About

We believe that God has given the authority and responsibility of maintaining the well being of the Body to Elders.
(Acts 2:42;1 Peter 5:1-2)

We believe that, baptism by immersion should follow as soon as desired and practicable after conversion, as an act of obedience and identification with Christ, but it is in no way essential for salvation.
(Matthew 28:19; Acts 8:35-39)

We believe that all true believers should associate themselves with others of like mind for the purpose of teaching, fellowship, worship, the Lord’s Supper, prayer and evangelism.
(Acts 2:42; Mark 16:15; Hebrews 10:25)

We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ will return personally for His church including both the living and the dead.
(Titus 2:13; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18)

We believe that the saved and the unsaved are resurrected bodily, the saved to eternal blessedness (1 Peter 1:3-4); the unsaved to the Great White Throne of Judgement and eternal punishment.

We believe that it is the responsibility of Elders to administer discipline with the ultimate view of restoration.
(1 Corinthians 5:11; 2 Thessalonians 3:6; 1 Timothy 6:3-4; Romans 16:17)

We believe that God’s exclusive model for marriage is the uniting of one man and one woman in covenant commitment for a lifetime of godliness and fidelity. Marriage not only illustrates the union between Christ and his church, but also provides the framework for intimate companionship and procreation as well as being the foundation for the family.
(Genesis 1:27-28; Genesis 2:18-25; Proverbs 5:15-23; Ephesians 5:22-23)

We believe that children, from the moment of conception, are a blessing and a heritage from the Lord and that parents are to demonstrate and teach them God’s pattern for life.
(Psalm 127:3-5; Psalm 139:13-18; Ephesians 6:1-3)

RULES OF ASSOCIATION NAME

1. The name of the incorporated association shall be “Bundaberg Bible Church Inc.”

OBJECTS

2. The object for which the Association is established is:

 – To be the corporate entity through which “Bundaberg Bible Church” (in these rules called “the Church’) may conduct its religious, educational and social activities within the community.

(a) to glorify God in the church, in its activities and functioning through the association;

(b) to provide the church full and free access to and use of such property of the association as the church may need for its activities;

(c) to teach and to promote the teaching of the Bible as being the Word of God;

(d) to preach the gospel as presented in the Bible;

(e) to teach and promote the proper application of the teachings of the Bible in the Church, in the community and in personal life;

(f) to provide education and training in all spheres of knowledge and behaviour that are relevant to or that are addressed by the teachings of the Bible;

(g) to pursue any or all of the above objects by providing support (whether financially or otherwise) to any other organisation with identical or substantially similar objects.

POWERS

3. The powers of the Association are:

(1) to manage the funds and other assets and the liabilities of the church

(2) to subscribe to, become a partner of and co-operate with any other association, club or organisation, whether incorporated or not, whose objects are altogether or in part similar to those of the Association provided that the Association shall only subscribe to or support with its funds any club, association or organisation which do not prohibit the distribution of its income and property among its partners to an extent at least as great as that imposed on the Association under or by virtue of rule 28 (10);

(3) in furtherance of the objects of the Association to buy, sell and deal in all kinds of articles, commodities and provisions, both liquid and solid, for the partners of the Association or persons frequenting the Association’s premises, or premises which the Association may use;

(4) to purchase, take on lease or in exchange, hire or otherwise acquire any lands, buildings, easements or property, real and personal, and any rights or privileges which may be requisite for the purposes of, or capable of being conveniently used in connection with, any of the objects of the Association: provided that in case the Association shall take or hold any property which may be subject to any trusts the Association shall only deal with the same in such manner as is allowed by law having regard to such trusts;

(5) to enter into any arrangements with any Government or Authority that are incidental or conducive to the attainment of the objects and the exercise of the powers of the Association., to obtain from any such Government or Authority any rights, privileges and concessions which the Association may think it desirable to obtain; and to carry out, exercise and comply with any such arrangements, rights, privileges and concessions;

(6) to appoint, employ, remove or suspend such managers, clerks, secretaries, servants, workmen and other persons as may be necessary or convenient for the purposes of the Association;

(7) to remunerate any person or body corporate for services rendered, or to be rendered, and whether by way of brokerage or otherwise in placing or assisting to place or guaranteeing the placing of any unsecured notes. debentures, or other securities of the incorporated association, or in or about the incorporated association, or promotion of the incorporated association or in the furtherance of its objects;

(8) to construct, improve, maintain, develop, work, manage, carry out, alter or control any houses, buildings, grounds. works or conveniences which may seem calculated directly or indirectly to advance the Association’s interests, and to contribute to, subsidise or otherwise assist and take part in the construction, improvement, maintenance, development, working, management, carrying out, alteration or control thereof.,

(9) to invest and deal with the money of the Association not immediately required in such manner as may from time to time be thought fit;

(10) to take, or otherwise acquire and hold shares, debentures or other securities of any company or body corporate;

(11) in furtherance of the objects of the Association to lend and advance money or give credit to any person or body corporate; to guarantee and give guarantees or indemnities for the payment of money or the performance of contracts or obligations by any person or body corporate, and otherwise to assist any person or body corporate;

(12) to borrow or raise money either alone or jointly with any other person or legal entity in such manner as may be thought proper and whether upon fluctuating advance account or overdraft or otherwise to represent or secure any moneys and further advances borrowed or to be borrowed alone or with others as aforesaid by notes secured or unsecured, debentures or debenture stock perpetual or otherwise, or by mortgage, charge, lien or other security upon whole or any part of the incorporated association’s property or assets present or future and to purchase, redeem or pay-off any such securities;

(13) to draw, make, accept, endorse, discount, execute and issue promissory notes, bills of exchange, bills of lading and other negotiable or transferable instruments;

(14) in furtherance of the objects of the Association to sell, improve, manage, develop, exchange, lease, dispose of, turn to account or otherwise deal with all or any part of the property and rights of the Association.

(15) to take or hold mortgages, liens or charges, to secure payment of the purchase price, or any unpaid balance of the purchase price, of any part of the Association’s property of whatsoever kind sold by the Association, or any money due to the Association from purchasers and others;

(16) to take any gift or property whether subject to any special trust or not, for any one or more of the objects of the Association but subject always to the proviso in sub-rule (4);

(17) to take such steps by personal or written appeals, public meetings or otherwise, as may from time to time be deemed expedient for the purpose of procuring contributions to the funds of the Association, in the shape of donations, annual subscriptions or otherwise;

(18) to print and publish any newspapers, periodicals, books or leaflets that the Association may think desirable for the promotion of its objects.

(19) in furtherance of the objects of the Association to purchase or otherwise acquire and undertake all or any part of the property, assets liabilities and engagements of any one or more of the incorporated associations with which the Association is authorised to amalgamate;

(20) in furtherance of the objects of the Association to transfer all or any part of the property, assets, liabilities and engagements of the Association to any one or more of the incorporated associations with which the Association is authorised to amalgamate;

(21) to make donations for patriotic, charitable or community purposes;

(22) to do all such other things as are incidental or conductive to the attainment of the objects and the exercise of the powers of the Association.

CLASSES OF PARTNERS

4. (1) There shall be no distinction between partners as to class of partnership.

(2) Partners shall be known as ordinary partners.

(3) The number of partners shall be unlimited.

PARTNERSHIP

5. (1). Ordinary partnership shall be open to Christians who are believers and who have received Jesus Christ as their own Lord and Saviour, who have been baptized, and who are partners of the Church, assenting to the Statement of Faith and Practices subscribed to by the Bundaberg Bible Chapel and considered by the Elders to be suitable for service in the Association (sole responsibility for determining partnership of the Assembly rests with the Elders of the Assembly).

(2) In these rules the term ‘Elders’ means those men who are formally recognised by the Church as spiritual shepherds with the role of teaching, leading and providing pastoral care. These are appointed by the following process:-

(a) Each Elder is appointed by election for a term of 3 years, at a general meeting (including the AGM. At the end of their 1st term they may be re-elected for a 2^nd term at a general meeting.

The election of elders will take place by secret ballot, with a 70% majority required by partners present.

After a non-vocational elder has completed 2 terms, they must step down for at least 1 year before their potential election if nominated by current elders at a general meeting.

A new elder or an elder returning after their 1 year break, must be presented to the partners at least 4 weeks before the general meeting in order for the partners to bring any concerns or questions that they may have to the existing elders.

(b) The incumbent elders shall conduct their own screen to identify those they deem to be suitable for the position. This process should test the elder candidate in 6 areas:

1. Character – Do they have the biblical character of an elder (1 Tim 3:1-7)
2. Competency – Can they manage their household well, leadership qualifications, etc (Titus 1:6-9)
3. Charisma – do they have the necessary gifts of the Spirit to fulfil the roleegdiscernment (Acts 20:28-31)
4. Compatibility – Do they fit with the current team within reason? Is their theological understanding compatible? (Rom 16:17)
5. Capacity – Do they have the time necessary to fulfil the functions of an elder? (Acts 6:2-4)
6. Commitment – Is this something they desire and are committed to working towards and happy with ongoing training (1 Tim 3:1)

All new potential elders should be suitably trained as determined by the current elders and also willing to participate in further training.

(c) After a thorough screening process from the elders, a man shall be presented as suitable by the elders to the church who will vote on their 3 year appointment at a general meeting.

(d) Vocational elders will also be elected to 3 year terms, however the year off after 2 terms will not apply and vocational elders can serve for as many terms as they are re-elected for.  

(e)The number of elders shall never be less than 4. In the event of Eldership being numerically reduced for any reason, the church will nominate via ballot the male partner who should fill the position until a formal elder can be recognised. The term of an elder in their 2^nd term could be extended until a qualified replacement elder was elected.

(f) The term Ministry Coordinator means those persons formally recognised by the Church and appointed to serve the church and assist the elders by coordinating the running of various ministry areas. Elders select Ministry Coordinators on the basis of their own screen to identify those persons whom they deem to be qualified and supported to fill that position.

Should any partner give written notice to the Secretary that he or she no longer feels that they can subscribe to the Statement of Faith and Practices referred to in sub-rule (1), or should any partner be removed from the Assembly for any reason, that person shall cease to be a partner of the Association and, if he or she holds office within the Association, shall vacate the office and shall forthwith deliver up any and all documents and books pertaining to the administration of the Association entrusted to him or her.

PARTNERSHIP FEES

6. (1) No partnership fee shall apply

ADMISSION AND REJECTION OF PARTNERS 7.

(1) The Elders of the Church shall either interview any applicant for partnership and his or her agreement should be confirmed by two elders’ signatures or accept a signed covenant to confirm his or her assent to the statement of faith and practices subscribed to by the church and to determine his or her suitability for service in the association.

(2) Upon acceptance or rejection of an application for partnership the Secretary shall forthwith give the applicant notice in writing of such acceptance or rejection.

(3) In order to Maintain partnership, each partner must sign the partnership agreement document as presented annually by the elders. Failure to sign the annual partnership agreement (unless by being away, illness or a reason accepted by elders) will result in removal from partnership.

(3) A decision of the Elders to reject an application for partnership is final. The unsuccessful applicant may not appeal against the decision of the Elders.

TERMINATION OF PARTNERSHIP

8. (1) Any partner may voluntarily resign from the Association at any time by giving notice in writing to the Secretary. Such resignation shall take effect at the time such notice is received by the Secretary unless a later date is specified in the notice when it shall take effect on that later date.

(2) If a partner:

(a) is convicted of any indictable offence; or

(b) fails to comply with any of the provisions of these Rules; or

(c) absents himself/herself from church meetings for a long period of time and it is obvious to the Elders that such person is not desirous of continuing in the partnership; or

(d) conducts himself or herself in a manner considered to be injurious or prejudicial to the character or interests of the Association; The Management Committee shall in consultation with the Elders consider whether partnership should be terminated.

(3) The partner concerned shall be given a full and fair opportunity of presenting his/her case and if the Eldership resolves to terminate his/her partnership it shall instruct the Secretary to advise the partner in writing accordingly.

APPEAL AGAINST TERMINATION OF PARTNERSHIP

9. (1) Should any persons’ partnership be terminated on the grounds specified inrule 8                                                                                                                (2) there shall be no right of appeal.

REGISTER OF PARTNERS

10. The Secretary shall prepare a list of partners’ names and addresses and shall update such list as necessary.

MEMBERSHIP OF MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE

11. The Management Committee shall include all elders. The Management Committee shall appoint from within itself a Chairman, Secretary and Treasurer at its first meeting after the annual General Meeting.

FUNCTIONS OF THE MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE

12.  (1) Except as otherwise provided by these Rules and subject to resolutions of the partners of the Association carried at any General Meeting the Management Committee:

(a) shall have the general control and management of the administration of the affairs, property and funds of the association; and

(b) shall have authority to interpret the meaning of these Rules and any matter relating to the Association on which these Rules are silent.

(2) The Management Committee may exercise all the powers of the Association:

(a) to borrow or raise or secure the payment of money in such manner as the partners of the Association may think fit and secure the same or the payment or performance of any debt, liability. contract, guarantee or other engagement incurred or to be entered into by the Association in any way and in particular by the issue of debentures, perpetual or otherwise, charged upon all or any of the Association’s property, both present and future, and to purchase, redeem or pay off any such securities.

(b) to borrow money from partners at a rate of interest not exceeding interest at the rate for the time being charged by bankers in Brisbane for overdrawn accounts on money lent, whether the term of the loan be short or long, and to mortgage or charge its property or any part thereof and to issue debentures and other securities, whether outright or as security for any debt, liability or obligation of the Association, and to provide and pay off any such securities; and

(c) to invest in such manner as the partners of the Association may from time to time determine.

MEETINGS OF THE MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE

15.  (1) The Management Committee shall meet at least once every four (4) calendar months to exercise its functions.

(2) A special meeting of the Management Committee shall be convened by the Secretary on the requisition in writing signed by not less than one-third of the members of the Management Committee, which requisition shall clearly state the reasons why such special meeting is being convened and the nature of the business to be transacted thereat.

(3) At every meeting of the Management Committee a simple majority of a number equal to the number of members, shall constitute a quorum.

(4) Subject as previously provided in this rule, the Management Committee may meet together and regulate its proceedings as it thinks fit: provided that questions arising at any meeting of the Management Committee shall be decided by a majority of votes and, in the case of equality of votes, the question shall be deemed to be decided in the negative.

(5) A member of the Management Committee shall not vote in respect of any contract or proposed contract with the Association in which he or she is interested, or any matter arising thereout, and if he or she does so vote his or her vote shall not be counted.

(6) Not less than seven (7) days’ notice shall be given by the Secretary to members of the Management Committee of any special meeting of the Management Committee. Such notice shall clearly state the nature of the business to be discussed thereat.

(7) The Chairman shall preside as chairman at every meeting of the Management Committee, or if he is not present within ten minutes after the time appointed for holding the meeting, then the members may choose one of their number to be Chairman of the meeting.

(8) If within half an hour from the time appointed for the commencement of a Management Committee meeting a quorum is not present, the meeting, if convened upon the requisition of members of the Management Committee, shall lapse. In any other case it shall stand adjourned to the same day in the next week at the same time and place, or to such other day and at such other time and place as the Management Committee may determine, and if at the adjourned meeting a quorum is not present within half an hour from the time appointed for the meeting, the meeting shall lapse.

16. (1) The Management Committee may delegate any of its powers to a sub-committee consisting of such partners of the Association as the Management Committee thinks fit. Any subcommittee so formed shall in the exercise of the powers so delegated conform to any regulations that may be imposed on it by the Management Committee.

(2) A subcommittee may elect a chairman of its meetings. If no such Chairman is elected, or if at any meeting the Chairman is not present within ten minutes after the time appointed for holding the meeting, the members present may choose one of their number to be Chairman of the meeting.

(3) A subcommittee may meet and adjourn, as it thinks proper. Questions arising at any meeting shall be determined by a majority of votes of the members present and, in the case of an equality of votes, the question shall be deemed to be decided in the negative.

17. A resolution in writing signed by all the members of the Management Committee for the time being entitled to receive notice of a meeting of the Management Committee shall be as valid and effectual as if it had been passed at a meeting of the Management Committee duly convened and held. Any such resolution may consist of several documents in like form, each signed by one or more members of the Management Committee.

ANNUAL GENERAL OR GENERAL MEETINGS

19. The first General Meeting shall be held at such time, not being less than one (1) month nor more than three (3) months after the incorporation of the Association, and at such place as the Management Committee may determine.
20. (1) The Annual General Meeting shall be held within six (6) months of the close of the financial year.

(2) The business to be transacted at every Annual General Meeting shall be:

(a) the receiving of the Management Committee’s report and the statement of income and expenditure, assets and liabilities and mortgages, charges and securities affecting the property of the association for the preceding financial year.,

(b) the receiving of the auditor’s report upon the books and accounts for the preceding financial year.,

1. d) the appointment of an auditor.
2. The Secretary shall convene a special General Meeting:

(1) when directed to do so by the Management Committee., or

2) or when presented with a signed partition by 50% of the active partners.

22. (1) At any General Meeting the number of persons required to constitute a quorum shall be 40% of the partnership

(2) No business shall be transacted at any General Meeting unless a quorum of partners is present at the time when the meeting proceeds to business.

(3) If within half an hour from the time appointed for the commencement of a General Meeting a quorum is not present, the meeting, if convened upon the requisition of partners of the Management Committee or the Association, shall lapse. In any other case it shall stand adjourned to the same day in the next week at the same time and place, or to such other day and at such other time and place as the Management Committee may determine, and if at the adjourned meeting a quorum is not present within half an hour from the time appointed for the meeting, the partners present shall be a quorum.

(4) The Chairman may, with the consent of any meeting at which a quorum is present (and shall if so directed by the meeting), adjourn the meeting from time to time and from place to place, but no business shall be transacted at any adjourned meeting other than the business left unfinished at the meeting from which the adjournment took place. When a meeting is adjourned for thirty (30) days or more, notice of the adjourned meeting shall be given as in the case of an original meeting. Save as aforesaid it shall not be necessary to give any notice of an adjournment or of the business to be transacted at an adjourned meeting.

23. (1) The Secretary shall convene all General Meetings of the Association by giving not less than fourteen (14)days noticeof any such meeting to the partners of the Association.

(2) The manner by which such notice shall be given shall be determined by the Management Committee. Notice of a General Meeting shall clearly state the nature of business to be discussed thereat. 24. Unless otherwise provided by these Rules, at every General Meeting:

(1) the Chairman shall preside, or if there is no Chairman, or if he is not present within fifteen minutes after the time appointed for the holding of the meeting, or is unwilling to act, then another member of the Management Committee or person chosen by the meeting shall be Chairman of the meeting.,

(2) the Chairman shall maintain order and conduct the meeting in a proper and orderly manner;

(3) every question, matter or resolution shall be decided by a majority of votes of the partners present;

(4) every partner present shall be entitled to one (1) vote and in the case of an equality of votes the Chairman shall have a second or casting vote.,

(5) voting shall be by show of hands or a division of partners, unless the Chairman recommends, or not less than one-fifth of the partners present demand a ballot,, in which event there shall be a secret ballot. The Chairman shall appoint two (2) partners to conduct the secret ballot in such manner as he or she shall determine and the result of the ballot as declared by the Chairman shall be deemed to be the resolution of the meeting at which the ballot was demanded;

(6) a partner may only vote in person and shall only have (1) vote.

(10) the Secretary shall cause full and accurate minutes of all questions, matters, resolutions and other proceedings of every Management Committee Meeting and General Meeting to be entered in a book to be open for inspection at all reasonable times by any partner who previously applies to the Secretary for that inspection. For the purpose of ensuring the accuracy of the recording of such minutes, the minutes of every Management Committee Meeting shall be signed by the Chairman of that meeting or the Chairman of the next succeeding Management Committee Meeting verifying their accuracy. Similarly, the minutes of every General Meeting shall be signed by the Chairman of that meeting or the Chairman of the next succeeding General Meeting: provided that the minutes of any Annual General Meeting shall be signed by the Chairman of that meeting or the Chairman of the next succeeding General Meeting or Annual General Meeting

BY-LAWS

25. The Management Committee may from time to time make, amend or repeal by-laws, not inconsistent with these Rules for the internal management of the Association and any by-law may be set aside by a general meeting of partners.

ALTERATION OF RULES

26. Subject to the provisions of the Associations Incorporation Act 198 1, these Rules may be amended, rescinded or added to from time to time by a special resolution carried at any General Meeting: provided that no such amendment, rescission or addition shall be valid unless the same shall have been previously submitted to and approved by the Director-General, Department of Consumer Affairs, Brisbane.

COMMON SEAL

27. The Management Committee shall provide for a Common Seal and for its safe custody. The Common Seal shall only be used by the authority of the Management Committee and every instrument to which the seal is affixed shall be signed by a member of the Management Committee and shall be countersigned by the Secretary or by a second member of the Management Committee or by some other person appointed by the Management Committee for the purpose.

FUNDS AND ACCOUNTS

28. (1) The funds of the Association shall be deposited in the name of the Association in such Bank or Permanent Building Society as the Management Committee may from time to time direct.

(2) Proper books and accounts shall be kept and maintained either in written or printed form in the English language showing correctly the financial affairs of the Association and the particulars usually shown in books of a like nature.

(3) All moneys shall be deposited as soon as practicable after receipt thereof.

(4) All amounts of two hundred dollars (200) or over shall be paid by Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT/EFTPOS or cheque signed/authorised by two (2) of the Chairman, Secretary, Treasurer or other Partner(s) authorised from time to time by the Management Committee. [Amended at 2013 AGM]

(5) Cheques should be crossed “not negotiable” except those in payment of wages, allowances or petty cash recoupment which may be open.

(6) The Management Committee shall determine the amount of petty cash.

(7) All expenditure shall be approved or ratified above an amount determined by the Management Committee.

(8) As soon as practicable after the end of each financial year the Treasurer shall cause to be prepared a statement containing particulars of:-

(a) the income and expenditure for the financial year just ended; and (b) the assets and liabilities and all mortgages, charges and securities affecting the property of the Association at the close of that year.

(9) All such statements shall be examined by the auditor who shall present his or her report upon such audit to the Secretary prior to the holding of the Annual General Meeting next following the financial year in respect of which such audit was made.

(10) The income and property of the Association whencesoever derived shall be used and applied solely in promotion of its objects and in the exercise of its powers as set out herein and no portion thereof shall be distributed, paid or transferred directly or indirectly by way of dividend, bonus or otherwise by way of profit to or amongst the partners of the Association provided that nothing herein contained shall prevent the payment in good faith of interest to any such partner in respect of moneys advanced by him or her to the Association or otherwise owing by the Association to him or her or of remuneration to any officers or servants of the Association or to any partner of the Association or other person in return for any services actually rendered to the Association provided further that nothing herein contained shall be construed so as to prevent the payment or repayment to any partner of out of pocket expenses, money lent, reasonable and proper charges for goods hired by the Association or reasonable and proper rent for premises demised or let to the Association.

DOCUMENTS

29. The Management Committee shall provide for the safe custody of books, documents, instruments of title and securities of the Association. 30. The financial year of the Association shall close on the thirtieth day of June in each year.

DISTRIBUTION OF SURPLUS ASSETS

31. If the Association shall be wound up in accordance with the provisions of the Associations Incorporation Act 1981, and there remains, after satisfaction of all its debts and liabilities, any property whatsoever, the same shall not be paid to or distributed among the partners of the Association, but shall be given or transferred to some other institution, or institutions having objects similar to the objects of the Association, and which shall prohibit the distribution of its or their income and property among its or their partners to an extent at least as great as is imposed on the Association under or by virtue of rule 28(10), such institution or institutions to be determined by the partners of the Association.

I hereby certify that this is a true copy of the Rules adopted by the partners on the ……………………….. 2023.

(Sgd) Secretary (Date)

Appendix A

The Image of God

We believe that all people are made in the image of God (Gen 1:27) and are therefore of inherent worth, dignity, and value. We also see this in God’s will that no one shall take another’s life (Ex 20:13) and through the grace and love of God that sent Jesus to pay the penalty for our sin (Jn 3:16).

As image bearers, we have the responsibility to honour the image of God in humanity and protect it from the power of sin and worldly forces that seek to tarnish and mar it, reducing the value of all people. Considering this responsibility, we make the following statements that help to define and defend the biblical meaning of being made in God’s image.

1. Humanity was made as the pinnacle of God’s creation and alone are his image bearers (Gen 1:26; Ps 8). People are not the same as animals or nature but have a higher calling by God to rule over creation as God’s stewards. We therefore reject any notion that people are an accident or of no greater value than other lifeforms.
2. Life begins at conception where we are purposefully created by God (Psalm 139:13). Abortion, at any stage of pregnancy, is the wilful taking of a child’s life, made in the image of God, and breaks God’s clear command (Ex 20:13).
3. Life is God’s precious gift and we do not believe that people can decide when to end another’s life or their own (Ex 20:13; Job 14:5). Euthanasia is a violation of God’s command to not take a life and we believe all people should be encouraged to entrust their life to God.
4. God made humanity male and female in his likeness (Gen 1:27). This means that men and women are equal before God but created with distinct and precious differences. As sex/gender is a God given biological truth (Psalm 139:13), we believe that it cannot be changed and any attempts to do so are a rejection of the image of God that He has created, requiring repentance.
5. Marriage was ordained by God between one man and one woman (Gen 2:24). There is no other biblical form of marriage, and we do not accept any other arrangement for marriage outside of this as true or right.

In the cases above, we believe that those who do not accept these biblical truths and therefore are rejecting the Lordship of Jesus Christ should be loved and told the good news of his grace and forgiveness of sins through his death and resurrection. We endeavour to warmly welcome all people to attend church gatherings and desire to support anyone who would like to further understand the Bible’s position on the aforementioned points. For those who repent and are born-again, there is complete forgiveness in Christ. They will then begin the process of sanctification which is the Holy Spirit’s work of making us into the image of Jesus through ongoing repentance from sin and obedience to Christ. Those who are born-again have the opportunity to be welcomed into the partnership of the church.