Mission
MISSION: Our purpose is to love God, love people, and serve both. We exist to bring people to Jesus and into His family, helping them grow toward Christlike maturity and equipping them to serve the church and the world—all for the glory of God.
VISION: Our vision is to see families growing in Christ together. We envision individuals and families growing in their love for God, becoming more like Jesus, and serving one another and their community in ways that make God’s love evident.
VALUES: Our values guide our actions and shape our lives. We believe in five key ways we grow together:
1. Fellowship: We love and care for one another, fostering a warm and supportive community.
2. Discipleship: We grow deeper in our faith by becoming more like Jesus, learning from His teachings and example.
3. Worship: We live for the glory of God, worshiping Him with reverence and gratitude.
4. Ministry: We use our gifts and talents to serve others, making a positive impact on our community.
5. Evangelism: We share the gospel and reach people for Christ, spreading the message of salvation and hope.
Core Beliefs
GOD
God is the creator and ruler of the universe. He has eternally existed in three
persons: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. These three are co-equal and are one
God.
Gen. 1:1,26-27,3:2; Ps. 90:2; Mt. 28:19; 1 Peter 1:2; 2 Cor. 13:14
JESUS CHRIST
Jesus Christ is the Son of God. He is co-equal with the Father and
lived a sinless human life and offered himself as the perfect sacrifice for the sins of all
people by dying on a cross. He arose from the dead after three days to demonstrate his
power over sin and death. He ascended to Heaven’s glory and will return again someday
to earth to reign as King of Kings and Lord of Lords.
Mt. 1:22-23; Is. 9:6; Jn 1:1-5; Heb.4:14-15; 1 Cor. 15:3-4; Rom. 1:3-4; Acts 1:9-11; 1 Tim. 6:14-15; Titus 2:13
THE HOLY SPIRIT
The Holy Spirit is co-equal with the Father and the Son of God and is present in the
world to make men aware of their need for Jesus Christ. He lives in every Christian
from the moment of salvation and provides the Christian with power for living,
understanding of spiritual truth and guidance in doing what is right. He gives
believers spiritual gifts when they are saved. As Christians, we seek to live under his
control daily.
2 Cor. 3:17; Jn. 16:7-13; 14:16-17; Acts 1:8; 1 Cor. 2:12, 3:16; Eph. 1:13,5:18; Gal. 5:25
THE BIBLE
The Bible is God’s Word to us. It was written by human authors, under the
supernatural guidance of the Holy Spirit. It is the supreme source of truth for Christian
beliefs and living. Because it is inspired by God, it is the truth without any mixture of error.
2 Tim. 3:16; 2 Peter 1:20-21; 2 Tim. 1:13; Ps. 12:6, 119:105, 119:160; Pr. 30:5
HUMANITY
People are made in the spiritual image of God, to be like him in character and person.
People are the supreme object of God’s creation. Although every person has tremendous
potential for good, all of us are marred by an attitude of disobedience toward God called
"sin.” This attitude separates people from God and causes many problems in life.
Gen. 1:27; Ps. 8:3-6; Is. 53:6a; Rom. 3:23
SALVATION
Salvation is God’s free gift to us, but we must accept it. We can never
make up for our sin by self-improvement or good works. Only by trusting in Jesus Christ
and receiving God’s offer of forgiveness can anyone be saved from sin’s penalty. When
we turn from our self-ruled life and turn to Jesus in faith, we are saved. Eternal life
begins the moment one receives Jesus Christ into his life by faith.
(Rom. 6:23; Eph. 2:8-9; Jn. 1:12, 14:6; Titus 3:5; Gal. 3:26; Rom. 5:1
THE CHURCH
We believe that the universal church, the body of Christ, consists of all
believers regardless of organizational affiliation and that Christ commanded for His
church the observance of water baptism and the Lord’s Supper until he returns.
We also believe the local church should be a witness to the contemporary world. Without
compromising biblical absolutes, a church’s ministry, worship, and teaching should
creatively adapt to the particular culture it feels called to reach.
Col. 1:18; Eph. 4:4-6; Acts 1:5, 11:15-16; 1 Cor. 12:13; 1 Thess. 4:13-17; Mt. 16:18, 28:19; 1 Cor. 11:24-26
ETERNITY
People were created to exist forever. We will either exist eternally
separated from God by sin or eternally with God through forgiveness and salvation. To be
eternally separated from God is Hell. To be eternally in union with him is eternal life.
Heaven and Hell are real places of eternal existence.
Jn. 3:16, Rom. 6:23; Rev. 20:15)
Constitution & By-laws of the Checkrow Community Church
I. Name:
The name of this organization shall be the
Checkrow Community Church Fellowship.
II. Organization:
This organization was completed June 9, 1947.
Articles of incorporation under the laws of the State of Illinois
were filed April 28, 1956,
and recorded at Lewistown, Illinois.
The previous by-laws were revised
and this constitution adopted March 27, 1958.
III. Purpose Statements:
Our Purpose:
We exist to bring people to Jesus and membership in His
family, develop them to Christ-like maturity, and equip them
for their ministry in the church and life mission in the world,
in order to magnify God's name.
Our Values:
We practice growing
warmer through Fellowship
deeper through Discipleship
stronger through Worship
broader through Ministry
and larger through Evangelism.
IV. Doctrinal Statement of Faith:
1. We believe that the Bible is the Word of God, revealed and verbally inspired by the Holy Spirit, hence inerrant and infallible.
Psalm 19:7-11; II Timothy 3:16-17; II Peter 1:16-21
2. We believe that there is one God, eternally existing in three Persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
Genesis 1:1; John 1:1,2; John 10:30; John 4:24; I John 5:7
-1-
3. We believe in the eternal deity of the Lord Jesus Christ, His virgin birth, His sinless humanity, His substitutionary death, His bodily resurrection, His present intercession at the right hand of God, His return for His saints, and His personal coming again to rule and reign on the earth.
John 1:1-14; John 5:28-46; Isaiah 7:14; Matthew 1:18-25
Luke 1:26-35; Luke 2:1-14; I Peter 2:22; 3:18
Hebrews 9:24-28; I Corinthians 15:51-57; I Thessalonians 4:13-17
4. We believe that the Holy Spirit is a person who convicts the world of sin, and regenerates, indwells; comforts, enlightens, and empowers the saved.
John 16:8; I Corinthians 3:16; Romans 8:9,13-16
Galatians 5:16-18; Galatians 5:22-23; John 14:16,17
5. We believe that man was created in the image and likeness of God, but that in Adam's sin mankind fell, inherited a sinful nature, and became alienated from God, and; that man is totally depraved, and, of himself, utterly unable to
remedy his lost condition.
Genesis 1:26:27; Romans 3:22-23; Ephesians 2:1-3,12
6. We believe that salvation is the gift of God brought to man by grace and received by personal faith in the lord Jesus Christ, whose precious blood was shed on Calvary for the forgiveness of our sins.
Ephesians 2:8-10; John 1:12; Ephesians 1:7; I Peter 1:18-19
7. We believe that Satan is a person, the author of sin and the cause of the fall; and he is the open and declared enemy of God and man; and, that he shall be eternally punished in the lake of Fire.
Job 1:6-7; Isaiah 14:12-17; Matthew 4:2-11,25,41; Revelations 20:10
8a. We believe that all the redeemed, once saved, are kept by God's power and are thus secure in Christ forever.
John 6:37-40; John 10:27-30; Romans 8:1; Romans 8:38-39;
I Corinthians 1 :4-8; I Peter 1 :5
8b. We believe that it is the privilege of believers to rejoice in the assurance of their salvation through the testimony of God's Word; which, however, clearly forbids the use of Christian liberty as an occasion to flesh.
Romans 13:13-14; Galatians 5:13; Titus 2:11-15
-2-
Doctrinal Statement continued…
9. We believe in the eternal conscious punishment of the lost and the eternal bliss of every saved person.
Revelations 20:5-6, 12-15
10. We believe in the “Blessed Hope”—the personal, imminent, pre-tribulation and pre-millennial coming of the Lord Jesus Christ, for His redeemed ones; and in His subsequent return to earth, with His saints, to establish His millennial kingdom.
I Thessalonians 4:13-18; Zechariah 14:4-11; Revelation 19:11-16 Revelation 20:1-6; II Thessalonians 1:10; Revelations 3:10
11a.We believe the Holy Spirit sovereignly gives gifts (abilities) to each and every believer for the edification and unity of the whole church. The gifts of healing, miracles, tongues, and interpretation of tongues, were a sign to Israel and were of a temporary nature to authenticate the message of the apostles, and are not normative for the church in this present age.
I Corinthians 12:4-11; II Corinthians 12:12; Ephesians 4:7-12; I Corinthians 13:8-10;
I Corinthians 14:3-6; 1 Corinthians 14:12-28.
11b. We believe that God does hear and answer the prayer of faith, in accord with His own will, for the sick and afflicted.
John 15:7; I John 5:14-15
12. We believe the Lord's Supper is scripturally defined, and so ordered for believers in remembrance of Christ's death until He comes.
I Corinthians 11:23-26; Luke 22:19-20
13. We believe that water baptism should be practiced only upon the request of the individual and consider it as a means of testimony for the individual, not as a means of grace, but as an outward sign of an inward work of grace.
Matthew 28:19-20; Acts 8:35-38; Acts 10:47-48; Acts 19:1-5; Romans 6:3-10;
1 Corinthians 12:12,13; Colossians 2:12
14a. We believe in God the Creator’s view of marriage, gender and sexuality.
Genesis 1:1-31; Genesis 2:7,21-25
-3-
Doctrinal Statement continued…
14b, We believe that God wonderfully and immutably creates each person as male or female. These two distinct, complementary genders together reflect the image and nature of God. Rejection of one’s biological sex is a rejection of the image of God within that person.
Genesis 1:26,27
14c. We believe that the term “marriage” has only one meaning: the uniting of one man and one woman in
a single, exclusive union, as delineated in Scripture.
Genesis 2:18-25
14d. We believe that God intends sexual intimacy to occur only between a man and a woman who are married to each other.
1 Corinthians 6:18; 1 Corinthians 7:1-5 Hebrews 13:4
14e. We believe that God has commanded that no intimate sexual activity be engaged in outside of a marriage between a man and a woman.
Hebrews 13:4
14f. We believe that any form of sexual immorality (including adultery, fornication, homosexual behavior, bisexual conduct, bestiality, incest, and use of pornography) is sinful and offensive to God.
Matthew 15:18-20; 1 Corinthians 6:9-10; Romans 1:18-32; Revelation 22:14,15
14g. We believe that in order to preserve the function and integrity of Checkrow Community Church as a specific local Body of Christ, and to provide a biblical role model to Checkrow Community Church’s members and the community, it is imperative that all persons employed by Checkrow Community Church in any capacity, or who serve as volunteers, agree to and abide by this Doctrinal Statement of faith on marriage, gender, and sexuality.
Matthew 5:16; Philippians 2:14-16; 1 Thessalonians 5:22
-4-
Doctrinal Statement continued…
14h. We believe that God offers redemption and restoration to all who confess and forsake their sin, seeking His mercy and forgiveness through Jesus Christ.
Acts 3:19-21; Romans 10:9-13; 1 Corinthians 6:9-11
14i. We believe that every person must be afforded compassion, love, kindness, respect, and dignity. Hateful and harassing behavior or attitudes directed toward any individual are to be repudiated and are not in accord with Scripture nor the doctrines of Checkrow Community Church.
Mark 12:28-31; Luke 6:31; Ephesians 4:14,15,29; Colossians 4:5,6
15a. We believe in the local church’s responsibility for discipline to help maintain purity and unity within the church fellowship. The principles from the Scriptures listed below (plus other applicable Scriptures) are to be followed consistently and equally.
Matthew 18:15-20; 1 Corinthians 5:1-8; Titus 3:9-11
Psalm 141:4; Proverbs 17:10; Proverbs 27:5,6
15b. We believe the main purposes for church discipline are repentance, reconciliation, and restoration.
Galatians 6:1-5; Matthew 7:2-5; 2 Corinthians 2:6-11
V. Statement of Final Authority for Matters of Belief and Conduct:
The statement of faith does not exhaust the extent of our beliefs. The Bible itself, as the inspired and infallible Word of God, is what speaks with final authority concerning truth, morality, and the proper conduct of mankind, and is the sole and final source of all that we believe. For purposes of Checkrow Community Church’s faith, doctrine, practice, policy, and discipline, our Board of Trustees is Checkrow Community Church’s final interpretive authority on the Bible’s meaning and application
-5-
.VI. Infant Dedication:
Infant dedication shall be practiced only upon the request and with the sponsorship of Christian parents or parent.
VII. Officers
The principal officers of this church shall consist of a Board of seven Trustees, a secretary, and a treasurer.
These seven board members along with the Pastor(s)’ counsel / oversight will serve the Checkrow Community Church Fellowship.
The Board of Trustees of Checkrow Community Church shall have final authority in all matters of church governance, as set forth and described in this Constitution and Bylaws.
A. Election of Officers
1. The officers of the church shall be elected from the membership by ballot at the annual meeting.
2. Two (three as necessary in a certain year) board members shall be elected each year and shall hold office for 3 years.
B. Duties of the Officers
1. The Board of Trustees are responsible for (with membership approval)
a. All general oversight
b. All policies, church wide, and groups within the fellowship
c. Long-range planning.
-6-
Duties of the Officers continued…
2. Specific Members of the Board of Trustees will be responsible for (but not limited to) the administrative ministry.
a. Ushers…seeing the atmosphere of our services is most conducive to participation by the congregation through printed materials, seating, lighting, heating, and air conditioning.
b. Care…following the admonition to honor widows and bear one another's burdens.
c. Building and Grounds…keeping it safe, attractive, clean, well functioning, and available for ministry.
d. Purchasing…obtaining the tools to make ministry effective.
e. Budget…planning and prioritizing spending to provide the best opportunities for ministry.
f. Personnel…making sure our staff is adequately supervised and provided for.
3. Specific Members of the Board of Trustees will be responsible for (but not limited to) the equipping ministry.
a. Adult Ministries…working to see every man and woman “complete in Christ.”
Colossians 1:28
b. Education…building up the body until we all measure up to Christ.
Ephesians 4:12-13; 1 Timothy 2:15; 2 Timothy 3:15-16
c. Evangelism…fulfilling God’s command to make disciples by presenting the good news of salvation to the unbelieving in our community, and by admonishing and encouraging the un-churched believer to a life of commitment within the church where he is best able to follow the Lord.
Matthew 28:19-20
-7-
Duties of the Officers continued…
d. Missions…committed to a church planting & believer strengthening focus. Our biblical mandate is Matthew 28:19-20 and our pattern is Acts 1:8
1. Jerusalem: our neighborhood of Avon, Bardolph, Bushnell, Ellisville, Marietta, Smithfield
2. Judea: church to church missions in America
3. Samaria: cross cultural and compassion ministries
4. Uttermost parts of the world: church planting, mission outreach locally and worldwide, mission trips, etc.
e. Recovery…helping people overcome personal and spiritual strongholds that keep them from experiencing true freedom in Christ, providing adequate recovery sessions, training, and counseling.
II Corinthians 10:3-6
f. Worship…leading the Body in true worship, vibrant praise, and deepening expressions of faith—an encounter with Christ that results in lifestyle change.
g. Youth…establishing young people in a strong stable relationship with Christ; teaching them to feed on God’s Word; fellowship with others; and fervently share Christ with non-believers.
4. The Trustees shall have power and authority to call a pastor and fix his salary when and only when directed by a 2/3 majority of the voting members present at a meeting called for that purpose.
a. The Trustees shall have the authority to set the Pastor’s salary.
b. The Trustees shall have the right to call for the Pastor's resignation when deemed best for the church
-8-
Duties of the Officers continued...
.5. In the event a Trustee so elected should depart this life, become incapacitated, removed from the community or for any reason fail or neglect to perform the duties herein imposed upon him, the remaining Trustees shall have full power to declare the office of such Trustee vacant and shall there upon call a special meeting of the membership for the purpose of selecting a Trustee to fill the vacancy for the unexpired term of the Trustee whose death, incapacity, removal or refusal to perform the duties of the office occasioned such vacancy.
6. The Trustees and/or their successors shall have power to receive and hold title to all real estate acquired by the fellowship and shall keep such property in trust for the use and purposes of the fellowship.
7. The Trustees shall have power and authority to see that the church property is kept in a reasonable state of repair and to direct the payment of the expenses thereof together will all other necessary and proper expenses of the church organization.
8. The Trustees shall have power and authority to acquire real estate necessary and proper for the needs of the church when and if funds are available for such purpose, and to dispose of real estate to which they hold titles as such Trustees, and to make, execute, and deliver goods and sufficient deed or deeds of conveyance therefore when and only when authorized and directed by a 2/3 majority of the membership of the church assembled at a meeting of such membership called for the purpose of passing on the question or the advisability of such purpose or sale, and notice of which said meeting has been given by announcement, mailing, or otherwise.
9. The Secretary shall keep an accurate record of the proceedings of all business sessions of the church organization.
10. The Treasurer shall keep an accurate record of the receipts and disbursements and shall make a report of the same to the Trustees at least annually and such report when approved by the Trustees shall be submitted to the membership at the annual meeting. All funds paid in or contributed by the members and all other funds to which the organization may be or become entitled shall be paid to the Treasurer to be paid out by him only upon the orders of the said Trustees.
-9-
VIII. Church Organizations:
All organizations within the church shall be responsible to the Trustees for their elections and all actions and activities of such group.
IX. Committees:
The elected committees of this church shall consist of at least: Ushers and Social. The Social Committee shall serve one year; the Ushers shall be elected bi-annually. There shall be a Christian Education Committee consisting of Sunday School Superintendent (Chairman), Junior Sunday School Superintendent, one Trustee (elected by that body), one other member elected by the fellowship, and the Pastor. This committee shall supervise and direct the educational work of the church and shall act as a nominating committee for the Sunday School election when they deem such a committee necessary.
X. Business Meetings:
The organization shall hold its annual meeting on the second Monday in June each year to receive the reports of the Trustees, the Secretary, the Treasurer, and hold necessary elections.
Semi-annual meetings shall be held on the second Monday of the sixth month following the annual meeting.
The Trustees shall hold regular meetings for the execution of their business.
Any member of the Trustees or the Pastor(s) may call a meeting of the Board of Trustees. Due and proper notice of all regular and/or special meetings of the membership of the organization shall be given by or by the direction of the Trustees by announcement of the place and date of such meeting at a regular meeting of the membership for worship or by publication or mailing.
Vacancies occurring in any of the church offices may be filled at any regular or special meeting of the fellowship.
XI. Government:
The government of this church is vested in its members, who exercise the right of control of all its affairs. Unless otherwise ordered, a simple majority of voting members present shall decide issues being voted upon.
The right to vote is limited to members of the Church, 15 years of age or older. The right to vote will be denied to those who have for six months prior thereto, failed to attend, and will be placed on Inactive Membership. Persons on the Inactive Roll may be restored to full rights of membership by the action of the Board of Trustees upon their application to the Trustees.
The Chairman conducting the meeting may discuss issues before the group and shall have voting privileges. In case of a tie vote another vote may be taken.
-10-
XII. Church Membership Agreement:
1. The condition for membership in this local church is the same as that required for membership in the invisible church, the body of Christ—namely, saving faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.
1 Corinthians 12:12,13
2. The membership of Checkrow Community Church shall be composed of individuals who are believers in the Lord Jesus Christ as their personal Savior from the penalty of their sin. They are also believers who affirm the tenets of the Checkrow Community Church Constitution, and who offer evidence, by their confession and their conduct, that they are living in accord with their affirmations and this Constitution and Bylaws, and are actively pursuing and continuing in vital fellowship with the Lord Jesus Christ.
Ephesians 4:1-15; Philippians 1:27-30; Colossians 1:24-29
3. The Process for becoming a member: Any person professing faith in the Lord Jesus Christ as
personal Savior, giving evidence of regeneration, and giving assent to the Doctrinal Statement of Faith of Checkrow Community Church may be received into membership. A person desiring membership should present his or her testimony of saving faith in Jesus Christ to the Pastor or a Trustee. A majority vote by the Trustees is necessary to approve an application for membership. Upon a favorable vote of the Trustees, the candidate shall at a regular worship service of the church be welcomed into the fellowship by the Pastor. A letter from another church cannot substitute for the above mentioned testimony.
4. Pastoral Membership: Upon taking over the duties of a Pastor of this church, said Pastor and his wife will automatically become members of the church for as long as such pastorate shall continue.
XIII. Pastoral Relationship:
Calling of Pastor: [see sec. VII. Officers—Duties of—paragraph 4] Member of Church: [see sec. XII Membership—paragraph 3]
Dissolution of relationship: At any time the membership may cause the dissolution of relationship between church and Pastor by a majority vote. In such case two months’ notice shall be given. At any time the Pastor may present his resignation. In such a case, two months’ notice shall be given unless other arrangements are made by mutual agreement.
The Pastor is to act in an advisory capacity, but is to have no voting power in a trustee meeting.
-11-
XIV. Sale of Property:
In the event of a sale of any church real estate,
the membership of the church at a meeting
at which such sale is authorized,
shall by a majority vote of the voting members present
direct the disposition of a proceeds of such sale. point of using dummy text for your paragraph is that it has a more-or-less normal distribution of letters. making it look like readable English.
XV. Amendments:
Amendments to this constitution may be introduced
at any business meeting
but shall not be acted upon within a period of 10 days,
during which time proper publicity shall be given
to the proposed amendment;
a 2/3 majority of the voting members present
shall be necessary to pass such an amendment.
XVI. Gifts and Memorials:
All Gifts and Memorials that are given to and accepted
by the fellowship will become the property of
the Checkrow Community Church Fellowship
who will have absolute control of said property.
(Revised Fall of 2015)
-12-
Checkrow Community Church
3564 E. Checkrow Road, Avon, IL 61415
(309) 465-3078
office@checkrow.com