The purpose for which said church is formed shall be to assemble for Christians for worship, Bible Study, fellowship, ministry, and any other activities to built the Body of Christ; to proclaim the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ; to receives tithes and offerings; and to otherwise engage in any and all activities permitted to be done under Chapter 1702, Revised Code of Ohio.

The following is a brief outline of the Church’s basic doctrinal beliefs.

GOD

We believe in the one true God revealed in the Bible; God – the Father, Jesus Christ – the Son, and the Holy Spirit. God is the creator, redeemer, and the sovereign ruler of creation. He is the author of truth, love, and faith.

JESUS

We believe Jesus Christ is the only begotten Son of God – God who came in the flesh. He was in the beginning with God: yet, He was God. Apart from Him, nothing that exists has come into being. He is eternal with the Father, undiminished in His deity and perfect in His humanity. We further believe that through His death, bodily resurrection, and ascension to the right hand of the Father, man can be saved from his sinfulness. Jesus Christ will return to this earth in his full splendor and majesty for those who eagerly await Him. Furthermore, every knee will someday bow and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father.

HOLY SPIRIT

We believe in the Holy Spirit, who convicts the world of sin, righteousness, and judgment. The Holy Spirit also regenerates, sanctifies, and empowers the believer for ministry. He graces believers with Christ-like character and gifts His Church for loving service.

BIBLE

We believe the Holy Bible (KJV) is the inspired Word of God and should serve as the basis for our faith and practice.

SIN

We believe man was created in the image of God. Humanity is separated from God through disobedience, and without God, he is without hope.

SALVATION

We believe the salvation of man is through renouncing his self-determination, taking responsibility for his disobedience, turning from his sin, and seeking forgiveness from God. Further, we believe such a penitent person must put their faith in Jesus Christ, whom we believe to be the incarnate Son of God. Jesus died for the transgressions of man, was raised from the dead on the third day, and ascended back to the Father in Heaven.

PRIESTHOOD OF THE BELIEVER

We believe in the priesthood of the believer. Jesus has become the High Priest of believers by the shedding of His blood, making it possible for each Christian to have free access to the presence of the Father. In His presence, each one can come to know the Father in confidence and faith.

CHURCH

We believe the very nature and purpose of God is revealed in His Church. Jesus came and established the Church as His Body on earth. We believe the Universal Church consists of all who live under the Lordship of Jesus, while the Local Church is a body of believing people, baptized and experiencing the love of Christ. Since the Church is one as God is one, the Local Church must seek to walk in harmony with the Universal Church.

CHURCH’S ATMOSPHERE

We believe the atmosphere of the Church should be mercy, forgiveness, acceptance, and love. No other climate will allow the people of God to be free to grow. Furthermore, we believe that the Church of God is a family that should foster care, mutual edification, and constant forgiveness without sacrificing righteousness as our base.

EVANGELISM

We believe in world evangelism. We accept the commission of Jesus Christ, who is Lord, to make disciples of all nations, to baptize them, and to teach them to observe His commandments. We join with all those believing in Him to accomplish this urgent task. We accept this as both a personal commission and a commission of the entire Church.

FREEDOM OF CONSCIENCE

We believe in the freedom of conscience. One is responsible for their own choice and behavior. While God has ordained both civil and spiritual government, we believe each person is still directly accountable to Him. Therefore, pastors and churches can give spiritual guidance, but all service must be rendered voluntarily, joyfully, and from a free conscience.

TITHES AND OFFERINGS

We believe the Church should be supported by the tithes and offerings of those committed to its mission (Matthew 23:23). We further believe that when people serve God with a free spirit, there is financial abundance to accomplish the purpose of God. We further believe that since the tithe belongs to the Lord, everyone should be led by the Holy Spirit in their giving.

CIVIL AUTHORITY

We believe God is the authority. He has ordained civil government in His Church to bring it to righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit. We believe in mutual respect between civil and spiritual authority is separated from church government; it should not be separated from God and His law.

CHRIST’S RETURN

We believe Jesus Christ will return to earth in a viable way. His purposes will be to manifest His government in the earth. Christians are exhorted to watchfulness and obedience until He appears. While there are many viewpoints concerning His second coming, we believe Christians should lovingly look for his appearing, giving full attention to obedience while he tarries. We believe His appearing will occasion the resurrection of the righteous who have died and who are now with Him.

JUDGEMENT

We believe in a final judgment at the end of the age. The righteous and the wicked will stand before God and be judged. Those who have righteousness produced by faith will be awarded the privilege of ruling and enjoying his eternal blessings. Those who are wicked will be eternally punished.

THE GIFTS OF THE SPIRIT

In a day when extremes abound, the Church believes and values all the gifts of God as found in 1 Corinthians 12-14, Romans 12:1-8, and 1 Peter 4:10-11. Each gift should be operated in love, under the Lordship, in faith, and in accordance with biblical and local authority. The gifts are a humble serving of one another by the Spirit. As God governs us in love, we will desire both the fruit of the Spirit and the gifts of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22; 1 Corinthians 14:1).

THE APOSTLES’ CREED

As a church, we gladly embrace the Apostles’ Creed:
“I believe in God the Father almighty, Maker of heaven and earth, and in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord who was conceived by the Holy Ghost, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead, and buried; he descended into hell; the third day He rose again from the dead; he ascended into heaven and sitteth on the right hand of God the Father Almighty; from thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead. I believe in the Holy Ghost, the communion of the saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting.”

HUMAN SEXUALITY

A. We believe that God has commanded that no intimate sexual activity be engaged in outside of marriage between a man and a woman. We believe that any form of homosexuality, lesbianism, bisexuality, bestiality, incest, fornication, adultery, and pornography are sinful perversions of God’s gift of sex. We believe that God disapproves of and forbids any attempt to alter one’s gender by surgery or appearance. (Genesis 2:24, 19:5, 13, 26:8-9, Leviticus 18:1-30, Romans 1:26-29, I Corinthians 5:1, 6:9, l Thessalonians 4:1-8, Hebrews 13:4) Any member who is found to be guilty of any of these perversions will be automatically removed from membership.

B. We believe that the only legitimate marriage is the joining of one man and one woman. (Genesis 2:24, Romans 7:2, I Corinthians 7:10, Ephesians 5:22-23)

C. Our Pastors/Ministers will not perform same sex marriages, because it violates the Word of God and the bylaws of the church as listed above in A and B.

D. Those who are in violation of the Human Sexuality section will not be taken in as members of the Southside Praise and Worship Center Ministries and will not be hired on or hold any position in the church, as God’s Word condemns such ungodly acts according to the scriptures given above in A and B.

E. No same sex partners will be permitted to attend classes for married couples or retreats or other activities for married couples, as it violates the church doctrine/bylaws as listed above in A and B.

LAWSUITS BETWEEN BELIEVERS

We believe Christians should refrain from bringing civil lawsuits against other Christians or the church to resolve personal disputes. We believe Christians should exhaust all resources provided by the church before civil action. We do believe, however, that a Christian may seek compensation for injuries from another Christian’s insurance company as long as the claim is pursued without malice or slander.

(I Corinthians 6:1-8, Ephesians 4:31-32)

FUNDRAISERS

A. Only a recognized ministry of the Church that is overseen by a Deacon, Elder, Staff Member or Collateral Ministry Director can be able to do a fundraiser.

B. The Senior Pastor must approve all fundraising events and must be scheduled in advance on a first-come, first-served basis.

C. Any personal fundraising of any kind, like those that benefit other ministries, churches, schools, civic organizations, families, individuals, ball teams, etc., shall be permitted to take place on Church property or at Church sanctioned events off of Church premises with the approval of the Senior Pastor.

USE OF CHURCH FACILITIES

A. Any use of Church facilities, besides what is scheduled as a public service, will be limited to official ministries of the Church, those ministries overseen by Deacons, Staff Members, or Collateral Ministry Directors. The use of Church facilities for any other reason or event is prohibited unless prior approval has been given by a majority of the Elders and the event is scheduled in the Church in advance. These personal events may include, but are not limited to, such things as birthday parties, baby showers, bridal showers, graduation parties, and merchandise-selling parties, among others.

B. The use of Church facilities not related to scheduled public services will be evaluated by the Board of Elders based upon the following criteria:

1. A Deacon, Staff Member, or Collateral Ministries Director must oversee the event.
2. The event must secure an Elder-approved clean-up team, at the party’s expense, who is using the facility.
3. The event must receive prior approval from the majority of Elders.
4. The event has been scheduled through the church office.

C. The use of facilities for marriages and funerals must meet the following criteria:

1. Only members of the Church and their immediate families will have the right to be considered for the use of church facilities without the approval of a majority of Elders.
2. Events must receive scheduling approval from the Church office.
3. All financial agreements outlined in the section regarding Marriages must be followed.
   

MARRIAGES

A. Only licensed and/or ordained ministers, approved by the Church and state certified, so long as such minister does not pastor or is on staff at another church, but works and worships regularly with the Church congregation, may perform weddings using the facilities of the Church. Any other ministers must receive special approval from a majority of the Edlers.

B. Only members in good standing or their immediate family members are permitted to use the facilities of the Church. Any other weddings involving a bride or groom who is not a member in good standing or an immediate family member shall not use the facilities without receiving special permission from a majority of the board.

C. Any couple, a male and a female, must meet with the Senior Pastor or the approved minister who is solemnizing the marriage for counseling and approval. The Senior Pastor, or any other minister described above, reserves the right to deny a wedding request if the person solemnizing the wedding feels the need to postpone or cancel the wedding at any time during the counseling period, which shall end two weeks prior to the wedding date.

D. Wedding requests must be secured from the above-defined ministers in writing, using the standard form received from the Church office requesting a marriage.

E. Only a licensed and/or ordained minister, approved by the Church and state certified, shall be allowed to use the facility to perform any marriages without the approval of a majority of Elders.

F. All weddings must receive scheduling approval by the Church office. Such scheduling must accommodate any other Church-related activities, the minister’s schedule for solemnizing the marriage, the soundman’s availability, and the janitor’s schedule.

G. All financial obligations must be met two weeks before the wedding date. These fees include pastoral counseling, rehearsal, sound technician, and janitorial services.

H. Only Church approved soundmen and janitors can be considered.

I. Any couple wishing to renew their vows or be married to each other after a divorce or disillusion must follow all of the preceding steps. These renewals may use the church facilities, provided they meet all the above stipulations, but will not do so during, near, or at a regularly scheduled public service time.

BAPTIZING

A. Only Licensed and/or Ordained Ministers, Elders, Deacons or Home Groups Leaders, approved by the Church, so long as such minister does not pastor or is on staff at another church but works and worships regularly with the Church congregation, may baptize people, using the facilities at the Church. Any other ministers must receive special approval from a majority of the Elders.

B. Only members in good standing who have met the following criteria may be baptized:

1. A definite salvation experience.
2. An understanding of salvation and the ability to verbalize what it means to be saved.
3. A desire to become a member of the church if they haven’t already.
4. Receiving instruction before the baptism ceremony.

C. Children under legal age may be baptized if they meet the above criteria and have written consent from their parents.

D. People previously baptized need not be re-baptized unless they feel that it is absolutely necessary after a deep and sustained life in sin since their previous baptism.

SOLICITING OF FUNDS

A. Meetings of a personal nature that attempt to solicit business from people attending activities and functions approved by the Elders and/or official representatives or agents of the Church are prohibited. These activities include, but are not limited to, such things as retreats, picnics, fellowship gatherings, home groups, overnights, ministry trips, concerts, worship services, etc. Prohibited personal interests described herein may include, but are not limited to, such things as selling merchandise for any purpose not approved by a majority of the Elders, selling goods and services, selling insurance, invitations to join multi-level marketing, school gift sales, etc.

B. Any and all fund raising for those ministries or ministry-related activities not associated with the Church, which have not been sanctioned by the Elders nor viewed as an official Church function, shall be the sole responsibility of the person engaged in such ministry and at no time shall soliciting of funds for such ministry be allowed on church property without the approval of a majority of Elders.

DEDICATING INFANTS

We will dedicate infants whose parents are members in good standing at the Church and who have received counseling by a member of the Pastoral Staff. We do not consider this act a baptism, nor do we associate such an act with an assurance of salvation in Jesus Christ for the infant after reaching adulthood.