The Reformed Baptist Association in South Africa
OUR CONSTITUTION
[Adopted on 14-11-1998]
1. NAME
The name of this association is the Reformed Baptist Association (RBA).
2. PURPOSE
2.1 Realising in practise paragraphs 14 and 15 of chapter 26 of our confession of faith (The The Second London Baptist Confession of 1689).
2.2 Mutual fellowship, edification, and prayer support.
This is stimulated and fostered by frequent personal contact, as well as a proper flow of news and information between churches as an ongoing priority.
2.3 Joint ventures.
Challenges before us are such that one church cannot meet them all. We therefore support one another in our callings as churches. Mainly this cooperation is expressed in the dissemination of the true gospel and missionary enterprise, in the edification of the church of Christ and fellow-believers, as well as in ministries of compassion and relief.
2.4 Consultation, support and admonition.
Appreciating our interdependence, we as churches deem ourselves responsible for and to one another.
2.4.1 When a church needs wisdom and advice, it turns in the first instance to the churches of this association for counsel. Every church is always available for consultation.
2.4.2 When a church runs into trouble, whether it be of a pastoral, financial, doctrinal, relational, organisational nature, or anything else, the rest deem themselves as duty-bound to do what they can to help.
2.4.3 Because we as churches humbly admit our weakness and proneness to sin, and realize that we can easily stray from the straight and narrow, we commit and submit ourselves to Biblical admonishment within this association, should it ever become necessary.
3. PRINCIPLES OF ASSOCIATION
3.1 Because of its union with Christ, the universal church is one. Unity must therefore not be created, it has to be worked out in practical terms.
3.2 Unity finds expression first and foremost in the local church. Corporate unity between local churches is nevertheless also to be pursued. This is expressed in the 1689 Baptist Confession, chapter 26, paragraphs 14 & 15.
3.3 True unity between churches rests on common convictions and values (specifically: doctrine, worship, government and discipline), and not primarily on common goals and projects. The latter can and will change in every church as time goes on, but the absolutes of our faith are universal, timeless and non-negotiable.
3.4 The agency of the local church in the outworking of God's counsel, and its autonomy - the right and responsibility to rule itself under its Head, Jesus Christ - is a New Testament principle. This principle must never be violated by any association or cooperation of churches.
3.4.1 The RBA is an association of churches. Everything is therefore done ecclesiastically. This means that, whenever a particular project of the churches is decided upon, a specific church is asked to organise or oversee it. The rest support it as they decide.
3.4.2 No meeting of the RBA exercises any authority over any of the churches (except in the matter of termination of membership).
3.4.3 The RBA does not act on its own, independently of the churches.
3.4.4 The RBA does not have a management committee, a chairman, or a central office. Churches take turns in hosting combined meetings, and as a rule representatives of the hosting church act as chairman and secretary.
3.5 True, biblical unity between churches is of an organic, relational nature. The institutional, legal emphasis which has become so prevalent in our day, is not in harmony with biblical revelation. Cooperation and relationships between churches must therefore be marked, more than anything, by mutual love, respect, trust, loyalty, spontaneity, sincerity, concern and support.
3.5.1 For our unity to be and remain real and meaningful, each church endeavours to persevere in all integrity in its commitment to the others.
3.5.2 Within the parameters of non-negotiable Biblical imperatives, there is much freedom and room for diversity. We therefore think and work from first principles, and always respect one another's freedom to serve the Lord according to our consciences. We do not try to manipulate one another; we seek harmony and unity; we trust one another; we seek one another's good. Should this not be maintained, the RBA will be in danger of losing its right of existence.
3.6 Viewed Biblically, association is voluntary. This means that the responsibility to associate and disassociate, rests wholly with each church.
4. MEMBERSHIP
4.1 Every member church has The Second London Baptist Confession of 1689 as a summary of faith.
4.2 Every member church submits itself in writing to this document. In this letter it also expresses its commitment to disciplined participation, doctrinal purity, financial integrity, relational loyalty, and biblical obedience to Christ.
4.3 Representatives of a church desiring to join the RBA are interviewed by a full meeting of the RBA, and admission is conditional upon the unanimous decision of such a meeting.
4.4 Membership of the RBA does not per se exclude membership of another association of churches.
4.5 Termination of a church's membership only takes place after a unanimous decision of a full meeting of the RBA.
5. MEETINGS
5.1 Representatives of churches (not more than 3 from a particular church) meet at least 3 times per year. Should the need arise, any church may at any time call an additional meeting. Unless urgency dictates otherwise, we schedule meetings long in advance, so that every church is able to attend.
5.2 We put a high premium on attendance at meetings. The absence of a church is the exception, and when it does happen, the particular church is required to submit an explanatory apology.
5.3 The agenda of meetings always reflects the purposes for which the association exists (as set out above): mutual fellowship, edification, and prayer support; joint ventures; consultations, support and admonition.
5.4 Churches take turns in hosting meetings, and the hosting church provides the chairman and secretary for a particular meeting.
5.5 The Word of God alone is our one and only rule for understanding God's will, but we need ongoing illumination and wisdom to discern how the Bible's principles apply to every situation. Meetings therefore proceed prayerfully, and to ensure that we do not go wrong, unanimity of heart serves as a guiding principle. This means that decisions are based on consensus, rather than on voting.
5.5.1 In matters of secondary importance (i.e. matters not addressed in the 1689 Confession), majority decisions can be made when disagreeing members of the meeting indicate their readiness to accept it.
5.5.2 Any church is at liberty not to participate in any specific project, but the safeguarding of our fellowship calls for transparency and explanation in such cases.
5.5.3 When one or more churches are for legitimate reasons not represented in a specific meeting, no important decision is finalised until such churches are consulted.
6. TERMINATION
6.1 Should any church not keep to the spirit of this constitution or become an embarrassment to the rest of the member churches, its membership can be terminated - by a unanimous decision of a full meeting of the RBA.
6.2 A unanimous meeting of the RBA can at any time change this constitution.