CORE BELIEFS AND PRACTICES
This is a spiritual declaration rooted in the Gospel,
the authority of Scripture, and our shared Baptist convictions.
To God be the glory.
1. Under Christ, Bella Vista Baptist Church, BVBC, is governed by its members.1 The church is pastor-led, deacon-served, committee-operated, and congregationally confirmed. We affirm the Bible as God’s inspired, inerrant Word and the final authority for faith, doctrine, and conduct.2 We profess a living faith rooted and grounded in Jesus Christ who is the same yesterday, and today, and forever.3 We are called to work with people of goodwill in causes that honor God, while keeping Scripture as the ultimate standard and never compromising the truth of the gospel.4 Our fellowship rests not on complete doctrinal agreement, but on shared love, mutual encouragement, and a common mission to proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ.5 Each generation of Christians is responsible for guarding the treasury of truth entrusted to them.6 This and much more allows us to confidently affirm our core beliefs and practices.
2. Furthermore, we voluntarily affiliate with the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) while remaining a fully autonomous and independent church. We share many religious convictions and common beliefs with the SBC and draw our articles of faith from the Baptist Faith and Message 2000. Members are encouraged to review it thoughtfully for their own understanding at https://bfm.sbc.net/bfm2000/.
3. We believe Christ died for the sins of the whole world, offering full and free salvation to all.7 God extends His grace to every person, and the Holy Spirit convicts and draws sinners; everyone has the God-given freedom to accept or reject salvation through repentance and faith.8 All who genuinely trust in Christ are eternally secure and cannot lose their salvation.9 We believe Israel and the church have related but distinct roles and destinies after the Church Age.10 We mutually affirm a pretribulation rapture and dispensational premillennialism, while allowing room for differing views on end-times timelines.11 The Great Commission calls us to share the gospel across the nations until the whole world knows.12
4. We maintain established qualifications for church membership.13 Those received by the congregation become members of the church. We believe in two ordinances: baptism, as a public ceremony where a believer is submerged in water, and the Lord’s Supper, as a shared memorial to reflect on Jesus’ sacrifice, examine our own lives, and proclaim His death until He returns.14 Each member may participate in church governance, including voting on matters presented at regular and special members’ meetings. Members are expected to take part in church life and ministry as God leads, using the gifts, time, talents, and resources He has provided.15 Members are accountable to the congregation for their actions and stewardship; may be subject to church discipline; and should reflect Christ’s character and bring Him glory.16 Although the church operates democratically, Christ remains her ultimate Lord. Major decisions are made collectively by the membership through elected church committee members and elected officers of the church. All internal groups created and empowered by the church report to and are accountable to the church membership.17
5. Our beliefs are grounded in historic Southern Baptist traditions. We maintain rules for worship gatherings and for conducting the business of church. The church’s two scriptural offices are that of pastor/elder/overseer and deacon, chosen by the members to serve the congregation in partnership. The senior pastor serves as overseer and spiritual leader, preaching and teaching the Word while providing guidance, inspiration, and leadership.18 Other elected officers include trustees, who serve as the board of directors and represent the church in legal matters; the treasurer and assistant treasurer, who serve as the financial officers of the church; and the clerk, who serves to keep minutes of and reports on all regular and special members meetings. Ministry staff direct church ministries, while support staff serve in administrative, facility, and ministry support roles. Pastoral staff and lay officers exercise administrative and ministerial authority within their assigned areas in accordance with the BVBC Articles of Incorporation and By-laws as well as through administration of the church’s unified budget.
6. Each fall ministry leaders, together with the financial stewardship committee and treasurers, establish the annual budget and capital needs requirements for the coming year; subsequently the membership approves by year-end. Through this annual unified budget, members direct how their tithes and offerings are used and may also contribute above their tithes and offerings to an assortment of BVBC designated funds used for internal and external specific purposes and usually within a specified period. We support Christian causes, including the Annie Armstrong, Dixie Jackson, and Lottie Moon offerings; Operation Christmas Child; the BVBC Food Pantry; and local community outreach. In addition to our budgeted contributions to the SBC Cooperative Program, our annual unified budget directly supports the International Mission Board, the North American Mission Board, and the Northwest Arkansas Baptist Association.
2. Furthermore, we voluntarily affiliate with the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) while remaining a fully autonomous and independent church. We share many religious convictions and common beliefs with the SBC and draw our articles of faith from the Baptist Faith and Message 2000. Members are encouraged to review it thoughtfully for their own understanding at https://bfm.sbc.net/bfm2000/.
3. We believe Christ died for the sins of the whole world, offering full and free salvation to all.7 God extends His grace to every person, and the Holy Spirit convicts and draws sinners; everyone has the God-given freedom to accept or reject salvation through repentance and faith.8 All who genuinely trust in Christ are eternally secure and cannot lose their salvation.9 We believe Israel and the church have related but distinct roles and destinies after the Church Age.10 We mutually affirm a pretribulation rapture and dispensational premillennialism, while allowing room for differing views on end-times timelines.11 The Great Commission calls us to share the gospel across the nations until the whole world knows.12
4. We maintain established qualifications for church membership.13 Those received by the congregation become members of the church. We believe in two ordinances: baptism, as a public ceremony where a believer is submerged in water, and the Lord’s Supper, as a shared memorial to reflect on Jesus’ sacrifice, examine our own lives, and proclaim His death until He returns.14 Each member may participate in church governance, including voting on matters presented at regular and special members’ meetings. Members are expected to take part in church life and ministry as God leads, using the gifts, time, talents, and resources He has provided.15 Members are accountable to the congregation for their actions and stewardship; may be subject to church discipline; and should reflect Christ’s character and bring Him glory.16 Although the church operates democratically, Christ remains her ultimate Lord. Major decisions are made collectively by the membership through elected church committee members and elected officers of the church. All internal groups created and empowered by the church report to and are accountable to the church membership.17
5. Our beliefs are grounded in historic Southern Baptist traditions. We maintain rules for worship gatherings and for conducting the business of church. The church’s two scriptural offices are that of pastor/elder/overseer and deacon, chosen by the members to serve the congregation in partnership. The senior pastor serves as overseer and spiritual leader, preaching and teaching the Word while providing guidance, inspiration, and leadership.18 Other elected officers include trustees, who serve as the board of directors and represent the church in legal matters; the treasurer and assistant treasurer, who serve as the financial officers of the church; and the clerk, who serves to keep minutes of and reports on all regular and special members meetings. Ministry staff direct church ministries, while support staff serve in administrative, facility, and ministry support roles. Pastoral staff and lay officers exercise administrative and ministerial authority within their assigned areas in accordance with the BVBC Articles of Incorporation and By-laws as well as through administration of the church’s unified budget.
6. Each fall ministry leaders, together with the financial stewardship committee and treasurers, establish the annual budget and capital needs requirements for the coming year; subsequently the membership approves by year-end. Through this annual unified budget, members direct how their tithes and offerings are used and may also contribute above their tithes and offerings to an assortment of BVBC designated funds used for internal and external specific purposes and usually within a specified period. We support Christian causes, including the Annie Armstrong, Dixie Jackson, and Lottie Moon offerings; Operation Christmas Child; the BVBC Food Pantry; and local community outreach. In addition to our budgeted contributions to the SBC Cooperative Program, our annual unified budget directly supports the International Mission Board, the North American Mission Board, and the Northwest Arkansas Baptist Association.
Our confessions of faith articulate, clarify, and affirm our beliefs for ourselves, our church, our community, and wherever God leads us. Therefore, they should be revised only when necessary and with thoughtful, prayerful consideration.
1 Ephesians 1:221 • 2 John 17:17 • 3 Hebrews 13:8 • 4 Micah 6:8; Matthew 25:35–40; and Isaiah 1:17 • 5Acts 2:42 • 62 Timothy 1:14 • 7John 3:16 • 8Romans 10:13 • 9John 10:28-30 • 10Ephesians 1:10 • 111 Corinthians 15:51–52 • 12Matthew 28:19-20 • 13Romans 12:4-5 • 14Acts 2:38 and Matthew 26:26-28 • 151 Corinthians 12:7 • 16Matthew 18:15–17 • 17Refer to the BVBC Articles of Incorporation, By-laws, and church policies for our governance framework. • 181 Peter 5:2-3