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Church
Membership
Welling
Baptist
Church
is part of a wider family of British Baptist Churches-which in turn is linked
to a Europe-wide federation of
Baptists and through the World Alliance to 150,000 churches worldwide with 43
million members. In another sense each Christian who becomes a member at
Axminster
Crescent
Baptist
Church
is part of a body of people who have given and continue to give testimony to
Christ as Lord all over the world.
As a local Church we submit to the authority of scripture as our rule of
faith and practice for living as Christians. As a confessing church we practice
baptism by “immersion” and through this act signify our commitment to die to
every selfish ambition and live not for ourselves but for the glory of Christ
who by his death reconciled us to God.
It is a treasured principle with us that every member has a role and
ministry. This in bible speak is called “the priesthood of all believers”.
While we support an ordained ministry and the church has since the days of
Spurgeon had some outstanding preachers we are well served by deacons who can
undertake any administrative or ministry role to which the local church-which
has a high degree of autonomy-may appoints them.
Members
are generally those who have confessed Christ as Lord and have been baptised in
obedience to his express will.
A body of deacons is elected to serve for a two year renewable term at WBC.
The Deacons at stated meetings seek to advance the life and work of the
church-with administrative diligence overseeing along with the minister its
evangelistic caring and pastoral ministries and its missionary interest together
with its financial and fabric requirements. The
deacons are responsible to the “church meeting” where leaders are appointed
and the directives for mission and finance are set.
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