Venice Bible Church

This organization shall remain non-denominationally related; shall be strictly independent in nature; and can never be affiliated with any other organization, except by vote of three fourths (3/4) of the entire church membership eligible to vote. This restriction shall not interfere with fellowship with similar groups which are doctrinally sound.

Section 2 - Statement of Faith

1.       THE HOLY SCRIPTURES (Bibliology)
We believe in the unique, plenary, verbal, inerrant inspiration of the original writings of the sixty-six books of the Bible, the Word of GOD, wholly infallible in all its parts including scientific and historical accuracy; and that the Bible is the full and complete revelation of GOD’S will for man, as well as the sole, supreme and final authority in all matters of faith and practice. We believe the Scriptures to be a unified unfolding of GOD’s redemptive plan through the vicarious sacrifice of the Lord Jesus Christ on the cross of Calvary.      (Ps. 119:89; Isa. 8:20; 40:8; Ezek. 1:3; Matt. 5:18; 24:35; I Thess. 2:13; 2 Tim. 3:15-17; I Pet. 1:23; 2 Pet. 1:15-21; Jude 3)

2.       THE ETERNAL GODHEAD (Theology)
We believe in one GOD - spirit, holy, eternal, infinite - Creator of all things, eternally existing in three Persons, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit; co-eternal in being, co-equal in power and glory, and having the same attributes and perfections.      (Gen. 1:26,27; Deut. 4:35; 6:4; Psa. 102:24-27; Isa. 43:10,11; 44:6-8; Matt. 3:16,17; 28:18; John 4:24; 14:16, 17; 2 Cor. 13:14; I Tim 2:5, Rev. 1:8)

3.       THE FATHER (Theology - continued)
We believe that GOD the Father, omnipresent (all-present), omniscient (all-knowing), and omnipotent (all-powerful), planned our salvation, and sent His Son to perform the work of redemption. We believe that believers are given to the Son by the Father, and are kept by His power.      (I Kings 8:27; Job 42:2; Psa. 33:13-15; 89:8-13; 139:1-12; 147:3-5; Isa. 66:1; Jer. 10:10-13; 23:23,24; 32:17; Dan 4:34, 35; John 10:27-30; 17:1-5; I Pet. 1:2)

4.       THE LORD JESUS CHRIST (Christology)
We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ, the eternal Son of GOD, became man, without ceasing to be GOD, having been conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary, that He might reveal GOD to sinful men and redeem them.     (Isa. 7:14; 9:6,7; Matt. 1:18-25; Luke 1:26-38; John 1:1-3, 14, 17, 18; 17:5; Phil. 2:5-8; I Tim 2:5,6; Heb. 1:3,8,10)

a. We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ accomplished our complete redemption through the shedding of His blood and death on the cross as a representative, propitiatory and substitutionary sacrifice - a redemption made sure to us by His literal, physical resurrection from the dead. (Ps. 22:1, Isa. 53:1-12; Matt. 27:33-50; 28:5-7; John 1:29; 10:10,11,17,18; 20:1-31; Acts 20:28; Rom 3:19-28; 5:6-11; 8:32-34; I Cor. 15:1-8, 19-21; Eph. 1:6,7; Col. 1:12-14; Heb. 1:1-3; 9:25-28; 10:11-13; I Pet. 2:24; 3:18)

b. We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ ascended bodily into heaven and is now exalted at the right hand of GOD the Father, where, as our High Priest, He fulfills the ministry of Representative, Intercessor and Advocate. (Ps. 110:1; Acts 1:7-11; Rom. 8:34; I Tim 2:5; Heb. 1:3,13; 4:14-16; 6:19-20; 7:24-28; 9:23,24; 10:12-14; I John 1:9; 2:1,2)

5. THE HOLY SPIRIT (Pneumatology)
We believe that the Holy Spirit is a divine person, possessing all of the attributes of deity; and, that in essence He is equally GOD. (Gen. 1:2,26; Job 33:4; Ps. 139:7; Luke 1:35; John 14:26; 16:13; Acts 5:3,4; Rom. 15:19; I Cor. 2:10,11; 2 Cor. 13:14; Heb. 9:14)

a. We believe that the Holy Spirit is the Author of the Sacred Scriptures. (Acts 28:25; Eph. 6:17; 2 Tim. 3:16,17; I Peter 1:10-12; 2 Peter 1:21)

b. We believe that the Holy Spirit is the Supernatural Agent in regeneration and sanctification, baptizing all believers into the body of Christ, indwelling equally and permanently every believer, and sealing them unto the day of redemption. (John 3:3-8; 14:16,17; Rom 8:9-11; I Cor. 6:11; 12:12-14; 2 Cor. 1:22; Eph. 1:13,14; 4:30)

c. We believe that the moment any unregenerated person exercises faith in Christ as Savior, he is immediately indwelt by the Holy Spirit. (Rom. 8:9-11; I Cor. 3:16,17; 6:19; Gal. 4:6; I Thes. 4:8)

d. We believe that the only indispensable evidence of the filling of the Spirit is a consistent consecrated life and walk. (John 7:38,39; 2 Cor. 3:18; Gal. 5:16, 17, 22, 23, 25; Eph. 3:16-21; 5:18-20)

e. We believe the ministry of the Holy Spirit today includes glorifying Jesus Christ (not Himself); leading, comforting and guiding the believer; and convicting the world of sin, righteousness, and of judgment. (John 14:16-18, 26; 15:26; 16:7-11; 13-15; Rom. 8:14,26)

6. THE TOTAL DEPRAVITY OF MAN (Anthropology)
We believe that man was created in the image and likeness of GOD, but through Adam’s sin the whole race fell, became alienated from GOD, inherited a sin nature, is totally depraved, possesses no spark of divine life, and of himself, man is utterly helpless to remedy his lost condition apart from the grace of GOD. (Gen. 1:25-27; 3:1-20; Rom. 3:23; 5:6, 8, 12-14; 6:23; Eph. 2:1-3, 8-12)

7. SALVATION (Soteriology)
We believe that salvation is the gift of GOD brought to sinful man by grace, and received solely by personal faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, who accomplished completed redemption by His substitutionary death and the shedding of His own precious blood on the cross of Calvary. (John 3:16-18; 14:6; 20:30,31; Rom. 1:16; 6:23; 10:9, 10; 2 Cor. 5:21; Gal. 2:16; Eph. 1:6,7; 2:8-10; Phil. 2:5-8; 3:4-9; Titus 2: 11-14; 3:5-7; I Pet. 1:18, 19; 3:18; I John 5:11-13; Rev. 1:5,6)

8. REGENERATION (Soteriology - continued)
We believe that all who receive the Lord Jesus Christ by faith are born of the Holy Spirit instantaneously into the family of GOD, thereby becoming children of the omnipotent GOD; and that those who are thus born from above are kept eternally by the unlimited power of GOD, the unbounded love of Christ, and the unbreakable seal of the Holy Spirit. (John 1:12,13; 3:3-8; 10:27-30; Rom. 8:35-39; Eph. 1:13; 4:30; 2 Tim 1:12; I Pet. 1:23; I John 3:1,2; Jude 24,25)

9. SANCTIFICATION (Soteriology - continued)
We believe that sanctification, which is separation unto GOD, is: positionally, the believer was sanctified at his conversion by virtue of his union with Christ; progressively, he is continually being sanctified through the Word as he walks in the Spirit; ultimately, he will be completely conformed to the image of Christ when he sees his Savior face to face. (John 17:17; 2 Cor. 3:18; Gal. 5:22,23; Eph. 5:25-27; Col. 3:1-4; Heb. 10:10, 14; I John 3:1-3)

10. THE CHURCH (Ecclesiology)
We believe that the Church, which began at Pentecost, is the Body of Christ - a spiritual organism, composed of all who are born again during this age of grace. (Matt. 16:16-18; Acts 1:5; 2:1-41; 10:44; 11:15, 16; I Cor. 12:12-14; Eph. 1:22,23; 2:19-22; 3:1-12; 4:4-6; Col. 1:18; I Thes. 4:16,17)

a. We believe that the Church is to gather together as local churches or assemblies, after the pattern of New Testament doctrine and practice. (Acts 9:31; 13:1-4; 14:23, 26-28; 15:4,40,41; 16:5; I Cor. 1:1,2; Gal. 1:1,2; I Thes. 1:1; Heb. 10:25; Rev.1:4, 11)

b. We believe that GOD performs the ministry of His Church through its members to whom He has given, by His Spirit, gifts for the purpose of edifying the Body of Christ. (Acts 13:1-4; Rom. 12:1-8; I Cor. 12:1-14; Eph. 4:7-16)

c. We believe that our Lord Jesus Christ committed the ordinances of baptism and the Lord’s Supper to be observed by His church until He comes, according to Matthew 28:19 and I Corinthians 11:23-27 respectively. We believe that every believer should be encouraged to be baptized in obedience to our Lord’s command. The mode of baptism practiced is immersion.

11. SATAN (Angelology)
We believe that Satan is a personal being, was created the highest in rank of all angelic creatures; that he sinned through pride, thereby becoming the author of sin and through the temptation of Adam caused the fall of man; that he is the open and declared enemy of GOD and man; that he is the Prince of the powers of darkness; and that he shall be eternally punished in the lake of fire. (Gen. 3:1-9; Job 1:6-12; 2:1-7; Isa. 14:12-17; Ezek. 28:12-19; Zech. 3:1; Matt. 4:1-11; 13:38,39; 25:41; Luke 13:16; John 8:44; 13:2, 27; Rom. 16:20; 2 Cor. 11:3, 13-15; Eph. 6:11-13; I Tim. 3:6,7; Heb. 2:14,15; James 4:7; I Pet. 5:8; I John 3:8; Rev. 12:7-17; 20:2, 3, 7-10)

12. FUTURE THINGS (Eschatology)
We believe in "That Blessed Hope", the personal, imminent, and pre-millennial return of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, in the air to receive unto Himself in Heaven, both His own who are alive and remain unto his coming, and also all those who have fallen asleep in Jesus, there to be judged at the Judgment Seat of Christ for the deeds done in the body. (John 14:1-3; Rom. 14:10-12; I Cor. 3:9-15; 15:51-53; 2 Cor. 5:10; I Thes. 4:13-18; 5:1-9; Titus 2:11-15; Heb. 9:28)

a. We believe that He will return to the earth with His saints after the Great Tribulation, to set up His millennial kingdom on the earth, during which time He will reign in peace, justice and righteousness. (Isa. 11:1-9; Zech. 14:1-4, 16; Matt. 24:27-31; 25:31,32; Rom. 11:25-27; Rev. 19:11-21; 20:1-3)

b. We believe in the literal, but separate, resurrections of the just and the unjust; the everlasting blessedness of the redeemed; and the everlasting punishment of all who have not accepted Jesus Christ as personal Savior. (John 5:21-29; I Thes. 4:13-18; Rev. 20:10-15)

Article IV - Purpose & Objectives

We see everyone partnering in this unique ministry of reconciliation and transformation through disciple making for Christ beginning in Venice to impact the world.

Venice Bible Church exists to glorify God:

1. By living lives reconciled to God and transformed in Christ through obedience to scripture and surrender to the Holy Spirit.

2. By urging and equipping the body to know God and be faithful in loving Him and loving others.

3. By developing fully devoted disciples of Christ

4. By proclaiming the Gospel of Jesus Christ both locally and globally

5. By being ever mindful that we are part of God’s Kingdom, and by being diligent to build bridges with other believers wherever possible.

Article V - Organization

Section 1

As an Elder led church, the administrative control of the church shall be vested in the members of the church acting through an Elder Board .

Section 2 - Ministry Areas

1. The ministries of the church shall be organized into seven Ministry Areas : Deacon , Missions , Outreach , Adults , Children/Youth , Worship , and Operations Support .

2. Each ministry area will have an Elder Board member assigned as “overseer” of that ministry. The Senior Pastor will have “overseer” responsibility for the Worship and Children/Youth Ministries.

3. The “VBC Elder Board Organization Chart” will be maintained in the policy manual.

Section 3. – Elders

The Elders shall shepherd and lead the church, teach the Word, encourage those who are hurting, protect the church from false teachers and divisions, and exhort and admonish the church body in sound doctrine. As shepherds, the Elders are to protect, feed, lead, and care for the church and ensure that the church’s purposes and objectives are met. They shall assist, when called upon, in administering the ordinances and preaching the Word of God.

Qualifications :

1. A candidate shall satisfy the Biblical qualifications of an Elder listed in 1 Tim. 3:1-7, Titus 1:5-9, and be willing to serve in the manner found in 1 Peter 5:1-3.

2. In addition to the Biblical qualifications required for an Elder , the prospective Elder shall also have “proven” his abilities in ministry at VBC as a small group leader, Bible teacher, committee chairman, pastoral staff member, or any other leadership role in an approved ministry.

3. Any man aspiring to the office of Elder at VBC shall be required to complete the Leadership Training Program .

4. The candidate must have the ability to defend the doctrine of VBC and effectively teach the Bible.

5. The candidate for Elder shall have been a member in good standing of VBC for a minimum of three consecutive years.

6. The candidate must be a full time resident in the area.

Approval :

7. The candidate shall submit his request for consideration in writing to the Chairman of the Elder Board for review and examination by the Elder Board.

8. The candidate shall be unanimously approved by the Elder Board .

9. After approval by the Board of Elders that the candidate is qualified in accordance with (1) through (6) above, the candidate’s name shall be submitted to the congregation for four consecutive weeks prior to a Quarterly Business Meeting . The candidate’s written testimony and qualifications shall then be made available to the congregation.

10. A special meeting shall be held with the candidate and interested members of the congregation to discuss the candidate’s qualifications.

11. If objections arise regarding the candidate’s qualifications or character, they must be submitted to the Elder Board in writing and signed by the party making the objections stating why they do not believe the candidate should be allowed to serve as an Elder. The Board of Elders shall investigate the objections and determine if the candidate’s name should be withdrawn, and notify the objecting individual of the Elder Board’s decision. Any individual making an objection shall have the right to meet with representatives of the Elder Board. If the Board of Elders unanimously determines that the objections do not warrant withdrawal of the nomination, the candidate’s name shall remain for the congregation to vote on.

12. A candidate must receive two-thirds (2/3) of the votes cast to be commissioned as an Elder .

13. Candidates considered unqualified shall receive notice with specifics from the Elder Board and an invitation to meet with the Board for discussion and ministry. Their names shall not go before the Congregation for approval.

Tenure :

There shall be no numerical limit to the number of qualified men who fill this position. Once a man is commissioned as an Elder , he shall be so recognized by VBC until such a time as he:

14. Submits written resignation.

15. Resigns his membership from VBC .

16. Is unable to continue meeting the Biblical qualifications found in 1 Tim. 3:1-7, Titus 1:6-9, and 1 Peter 5:1-3 as determined by the Elder Board .

17. Fails to minister to the body as outlined in the Elder Job Description contained in the VBC Policy Manual for a period of 6 months without approval by the Elder Board .

Elder Board :

18. The Elder Board shall be composed of a minimum of seven (7) elders, a minimum of six approved by VBC members plus the Senior Pastor . All Elders, except the Senior Pastor , shall serve on the Elder Board for a term of three years with one third of the Elders rotating off each year. No more than one quarter (25%) of the board may be from the Ministry Staff .

19. The Senior Pastor shall be a permanent member of the Elder Board without term limits.

20. At the completion of a three year term an Elder shall wait at least one year prior to serving again on the Elder Board .

21. Only Elders currently serving on the Elder Board have the authority to vote on matters before the Board. Elders not serving on the Board are considered as “Elders at-large ”.

22. The Elder Board shall elect annually from its members (excluding the Sr. Pastor ) the following officers: Chairman , Vice-Chairman , and Recording Secretary .

23.