Indian Fork Baptist Church Constitution   

Article I: Preamble 

We declare and establish this constitution to preserve and secure the principles of our faith and govern this body in an orderly manner. This constitution will aid in the preservation of liberties of each member and the freedom of action of this body in relation to other churches. 

Article II: Name 

This body shall be known as the Indian Fork Baptist Church, Bagdad (Shelby County), Kentucky. 

Article III: Purpose 

This body is to give evidence of faith in Jesus Christ. We shall seek to provide an environment of worship, fellowship and nurture in the faith and proclaim the Gospel in word and deed both here, at home and around the world. 

Article IV: Statement of Faith and Doctrine 

We affirm that faith in Jesus is the only way to salvation and that the Bible is the inspired Word of God that establishes the foundation of our beliefs, further the Word of God is the final authority in all matters. The Baptist Faith and Message 2000 (See Appendix, Document 1) as adopted by the SBC (Southern Baptist Convention) in 2000, includes the foundations of our belief and practices thereof. Indian Fork Baptist Church Adopted The Baptist Faith and Message as our Statement of Faith and Doctrine on March 3, 2013. 

Article VII: Statement of Polity 

Jesus Christ being the head of His church, this congregation, Indian Fork Baptist Church, shall seek to know and obey the will of God in all matters of faith and practice. Jesus Christ, having bestowed upon us the guidance and discernment of the Holy Spirit has given the congregation of Indian Fork Baptist Church, members thereof, the responsibility and authority to reach decisions governing the affairs of the church in accordance with the Constitution, Article IV- Statement of Faith and Doctrine and the Constitution, Article V- Statement of Final Authority for matters of Belief and Conduct. 

This church is not subject to the control of any other body, but voluntarily agrees to cooperate with other bodies with whom it is compatible with as defined by the above mentioned Constitutional Article, known as Article IV- Statement of Faith and Doctrine. 

Article VIII: Church Covenant 

Having been led, as we believe by the Spirit of God, to receive the Lord Jesus Christ as or Lord and Savior and, on the profession of faith, having been baptized in the name of the Father and the Son and Holy Spirit, we do now, in the presence of God and this assembly, most solemnly and joyfully enter into covenant with one another as one body of Christ. 

We engage, therefore, by the aid of the Holy Spirit to walk together in Christian love; to strive for the advancement of this church, in knowledge, holiness and comfort; to promote its prosperity and spirituality; to sustain its worship, ordinances, discipline and doctrines; to conduct ourselves with reverence in the house of the Lord; and to contribute cheerfully and regularly to the support of the ministry, the expenses of the church, the relief of the poor, and the spread of the Gospel through all the nations. 

We also engage to maintain family and private devotions; to Biblically educate our children; to walk as a Christian example before the world; to be just in our dealings, faithful in our engagements and Christian in our deportment; to avoid all gossip, back-biting, and excessive anger; We engage to seek God’s help in abstaining from all drugs, food, drink, and practices which harm the body or jeopardize our own, or another’s faith as led by the Holy Spirit in each individual’s personal faith and belief. Continue to use our influence to combat the abuse of drugs and the spread or pornography; and to be zealous in our efforts to advance the Kingdom of our Savior. 

We further engage to watch over one another in sickness and distress; to cultivate Christian concern in feeling and courtesy in speech; to be slow to take offense, but always ready for reconciliation and mindful of the rules of our Savior to secure it without delay. 

We moreover engage that when we move from this place we will unite with some other church where we can carry out the spirit of this covenant and the principles of God’s Word.