When considering the essentials for membership in a true gospel church, a church that seeks to be Christ-honoring and obedient to the Holy Scriptures, two truths must be kept in mind:

1. Certain truths are absolutely essential in belief and practice for biblical Christianity to be maintained (Jude 3-4). If truths such as the virgin birth, the deity of Christ, the vicarious blood atonement, etc., are forsaken, Biblical Christianity is lost at the same time. Because Christianity is a religion based upon truth, the truth of the Bible, all Christians, regardless of race or gender, have historically agreed on certain truths. Those truths will never be in dispute by those who truly profess the name of Christ.
2. Other truths, while perhaps one could be a Christian without endorsing, are necessary as prerequisites for membership so that the church of Jesus Christ can stand together in one mind and heart, contending for the cause of Christ (Phil. 1:27).

In consideration of the above two criteria, the following Doctrinal Statement has been composed. Any of the truths which are not endorsed by those seeking membership, must be made known in specific written detail to the senior pastor and/or Board of Elders. The Board of Elders is given the authority to thereupon determine if the applicant should be granted membership status or if the differences are of a serious enough nature that membership should be denied.