This is a word of introduction to some of the truths we believe. It is not intended to be a complete definitive statement & responsible brethren would be happy to discuss any aspect of this booklet.

WE BELIEVE

• THE BIBLE is The Word of God, both the Old and New Testaments. It is our sole source of authority. (2 Tim.3:16, Rom.15:4)
• THE TRINITY OF THE GODHEAD: God - The Father, God - The Son, God - The Holy Spirit. (1 John 5:7, Matt.28:19)
• THE CREATION OF MAN by a direct act of God. (Gen. I :27)
• THE FALL OF MAN and his need of redemption. (Gen.3 :13, Rom.3:23)
• THE ABSOLUTE DIETY OF CHRIST (John 1:1)
• THE PURE HUMANITY OF CHRIST His Incarnation. (John 1:14)
• THE VIRGIN BIRTH of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. (Matt. 1 :20-23)
• THE VICARIOUS DEATH OF CHRIST as an atonement for the sins of mankind by the shedding of His blood on the Cross. (Col.l :20)
• THE RESURRECTION - of His Body from the tomb. (1 Cor.15:3-5)
• HIS ASCENSION - into Heaven. (Mark 16:19)
• HIS RETURN - personal and imminent. (John 14:3, Acts 1:11)
• THE DEVIL - The existence of a literal Devil who is the ruler of the hosts of evil and our Adversary. (Rev.12:9, I Pet: 5:8)
• THE INFALLIBLE RULE - of the interpretation of Scripture to be Scripture itself. (2 Peter 1 :20, Acts 15: 15, 16)
• THE ABSOLUTE NEED - of the implicit obedience to the expressed command of Christ. (1 John 2:4)
• SALVATION THROUGH CHRIST ALONE - each of us to individually repent of our sin and accept the gift of Eternal Life given only by a saving faith in our Lord Jesus Christ. (Acts 17:30, John3:16)

THE ASSEMBLY GATHERINGS AND ASSEMBLY FELLOWSHIP

• We acknowledge The Lord Jesus Christ as the True and only Head of the Church. (Eph.1 :22)
• We believe in the Priesthood of all believers. (1 Peter 2:5)
• We do not have an individual marked out as a Pastor or Minister to preside over or direct our gatherings. All is to be done under the guidance and leadership of the Holy Spirit. (I COL 14)

WE GATHER SOLELY TO

• Uphold and glorify the Lord Jesus Christ
• To have fellowship with one another
• To teach the truth of God's Word
• To preach the Gospel message "How that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the scriptures. (I Cor. I 5:3-4)

FELLOWSHIP is to encourage, help, support and build one another up in the faith, to enjoy the Lord and pray together. We believe that the Bible teaches we have a responsibility to each other.

• We need each other. (1 Cor.12:21)
• We should have concern for each other. (1 Cor.12:26)
• We should encourage one another.
• WE ALL have a responsibility to use diligence to keep the unity of the Spirit in the Bond of Peace. (Eph.4:3)

Let all bitterness, and wrath, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice. And be ye kind one to another, tender-hearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you. (Eph.4:31-32)

If these commandments are ignored then fellowship will be destroyed.

WE BELIEVE and follow the pattern of Acts 2:41,42. It shows us an order and gives us the meaning of fellowship:

• Then they that gladly received His Word (SALVATION)
• were baptised (OBEDIENCE)
• and they continued steadfastly (proof of their REALITY)
• in the apostles doctrine (TEACHING)
• fellowship,
• breaking of bread,
• and prayers

They joined together to share in the responsibility and enjoyment of the things of the Lord.

WE BELIEVE the LORD'S SUPPER to be the most important gathering each week. It is the focal point of our fellowship and witness. We are "showing forth the Lord's death until He come." (1Cor.ll :26)

• The Lord Jesus Christ requested us to do it. "This do in remembrance of Me." (Luke 22:19) It is a desire - a request - a command.
• The attendance at the Lord's Supper is not optional - it IS not occasional. No other commitment is more important.

WE BELIEVE that sisters should be silent in all assembly gatherings. (I Cor I4:34, I Tim.2:11-12)

WE BELIEVE I Cor. 11 teaches that sisters should have their heads covered in all assembly gatherings.

WE BELIEVE that the sign gifts are not for today, including:

• speaking in tongues
• healing ministries
• These all ceased when the gospel emphasis turned from the Jews to the Gentiles. They were meant as a sign for unbelieving Jews. They were never mentioned again after Paul said "Henceforth I turn to the Gentiles." (Acts 18:6) These gifts are not mentioned in the lists of gifts in Romans 12 or Ephesians 4. Both written after Acts 18:6.

WE feel it desirable to

• Use the King James Version in public reading. This is to produce some uniformity and avoid confusion. Also, it avoids the compounding of inaccuracies of the various translations.
• We believe that the assembly as a whole should not be part of ecumenical or interdenominational activities.

RECEPTION INTO ASSEMBLY FELLOWSHIP

We receive believers into the fellowship of the assembly. This means that they enjoy the privileges of the assembly and take their own share of its concerns and responsibilities. Reception is mutual. The assembly is happy to embrace the individual and all that they are. The individual is happy to embrace the assembly and all that it stands for.

RESPONSIBILITY OF INDIVIDUAL MEMBERS

We believe that each member of the assembly has a responsibility to contribute to the gathering:

• PHYSICALLY - by their attendance (Heb.l 0:25)
• SPIRITUALLY - by their contribution in praise and worship and by the exercise of their gifts
• FINANCIALLY - by the laying aside at home for the assembly collection (1 Cor 16:1)

When coming together we each have a responsibility to remember that the gathered company is House of God. (I Tim.3:15) In no way should we show carelessness or disrespect. Our dress should not be a display of wealth or fashion. (I Peter 3:3) On the other hand it should not be careless or casual as if the occasion of gathering was a social event that didn't matter.

The Bible forbids drunkenness. (Eph.5:18) In view of the connotations of alcohol we feel it appropriate that Christians abstain from alcohol. We do not condone the partaking of strong drink.

RESPONSIBILITY OF SHEPHERDS

The oversight are not officials - they are shepherds. They have a work to do - not an office. They are responsible for the assembly. They are to lead, to guide and to feed the flock. They are not elected by the congregation, but made or appointed by the Holy Spirit. (Acts 20:28)

They are known or recognised and esteemed because they "do the work".(l Thes.5:12-14)

They do not get paid nor do they receive any other form of personal gain. (1 Peter 5:1-4)

The oversight has a responsibility to God to give an account of each member of the assembly. They are responsible to answer to the Lord for what they have done for the flock. They should not be resisted. (Heb.13: 17)

They are there to serve the Lord's people by caring, feeding and guiding them. They are the shepherds of the flock - not over them, but among them, serving them. They are available at all times for counsel, support and assistance to ALL members of the assembly without partiality. (I Tim.5:21)

MARRIAGE

WE believe the Bible teaches the sanctity and God intended permanency of marriage as a great blessing, comfort and security for both man and woman. Marriage breakdown is the tragedy of our day, causing hurt, bitterness and confusion. (Hebrews 13 v 4; Ephesians 5:22,23)

FOR IF THESE TIDNGS BE IN YOU, AND ABOUND, THEY MAKE YOU THAT YE SHALL NEITHER BE BARREN NOR UNFRUITFUL IN THE KNOWLEDGE OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST. (2 PETER 1:8)