Our Doctrine | Rockdale Community Church

Rockdale Community Church

Articles of Ministry & Beliefs

Article 1: PRINCIPLE OFFICE

The principal office of the corporation, (also referred to as the Ministry) shall be located at:

1195 Johnson Fork Road, West Harrison, IN 47060.

Article 2: MISSION & VISION

Jesus said, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” (Matthew 28:18-20) We therefore acknowledge our God-given authority as a Body of Believers and Christ-followers to bring the saving message of Messiah and His Kingdom to our community.

Rockdale Community Church exists to create a spiritual home and family for all people. We are committed to serving our community through the Gospel of Jesus Christ, the love of God, the ongoing study of His Word and the active presence of the Holy Spirit.

Article 3: ROCKDALE LEADERSHIP & DIRECTORS (aka “Church Council” “Church Board”)

Rockdale Leadership, directors and officers consist of a:

Pastor
Board Chair
Board Secretary
Pastoral Oversight Chair (“POC” with designated committee)
Treasurer
Financial Secretary
Trustee Chair (with designated committee)
Worship Chair (with designated committee)
Care-Team Chair
Missions & Outreach Chair(s) (with designated committee)
Education Chair (in partnership with the Pastor)

Rockdale leaders and directors meet once per month, on the first Tuesday at 7:00 P.M. or at an otherwise agreed-upon date and time. Anyone is welcome to attend the Board Meeting. Members of the Board (Committee Chairs) are voting members. Participants at the board meetings (congregants) are welcome to contribute opinions, ideas and thoughts.

In the event of vacancy in the Board of Directors occurs, remaining members of the Board of Directors shall fill such vacancy by a majority vote at a duly held meeting until the successor has been elected and qualified. The removal or addition of leaders, departments and/or committees will be made as needed.

The Rockdale Leadership & Directors act as a collective body of governors, equal in opinion and wisdom; accountable to each other, the Bible and through the guidance of the Holy Spirit. Rockdale is not governed or controlled by one person, one couple or one family: it is a joint-effort where all thoughts, ideas, opinions and solutions are considered equal. If a Board decision cannot be agreed upon, the Chairman of the Board will then make the final and prayerful decision. This same outline of leadership authority serves all titled Chair positions where committees are involved.

Article 4: THE PASTOR

We acknowledge the office of the Pastor is an appointment by God, filled by a Bible-educated, devout Christian and agreed-upon by the Rockdale Community Church Board. The Pastoral role is held by either a biological male or female, living a moral and uncompromising life in Jesus Christ. In accordance with the Bible, the pastor will agree with the articles and beliefs listed in this document. The Pastor is mature in their walk and faith and filled with the Holy Spirit. While ministers of the Gospel are called from many camps, denominations or areas of the Body of Christ, Rockdale’s pastor does not subscribe to or support anti-American, non-Christian, Racist, Anti-Semitic or Homosexual ideologies of any kind.

Rockdale does not reject female headship and welcomes male or female persons to its pulpit. Rockdale agrees with the Word of God that the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable (Romans 11:29) and are housed equally within the two sexes which God created in accordance with Judges 4:4, 5; Galatians 3:28; 1 Peter 4:10; Acts 2:17, 18; 1 Corinthians 12:4-7; Matthew 9:37, 38 and John 15:16.

The Pastor will agree and sign a contract of specific duties, salary, vacation and continuing-education (sabbatical) as well as health and retirement benefits if offered. The Pastor will reside in the Parsonage, if available, and will attend to the preservation of this home, garage and yard like it is their own residence.

Article 5: THE TEACHERS AND LAY-LEADERS

We select and support our teachers in accordance with their spiritual gifting, their ongoing study of the Bible, their call to certain topics, subjects or age-groups, and their allegiance to a moral, ethical and biblical worldview and lifestyle. While we welcome all spiritual seekers to our congregation, our teachers and lay-leaders do not subscribe to or support anti-American, non-Christian, Racist, Anti-Semitic or Homosexual ideologies of any kind.

Article 6: THE AUTHORITY OF SCRIPTURE

We believe in the Divine inspiration and authority of the sixty-six books of the Holy Bible as the complete canon of God's testimony to mankind. We are committed to esteeming Scripture as the very Word of God, inerrant in its original form. We do not accept any doctrine which contradicts Scripture.

We do not accept any spiritual experience as having its source in the Holy Spirit that does not have a precedent in Scripture. We do not accept any revelation, vision, dream, prophecy or discernment as truth which contradicts Scripture, or cannot be verified by it. We do not believe that any other writings have the same authority as the canon of Scripture.

Article 7: THE LORD’S SUPPER (“Communion”)

We acknowledge the ordinance of the Lord's Supper in remembrance of Jesus and as a testimony of our communion (common-union) with Him in His body, the Church. We consider it a holy ordinance, but we do not accept the teaching that Communion is for the purpose of remitting sins, which Scripture testifies is based solely in the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross (Hebrews 9:25-28.) Rockdale’s Communion Table is open; all are invited to partake of the Lord’s Supper.

Article 8: WATER BAPTISM

We believe that water baptism is performed via the sprinkling, pouring or immersion in water and is accomplished immediately after commitment to the Lordship of Jesus and His atoning sacrifice for our sin. This ordinance is a personal and public statement of faith in the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ on our behalf, and is a commitment to lay down our lives to be one with Him in His death, burial and resurrection. Baptismal records will be kept by the Pastor. Certificates will be issued by the Pastor.

Article 9: MARRIAGE

We believe that marriage is outlined by biblical guidelines as one biological male and one biological female entering into a holy covenant and sacrament of God. Rockdale’s policy on the use of its building and grounds for church weddings are limited to those in the congregation and their immediate family. Marriage counseling is required and will consist of one to four weeks of meetings with the Pastor.

Article 10: THE BAPTISM OF THE HOLY SPIRIT

We believe that the "baptism in the Holy Spirit" is an additional impartation available to all who believe (Acts 2:38-39), but is not essential for salvation. Just as the Apostle Paul made it a priority to instruct believers and pray for them to receive this additional, imparted gift, we are committed to doing the same.

The purpose of this baptism in the Holy Spirit is to imbue spiritual power to the believer to be a witness (Acts 1:8, 5:32.) This baptism is to be distinguished from being “filled with the Spirit” (Acts 4:31, 7:55, 13:9, 52), which can be a special and repeated empowering that is given for specific purposes.

We believe that when Christians have been baptized with the Holy Spirit, they take on His nature and fruit, becoming "helpers" and "comforters;" leading others into truth and testifying of Jesus.

Article 11: THE PRESENT MINISTRY OF THE HOLY SPIRIT

We believe that Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever (Hebrews 13:8) and that His ministry in and through the Church by the Holy Spirit has not changed from the beginning. We accept, acknowledge, encourage and seek all of the biblical gifts and ministries of the Holy Spirit as present and vital for the Church to accomplish her full purpose and destiny today.

Article 12: THE RETURN OF CHRIST

We acknowledge the Rapture doctrine as a literal “catching away” prior to the second coming of Jesus Christ, yet allow for freedoms of belief regarding these final events of the human race, the current world and the final judgment.

We believe in the literal, physical resurrection of both the just and the unjust for the Day of Judgment. For those of us who have been justified by faith in Jesus Christ and His sacrifice on our behalf, this resurrection is for eternal life in fellowship with God. Those who are not justified by faith in Jesus are resurrected for an eternal judgment in outer darkness and hell.

Article 13: THE ATONEMENT

Because all have sinned and are therefore under the sentence of death, all must trust in the atoning sacrifice of Jesus for the remission of sins. There is no other way to reconcile with God or escape from eternal judgment, except through the propitiatory sacrifice of Jesus.

Those who trust in Jesus Christ have access to the Throne of Grace by His sacrifice and by His sacrifice alone. Good works offered for the purpose of acceptance, standing or approval are therefore an affront to the cross by which all of these things were gained for us by Jesus. Good works are not offered for His approval, but for His joy and glory, and must be offered through the Son (I Peter 2:5) in obedience to Him.

Article 14: AMENDMENTS TO THE MINISTRY ARTICLES AND BELIEFS

The provisions of the Articles may be modified, altered or amended by two‐thirds majority vote of the

Board of Leaders and Directors at a regularly-scheduled or special meeting. As soon as the proposed

amendments have been adopted as herein provided, results of the vote shall be announced by the

Pastor to the congregation and declared “adopted” by the Chairman of the Board of Directors, whereupon such amendments shall be in full force of effect.