PREAMBLE

We declare and establish this constitution to secure and preserve the principles of our faith, and to govern the body in an orderly manner according to the teachings of the New Testament.

ARTICLE I.

This body shall be known as the First Baptist Church of Gillette, whose primary meeting place is the junction of State Road 683 and the Moccasin Wallow Road, in Manatee County, Florida.

II.

To be dynamic spiritual organism empowered by the Holy Spirit to share Christ with as many people as possible in our church, community, and throughout the world.

To be a worshipping fellowship, experiencing an awareness of God, recognizing His Person, and responding in obedience to His leadership.

To experience an increasingly meaningful fellowship with God and Fellow believers.

To help people experience a growing knowledge of God and man.

To be a church that ministers unselfishly to persons in the community and world in Jesus' name.

To be a church whose purpose is to be Christ-like in our daily living by emphasizing total commitment of life, personality, and possessions to the Lordship of Christ.

III.

The First Baptist Church of Gillette is incorporated in accordance with the laws of the state of Florida, and the handling of property shall be in accordance with its corporate charter. (A copy of the corporate charter is available in the church office.)

IV.

The Holy Bible is the inspired word of God, and is the basis for any statement of faith. The church subscribes to the doctrinal statement of The Baptist Faith and Message as adopted by the Southern Baptist Convention in 1963. We band ourselves together as a body of baptized believers in Jesus Christ, personally committed to sharing the good news of salvation to lost mankind. The ordinances of the Church are Baptism and the Lord's Supper.

(The Baptist Faith and Message may be obtained from Tract Editor, Baptist Sunday School Board, 127 Ninth Avenue, North, Nashville, Tennessee 37234.)

V.

The government of this church is vested in the body of believers who compose it. It is subject to the control of no other ecclesiastical body, but it recognizes and sustains the obligations of mutual counsel and cooperation which are common among Baptist churches. Insofar as is practical, this church will cooperate with and support the association and state convention affiliated with the Southern Baptist Convention.