STATEMENT OF BASIC BELIEFS
We affirm the Holy Bible as the inspired Word of God and the basis for our beliefs. This church subscribes to the doctrinal statement of The Baptist Faith and Message as adopted by the Southern Baptist Convention in 2000. Copies of this document are available for review. We voluntarily band ourselves together as a body of baptized believers in Jesus Christ, personally committed to sharing the good news of salvation to lost mankind. The ordinances of the church are believer’s baptism, the Lord’s Supper, and marriage between one man and one woman.
This church will receive for baptism any person who has received Jesus Christ as Savior by personal faith, professing him publicly at any worship service, and indicating a commitment to follow Christ as Lord. The Pastor, or whomever the church will authorize, will administer baptism by immersion in water. The Baptismal Team will assist in the preparation for and the observance of baptism. Baptism will be administered as an act of worship during any worship service of the church.
Matthew 3:13-17; 28:19-20; Mark 1:9-11; Luke 3:21-22; John 3:23; Acts 2:41-42; 8:35-39; 16:30-33; Romans 6:3-5, Colossians 2:12.
The Lord’s Supper is a symbolic act of obedience whereby the church, through partaking of the bread and the fruit of the vine, memorialize the death of the Redeemer and anticipate His second coming. The Pastoral staff and deacons will administer this ordinance with the Pastoral staff and deacons being responsible for the physical preparations. At least once a year, the Lord’s Supper will be observed during the regular morning worship service.
Matthew 26:26; Mark 14:22-26; Luke 22:19-20; Acts 20:7; 1 Corinthians 10:16, 21; 11:23-29.
We believe that marriage is a union between one man and one woman, following Biblical principles. We believe that God sanctions only the union of a man to a woman, including civil unions. We believe that any form of sexual immorality, such as adultery, fornication, homosexuality, bisexual conduct, bestiality, incest, pornography, pedophilia, any attempt to change one’s sex, or disagreement with one’s biological sex is sinful and offensive to God. Therefore, this church sanctions only a marriage ceremony compatible with Biblical standards. Due to our belief in the Biblical teachings about marriage, same sex couples will not be married in any facilities or properties owned by this church. Additionally, ministers of Mount Vernon Baptist Church will not perform any same sex marriages or civil unions whether on or off church properties. Doing so would be grounds for termination.
Genesis 2:19-24; Leviticus 18:22; Matthew 19:4-6; Romans 1:18-27; Ephesians 5:22-33; Hebrews 13:4.