BAHAMAS BAPTIST UNION

Transcription

1 'j I ", BAHAMAS BAPTIST UNION SALEMCHU~C~ HEADQUARTERS NASSAU, N.P. 'Q,~\4-\ \'\\ J,!?! ANNUAL SESSIONS JULY 5 and 6, 97- I ~!I " z S.UINO RS 'PRINT

2 Uay WliS8iOl~ libra ] ARTICLES OF FAITH AND RULES AND REGULATIONS OF THE BAHAMAS BAPTIST UNION Confirmed at the Annual Session held in the Salem Church Parliament Street, Nassau, July 6, 97. ARTICLES OF FAITH. We believe () The Divine Trinity and Unity. (2) Christ's Incarnation and proper Deity. (3) Men"'s fall and helplessness, and his redemption by the vicarious Sacrifice of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. (4) The Personalty and Deity of the Holy Spirit. (5) Justification by Christ's Mediatorial work. ~6) Holy living after God's Commandments. (7) A future resurrection of the body. (8) The D~y of Judgement, and a state of eternal Bliss or Misery in another world. (9) We declare our belifef that the inspired Scripture contain the full and supreme authority of Christ for all that relates to Faith and Practice. (0) That a Christian Church is made up of persons morally regenerated, called from the world by Christ's special authority to be a people peculiar to Himself. () Wemaintain Baptism and the Lord's Supper, after the Apostolic appointed-both as regards their relation to themselves and to other Gospel teaching. (2) That we earnestly oppose all connection of the Church with the State, and all distinctions among its citizens on the ground of reli~!ln.

3 2 COVENANT. Having been, led as we believe, by tne Holy Spirit to believe on the Lord Jesus Christ as our Saviour, Of! the profession of'our faith in Him having been baptised in the N arne of tne Father, Son and of the Holy Spirit-we do now solemnly enter into Covenant '\Yith one another, as One Body in Christ~and engage to walk in Christianlove to striv~ for the advancement of the,church, and to sustain its worship, ordinances, an~ discipline.

4 3 ORGANISATION - RESOLVED () The spiritual Officers of the Church, are Pastors, Elders and Deacons. (2) For the consolidation of the Churches in this UNION, there shall be elected by Delegates from all the Churches; a Superintendent or Chief-Pastor who shall visit as needed, all the Union Churches. (3) That the v~rious places of Worship, Schoolrooms and the rest houses, in all the Churches shall be in the care of a Board of Trustees, who shall serve the Churches in humility and loving-kindness. (4) That each Church shall send at least one Delegate to an Annual Meeting to be held year by year, in the Salem Church, in the City of Nassau'. (5) That at such meeting there shall be elected Brethren, who shall act as Treas,lrer for the Trustee Fund, and, also a Secretary for the Union. (6) That it is suggested each Member of the Union Churches join some Class, that a Junior and Senior Young Peoples Union, as well as the Sunday School, -where possible be founded.

5 4 (7) That eaeh member shall lay by (as God shall prosper him or her) for the CHURCH and for the UNION FUNDS; in each Church. A proper officer shall be chosen, to receive and enter in a book such monies- the Superintendent shall receipt for sllch sums on the members tickets when the amouot is certified by him. (8) When any question cannot be settled by the Officers of the individual Church, then the matter shall be laid before three officers from other Churches, if this is not satisfactory the Superintendent shall investigate and decide the matter; subject to an appeal to tile Annual Session next meeting. (9) That the Officers will not admit to the pulpits of our Churches other Preachers unless such visitor has written letter of commendation from the Superintendent for the time being. (0) That the Superintendent must be chosen by a two-third V ote at a Session properly called-pastors and Officers must have two-third Vote to qualify them for office and the result of such election shall be sent to the Superintendent who shall enter such decision in the Book for that purpose.

6 5 () That at this Session the Rev. D. Wilshere be re-elected a~ the Superintendent; that Brother J. A. Deineritte be re..;elected the Treasurer of the Trustee Fund; that Brother M. A. Russell be re-elected as Secretary for the Union. (2) That the SALEM TRUSTEES, Viz :-J ohn A. Demeritte, Milton A. Russell, A. A. MacCulloch and Francis M. Johnson, bere-elected and the following Brethren be added to the number. William Rahming for Mt. Carey, Damon Bethel, Gambier, Rev. Laban Johnson for Andros, Sylvanus N. Nixon for the Cays; for Exuma, Prince A. Saunders, Isaac Munroe, Thomas Sears; and for Long Island, U uriah T. Know Ie, G. Miller and Rev. S A. ~ampson, Miami, Fla., U.S:A. That these Brethren and their successors in office, are empowered by the Session to discuss and decide under the Superintendent as Ohairman, all matters relating to finance,-the possesion and use of all Union Buildings of every kind 0' other property constituting the Board of Trustees for that puurpose.

7 The Trustees holding themselves bound to attend when desired by the Superintendent, who shall have only one vote and minutes of such meetings of the Board of Trustees shall be submitted to the Annual Session. Presented and passed at the Annual Session. Nassau, N.P.,.Tuly 6th, 97. Signed DANIEL WILSHERE. Superintendent, MILTON A. RUSSELL, ~.ecretary, JOHN A. DEMERITTE, for Trustee Board.

8 7 Bahamas Baptist Uniono NAME ROLL CALL REPRESENTING J. A. Demeritte, Milton A Russell, t SALEM, Philip Fernander, James Seymour,) NASSAU William Rahming, Daniel Davis, } MOUNT George Bethel CAREY Rev. Laban Johnson, Thomas Johnson ANDROS Rev. Jeremiah Demeritte GOVERNOR'S HARBOUR J. McDonald & Alexander Johnson SAN SALVADOR Silas & Sylvanus Nixon EXUMA CAYS Stuart Manor and Richmond Hill t EXUMA Jeremiah Rolle f Farmers' Hill, Matthew Curry " " Forest, Paul Clarke " " Ramsey, Nehemiah Rolle Moss Town, Prince A. Saunders George Town, Isaac Monroe Harts Well, David Dames Forbes Hill, Thomas Sears " REPRESENTED BY LETTERS. Gambier and Adelaide Damon Bethel Sim's and McKennons Long Island, Uriah T. Knowles, G. Miller Miami, Florida, Rev. S. A. Sampson. -On July i8th Brother T. A. Bastian, addressed the Salem Church, for members at Mangrove Cay, Andros. Certified, DANIEL WILSHERE, Supt. July 5th and 6th, 97.

9 8 AceowiMt5 'Presented for T:nust-ee Fund. July--97. Salem.Ch.w:chMembers ~ 6 0 Sunda.8ehool -l 0,0 In Bank 4:0 Ie) M.ount Carey Shr.ouaCay, San Salvador ~tenra Rolle Ville -'-",. 23 :60 G;H) Ii) 8.s Moss Town George Town i5 3 6 Harts Well 8 0 J{) Farmer's Hill 2 '8 0 Ramsey 8 5 ;9 Forbes Hill 8 -'6 '0 Andros '- ;':,0 % Eaamers'..cay.,4 4 3 Richmond Hill 2 ; % In hand to date 98 9 '3',h DANIEL -VVTLSHERE, Superintendent.

10 YALE UNIVERSITY LIBRARY / ~I/ IIIIIIIII~IIIII~ IIII~