In addition to the Articles of Faith the Reformation Bible Church (RBC) seeks to incorporate the following principles in our ministry. Revisions to, and interpretations of, the Statement of Principles and Practices (SOPPs) will be by majority vote of serving elders.
The intent of the SOPPs is to provide a concise statement to members of RBC and those considering membership in RBC of the principles and practices that characterize RBC. They carry no authority beyond that they communicate the majority opinion of the serving eldership. Should the light of Scripture, as revealed by the Holy Ghost, convince the majority of serving elders that any principle set forth herein is inconsistent with appropriate application of biblical principles, biblical principles shall be followed and the SOPPs promptly revised. Any significant revision to the SOPPs should be communicated to the members of RBC.
1. Worship Style and Practices
a. The church worship service is primarily to glorify God, and secondarily to minister to, and edify, the church.
b. Music will be a combination of traditional hymns and praise music (this does not include rock-type music mislabeled as praise music).
c. RBC does not teach that the “gift of tongues” is a present day manifestation of the Holy Ghost, nor do members of RBC practice the speaking in tongues (or similar charismatic manifestations) as part of public worship or praise.
d. RBC does not teach or practice a present day gift of prophecy beyond the bringing forth of God’s word as it has been revealed to the church in the form of the 66 books of the Old and New Testaments.
2. Church Education and Training
a. Training within the church will be family oriented. It would not be the norm to divide members by age for educational or worship purposes. The parent being responsible for the training of their minor children should be present during instruction. This is not intended to preclude age appropriate, or gender appropriate, grouping for mid-week studies and fellowship.
b. Women will not be placed within the role of teacher where adult men would be under their instruction.
c. All
teaching developed specifically for presentation at RBC will be derived from an
approved translation of the Holy Scriptures. Translations currently approved
are limited to the KJV (excluding the Apocrypha), the NKJV, and the
d. Materials purchased or otherwise obtained for presentation at RBC will provide instruction consistent with the approved translations.
3. Youth Ministries and Activities
a. Youth-oriented activities will generally be focused upon the edification of the children within the church
b. Church sponsored youth outreach activities must be clearly identified as “outreach” when the activity is announced or publicized.
4. Church Polity
a. The church is elder led. Elders are male. If the church forms a corporation, the corporation will have, as its members the elders only.
b. Men believed by the serving elders to be qualified to serve as elders will be selected as candidates for service as elders by the majority of serving elders. Upon announcement of the candidacy of a man for eldership, the eldership will entertain any objections brought against said candidacy by two or more witnesses. Such witnesses being members in good standing of RBC. Following such considerations, the serving elders will make a final determination regarding the appointment of the candidate as a serving elder.
c. The church will select deacons and deaconesses to function as a deaconate as the need and opportunity arises. The deaconate is a service organization, and as such may include women. Persons selected for service in the deaconate must be accepted for admission by the majority of serving elders prior to their entrance into the deaconate.
d. The church leadership will not circumvent the God-ordained authorities within the families comprising the church.
5. Church Membership
a. Church membership is awarded by a majority vote of the serving elders. Prior to awarding membership to any individual, the eldership shall consult with the deaconate to obtain any insights that the deaconate may desire to provide relative to the potential candidate.
b. Membership within the church is prerequisite for participation in any ministry within the church. This does not include guest teachers, preachers, or other ministers.
6. Standards of Propriety
a. Members of the body will make every effort to avoid being alone together with members of opposite gender during church related activities. Immediate family members being an obvious exception.
b. Men, women, and children will be attired in modest apparel such that extreme steps are not taken by any participant in church sponsored activities to entice another participant to lust. Standards for modesty are established by the eldership with counsel provided by the deaconate.
7. Education
a. Homeschooling will be upheld as an excellent means of fulfilling the parental obligation to “train up a child . . .”
b. Christian schools will also be held as an appropriate method to educate a child within a Christian world view.