfully disobeyed God and sinned, he had the ability of freedom of choice in all matters. When he sinned, he became as dead man. Death in Scripture is used many times to signify a man’s relationship to God. When man sinned, he no longer had the choice of reaching out to God, nor to make the choice to want God. Paul says in Ephesians 2:1, man is dead in trespasses and sin. This is because we all inherit the fallen nature of Adam (Rom. 5:12). Just like God had to provide a blood sacrifice to make a covering for Adam, for his covering of Fig leaves was not acceptable, being made from the effort of Adam; so man today must have the action of God upon his life to receive God’s grace and be covered with the redemptive blood of God the Son through the effectual calling and power of God the Spirit as one finds in Ephesians 2:1a.
IV. Salvation --- Salvation is that eternal state of people, as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name (John 1:12 NKJV). We speak of salvation as a personal relationship with Jesus Christ brought about through personal faith in the person and work of God the Son. Faith is generally expressed as; believing and receiving. Believing in all of the work of Christ on our behalf, and receiving Him into one’s life without reservation as Lord God of their life.
A. Regeneration – We speak of this as being born again. The New Birth experience is the
unique work of God the Spirit which is called the Grace of God. As the Baptist Faith and
Message states it; It is a change of heart wrought by the holy Spirit through conviction
of sin, to which the sinner responds in repentance toward God and faith in the Lord
Jesus Christ (See Appendix E). Regeneration implies that one who has received the call
of God’s Grace of salvation, believes and repents. Repentance must be understood as
not the feeling of sorrow in being found out, but that of turning from the point of conviction
away from the attitude and actions of sinfulness/lostness, to that of faith.
B. Justification – As the 2000 Baptist Faith and Message states: Justification brings the
believer into a relationship of peace and favor with God. It is never because of man’s
ability, desire, or actions, but the actions of a Graceful God on man’s behalf. Apostle
Paul said to the Philippian Christians; But what things were gain to me, these I have
counted loss for Christ. . . , that I may gain Christ and be found in Him, not having my
own righteousness, . . . but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which
is from God by faith (Phil. 3: 7-9 NKJV). Personal righteousness/goodness, will never
make a person right with God.
C. Sanctification – When one is saved by God’s Grace through faith, he is immediately set
apart by God to be different from those who are not saved. Paul told the Corinthian
Christians: But you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the
name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God (1 Cor. 6: 11 NKJV). Sanctification
is not only immediate, but it is also progressive and part of a Believer’s responsibility
after salvation to keep himself in the state of being set apart. That is what Apostle Paul
was saying in Romans 12: 1-2.
I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your
bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable
service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing
of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will
of God (NKJV).
D. Glorification – Glorification is the end result of one’s personal salvation experience. If
comes into being when one stands before Christ after death. No one will experience their
glorification or perfect state while in this life. The Apostle John said it this way:
God is Light and in him is no darkness at all. So if we say we are his friends, but go
on living in spiritual darkness and sin, we are lying. . . . If we say that we have no
sin, we are only fooling ourselves, and refusing to accept the truth. . . if we claim we
have not sinned, we are lying and calling God a liar, for he says we have sinned
(1 John 1: 5-6, 8, 10 TLB).
However, one can Biblically express, as Paul did to the Romans, that once one is saved,
he is already glorified. Whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified,
these He also glorified (Rom. 8: 30 NKJV).
Salvation has been and always will be the work of God from the point of conviction by the Holy Spirit until one comes to Him expressing to Him his repentance of the state of lostness and faith in Him Who died for him. In Jesus’ bread of life and living bread narrative in John 6, He said;
All that the Father gives Me will come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will by no
means cast out. . . .This is the will of the Father who sent me, that of all He has given
Me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up at the last day. . . . No one can come to
Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him; and I will raise him up at the last day....
Therefore I have said to you that no one can come to Me unless it has been granted to
him by My Father (John 6:37, 39, 44, 65 NKJV).
No where in the Bible does it teach any man can approach the King of Kings and Lord of Lords on his own terms or time. When man willfully sinned and deliberately disobeyed God who created him, he did surely die. That left man morally bankrupt and under the rule and domination of Satan. Paul speaks to this in Ephesians when discussing personal salvation he declared God made alive our lost souls, because, we were dead in trespasses and sins, in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience (Eph. 2:1-2 NKJV).
V. God’s Purpose of Grace --- Many people confuse God’s Grace with His Mercy. God’s Grace issues forth from His Sovereignty. His Mercy, from His Grace. Grace must always be understood from the standpoint of God acting on behalf of sinful, lost humanity in providing the avenue and ability of receiving His Mercy in one’s personal salvation. The person who receives Christ through faith has come to that position of faith because of the direct intervention by the Holy Spirit on Christ’s behalf, for man is incapable of choosing God’s Divine Act of Love for himself. That is what John the Apostle was saying in John 1: 12-13. But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name; who were born, not of blood (being a man), nor of the will of the flesh (man’s will/desire), nor of the will of man (the desire of someone else), but of God. His purpose in grace is to bring the lost into the state of salvation and ultimately be transformed into the likeness of Jesus Christ. For whom He foreknew (because of His Sovereignty), He also predestined (predetermined objective) to be conformed (to be assimilated as/to become like) to the image of His Son (Rom. 8:29). (See Appendix F, pages 17–19).
VI. The Church --- In the Baptist Faith &and Message, it states: “The New Testament speaks also of the church as the Body of Christ which includes all of the redeemed of all the ages, believers from every tribe, and tongue, and people, and nation. Many theologians of the Baptist faith, as well as myself, believe the correct term to be used in referencing all Believers from all ages, is The Kingdom of God. That the word church is used only in describing a group of Believers, who have joined themselves together to carry out the work of Christ in a particular place. The word church comes from the Greek word, ekklesia, literally meaning the called out. Kaleo = to call; and ek = out from. In Greek literature and culture, it was used to call out the people in a democratic society to allow them to make their own decisions regarding a matter in their town. In the Bible it is used of Believers being called out of the ways of the world and to come together to carry out the will of God. The Church is a local and visible group of Believers. It’s purpose is to be in covenant relationship with each other; practicing the teachings of Christ, her Head; carrying out the life of Christ in their lives; and growing in the image/likeness of Christ. Christ is the Head of the Church; the pastor, His Under-Shepard, deacons, her servants. The role of pastor and deacons are always men who are called by the Lord and the church to serve in these roles.
VII. Baptism and the Lord’s Supper --- The church has two ordinances; Baptism and the Lord’s Supper. From the beginning of Baptist’s beliefs, these ordinances have been understood as symbolic, and not sacerdotal (that which provides salvation). They represent, rather than bestowing grace. Sacraments imply saving grace. Ordinances reflects belief. Baptism depicts the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ, as well as the change from spiritual death of a Believer, his burial, and his resurrection to walk a new life in/with Christ Jesus. The very word is important to Baptists, because it is descriptive as to the mode or how one follows this ordinance. It literally means to place under water. It is to be administered by the church upon a person only after he has been born again. Infants cannot be baptized, for they cannot understand the meaning of grace, sin, nor salvation.
The Lord’s Supper is commemorative of the work of Christ in salvation. It is to be observed as a memorial by the church (baptized Believers) until the Lord’s return. The elements represents the body of Christ given for our salvation, and, the blood of Christ spilled for our redemption. (See Appendix G).
VIII. The Lord’s Day --- Sunday is the Lord’s Day. Our calendar shows it to be the First Day of the Week. The Lord’s Day is not the Sabbath. Sabbath comes from the Hebrew, meaning the seventh. Christians do not follow the Jewish religious practice of worshiping on the Sabbath, but on Sunday, the First Day of the Week. That this is the practice of the early church is seen in Scripture. The followers of Christ, after His resurrection, met on the first day of the week to break bread (Acts 20:7). A term meaning they worshiped the risen Lord by observing the Lord’s Supper. Apostle Paul instructed the Corinthian Christians, regarding the benevolent offering being gathered for the relief of Christians in Jerusalem, to do this systematically on Sunday’s, the first day of the week (1 Cor. 16:1-3). This was the day of their worshiping the Lord Jesus Christ. The amazing thing which has developed among Christian people today, is the lack of devotion given to the Lord who deserves our worship. The Law of Moses required Jews to gather on the Sabbath for worship. Should not Believers, having received the Lord Jesus Christ by His Grace through faith, have a greater purpose and desire to participate in every opportunity to honor Him on His Day of worship? We are not under any religious requirement to do so, save the requirement of love and obedience (John 14:15).
IX, The Kingdom --- The Kingdom of God refers to the reign of God in sovereign authority over all things. Particularly it is inclusive of all people, who by faith in God’s promises of personal redemption have believed those promises from Adam through the coming Kingdom Age, and culminating in the presence of Holy God in the New Heavens and New Earth of Revelation chapters twenty-one through twenty-two. The Kingdom of God “was the central theme of His (Jesus’) preaching.” Further more, in the book just quoted by Dr. Gene Mims, he stated:
The kingdom of God is not geographical, political, or social. It knows no human or earthly
limits; neither does it depend on human effort. God has chosen to involve you and me in the
advance of His kingdom, but His kingdom rests on His power, not ours.(FN 3)
X. Last Things --- A study of Eschatology is exciting. Yet, many people only know enough about it to be dangerous. The Baptist Faith and Message statement is clear and succinct. However, it is broad enough so all viewpoints of Last Things can be allowed. Where I can find room for a Mid-Tribulation rapture of the Church position in Scripture, I believe it can be reached only through failure to correctly interpret Scripture which particularly speaks to Israel. I find no room Biblically, for a Post-Tribulation rapture or an A-Millennium (No 1000 years of Kingdom Reign) understanding. Suffice it to be said that there are all viewpoints found in any given church within the Southern Baptist Convention.
XI. Evangelism and Missions --- There is one verse of Scripture which should make every Believer want to be involved in personal evangelism and missions. As the Father has sent Me, I also send you (John 20:21). Jesus came to seek and save that which was lost (Luke 19:10). Theologians usually reference Matthew 28:18-20 as the Great Commission. I agree, it is a Great Commission. But John 20:21 should be our catalyst to engage Believers in the work of reaching people for Christ. There is a lot of talk today about being an Acts 1:8 church; and, we should be. When Jesus ascended back to Heaven to be with the Father until its time to rapture His Bride, He commissioned His followers to be about the work of being on mission for Him, until He comes back.
It is not for you to know times or seasons which the Father has put in His own Authority.
But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be
witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth
(Acts 1:7-8 NKJV).
Evangelism and Missions are part of our Kingdom responsibilities as well as our commission within the local church. It has been stated (I heard it from Dr. John Floyd, Professor of Missions at Mid-America Baptist Theological Seminary, Memphis, TN.), that a church which is not involved in missions work, is in need of a missionary.
XII. Education --- One of the Scriptures used under this section is 2 Timothy 2:15. Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth (NKJV). The KJV uses the word Study in the place of Be diligent. Both carry the same idea. That is, every Christian needs to make it a practice to grow in understanding the Bible, for as one grows in Bible knowledge, he grows spiritually in wisdom and understanding. One of the major tasks/responsibilities of the local church is to equip Believers for the work of ministry.
And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and
some pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the
edifying of the body of Christ, till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the
knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the
fullness of Christ; that we should no longer be children, tossed to and from and carried
about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of
deceitful plotting, but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who
is the head—Christ—from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every
joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share,
causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love (Eph. 4:11-16 NKJV).
XIII. Stewardship --- Psalm 24:1 says; The earth is the Lord’s, and all its fullness, the world and those who dwell therein (NKJV). God said in Psalm 50:10-12 that everything He created is His. So, why should a Christian give back to God his life and money? It is a Biblical precept. It surpasses and was before the Law of Moses (see Gen. 14). The principle/precept of the tithe was incorporated in the Law of Moses (many references throughout the Pentateuch), and was commended by our Lord when He said in reference to the giving of tithes and offerings, These you ought to have done, without leaving the others undone (Matt. 23:23 NKJV). Stewardship, also, includes giving to charitable acts (Matt. 6:19-21) and missions (1 Cor. 16:1-3).
XIV. Corporation --- Southern Baptists churches wrote and are writing the primer of inter-church corporation. Shortly after the Baptist Faith was firmly established in England and later in America, Baptist churches felt a need to organize themselves into formal relationships. The first of these were the Associations. Later came Conventions. But, unlike other denominations, Baptists have never given up their right of local autonomy. Each church decides how they will relate to other Baptist entities. Within the Southern Baptist Convention, the most important element is the local church. Mark Terry, former missionary to the Philippines and Professor of Missions and Evangelism at Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, Louisville, KY states:
Conventions exercise no control over the churches. Each level is autonomous. Thus, an
association cannot dictate to a church or to the state convention. Of course, the reverse is
true as well. A church might be a member of one body but not another, though that is
unusual. Associations and conventions are governed by votes cast by messengers sent
from member churches.(FN 4)
XV. The Christian and the Social Order -- Simply put, Christians should live their life of Faith to exemplify the Lordship of Christ within a lost world. Our lives should never bring a reproach on the name of Jesus, our Church, or, our person. The Christian’s manifesto should be Colossians 3:12-17.
Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness,
humility, meekness, longsuffering; bearing with one another, and forgiving one another,
if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must
do. But above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection. And let the
peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be
thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and
admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace
in your hearts to the Lord. And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the
Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him (NKJV).
XVI. Peace and War -- Believers attitude toward peace and war should be what Apostle Paul said to the Romans: If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men (Rom. 12:18 NKJV) War always comes about because one government (Ruler) believes it has the right to exercise authority over all other government. Not recognizing the Sovereignty of God over all nations as Scriptures indicates (Rom. 13:1), some use their subjects unjustly. Yet, Believers should follow the advise and command of Apostle Paul when he said: Render therefore to all their due: taxes to whom taxes are due, customs to whom customs, fear to whom fear, honor to whom honor (Rom. 13:7 NKJV).
XVII. Religious Liberty --- Apostle Paul deals with one’s liberty in Christ in 1 Corinthians chapter 8-10. Ones liberty in Christ is always seen as each Believer living out his Faith as to not bring a bondage upon someone else. He said: All things are lawful for me, but not all things are helpful; all things are lawful for me, but not all things edify (1 Cor. 10:23 NKJV). The Baptist Faith and Message centers its thoughts upon the separation of church and state. I feel we must center it on our liberty in Christ, for there may come a day in which we will lose all religious freedom as Americans and Southern Baptists.
XVIII. The Family -- The family, as described in the Bible, is under attack in the world today. We have seen a rise in homosexual family units, and single parent family units who have never been married. The only family unit God ordained is that of a homogamous one of husband and wife. Children are the natural offspring of this homogamous union. Divorce is sanctioned only because of the hardness of peoples hearts because of sin. Death of a mate is the exception of the homogamous unit, giving a legitimacy for a single parent–child unit. Remarriage after divorce is permitted by God only when the one remarrying is the one who was sinned against. Yet, when two people decide to marry and one or both have been divorced and are not the one sinned against, the body of Christ should relate to them based upon their expressed repentance of the past sin and their personal commitment to the Lordship of Christ in their lives. Many such couples/families have proven to be great servants with the church because they have humbled themselves before God and man.
The relationship within the home should follow the teaching of Apostle Paul in Ephesians 5:21-6:4. It is my strong belief, that if families lived and loved as Paul describes in this passage, there would never be a breakdown in any family.
BAPTIST POLITY
From the definition given in the Glossary of Terms, what should be is seldom the case in reality. Few churches, associations, or conventions seem to understand the real meaning of Baptist Polity. On every level of Baptist life one finds a lack of politeness or desire to hold to historical Baptist beliefs. This is probably because of the pluralistic and ecumenical society in which we find ourselves. When I discuss methods, polities, and doctrines with other Baptist pastors, it is amazing the differences of thought and opinions expressed. Those who desire to hold onto the more historical position of beliefs and practices, are generally laughed at and called old school. Everyone knows if a pastor wants his church to grow, he must not emphasize doctrines nor require the Baptist belief of Baptism upon those who have been saved by Grace through Faith only. If you put requirements upon people, you will limit the number of people who will join your church. It is Baptist Polity that sets the membership requirements of a church. Yes, every church is Autonomous and has the right to accept into their membership whomever they desire. Yet, it also is Baptist Polity, that I as a pastor do not have to accept that same person into membership of the church I pastor without submitting to a baptism of regeneration just as the Anabaptist did hundreds of years ago.
Baptist Polity is not just about keeping doctrines pure, but also, about how Baptists do church. How they get things done. What procedures should be followed, and how finances are handled. The polity of local churches would include: Officers of the Church, Government of the Church, Discipline of the Church, Business Meetings of the Church, Organization of the Church, and anything else the church felt it needed to express in order to have a more orderly conduct as Believers in Christ.
Every church, association, and convention has the right to do the above mentioned things the way that works best for them. Yet, every church should always be progressive in looking at and making changes that will cause their organization/polity run more smoothly. Always making sure their actions are biblical in motive and practice. The following are ways in which many churches carry out it’s polity:
How to call a pastor.
The way Baptist churches does this differs greatly from other denominations, from how it
was done in years past, and from how one Baptist church does it from another Baptist
church. Today, most churches will elect a Pastor Search Committee which is charged
with the responsibility of selecting a man to present to the church as a prospective pastor.
They will decide through various means what kind of man the church wants; advertize they
are taking resumes/names, and then begin the task of weeding out those who do not fit
the criteria they have set, or stating it more positively, selecting out those who fit the
criteria they have set. They make contact with a number of these prospective pastors and
get their response from him regarding the information they present to him. At some point,
the Committee then either goes and visits with the man or invite him to their church field
just to visit and get a feel about the man. Usually, the candidate will provide the
Committee with a DVD or Tape of a sermon. At this stage of the process, there have
been no commitments made by either side. After going through the list of the selective
candidates, the Committee then selects the one they feel God would have them deal with.
Normally, they ask to meet again with the candidate and share with him in detail the nature
of their church, being truthful with the man regarding the church’s history and past
relationship with former pastors, even providing him with their names and contact
information if it is available. The same expectations should be forth-coming from the
candidate, also. Salary expectations and provisions should be stated in writing and be
very clearly understood by both, committee and candidate. If through this process, both
parties feel they want to explore the possibility of his coming in view of a call, a time
should be set for him to be presented to the church to meet the people and ask and
answer any question each might have. Usually, the vote should be taken on the Sunday
night after his message. His answer should be expected at that time unless some
unforeseen question is raised during the call.
Calling other Staff Members.
Many churches have two or more staff members. When churches reach the point of
needing other staff members, they need to formulate how they will call that person. Some
churches allow their pastor to make the selection to present to the church. Others follow
basically the same process as described in the above section of calling a pastor. The
major importance in the process, is being open in communicating with the church what
that process will be. Most problems which arise in calling staff members is caused by a
lack of open communication. The rule should be regarding most things relating to polity
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