Questionnaire 1

This is the first questionnaire which the ministry sends to churches who wish to organize according to New Testament church doctrine under Christ and Christ alone.

You may simply download this document, type in the answers, and return via e-mail attachment.

  1. What is the name of the church ?

 

  1. What is the name church you wish to establish under the Bible trust?

 

  1. What city, county, and state is the church in?

 

  1. How is the church organized (plurality of elders, one pastor with possibly associate pastors, the roles of the members, etc.)? [Plurality of Elders]

 

  1. All that  this ministry does  is based upon the  foundation  of  the  King  James  For us to proceed, it is absolutely required that you understand that the foundation for our help—the foundation for the necessary documents, the Bible and historical foundation, and the foundation for all that we do—is the King James Bible. The King James Bible differs from all interpretations of the Bible in many significant ways. The King James Bible alone was responsible for the freedoms we enjoy, including the  freedom of religion, freedom of conscience, and the other freedoms granted us by the First Amendment to the United States Constitution and corresponding state constitutional provisions. During the colonial period and  the early history of the United States, the King James Bible was the only English Bible relied on by those who fought the spiritual warfare that gave us our First Amendment freedoms. English interpretations of the Word of  God began to be introduced in the mid- to late-1800s as the battle against the KJB began to heat up. The  principles in the King James Bible are those we rely on and must proceed with. You may wish to use an interpretation for your teachings, sermons, etc., but we cannot help you if you do not agree that the KJB will be the basis for the separation of your church from the state in all matters.

 

  1. Do you agree with all that is stated in 4. above?

 

  1. Does the church now own any real property?

 

  1. If the answer to 7 is yes, are there any mortgages or encumbrances on the property.

 

  1. What is the status of the property tax exemption on the real property?

 

  1. If the answer to Question 7 is yes, who is the owner named on the deed to the property?

 

  1. Does the church now hold any personal property?

 

  1. Does the church lease property? Please answer with the information on your lease. In what name is the lease?

 

  1. Does the church presently hold a bank account?

 

  1. In whose name is the bank account?

 

  1. Does the church presently carry insurance of any kind, to include liability insurance on the owned or leased property?

 

  1. Does the church pay salary(ies)?

 

  1. Does the church have an employee or employees?

 

  1. If the answer to Question 15 is “yes,” please give the job description of those employe(es)?

 

  1. If the answer to Question 15 is “yes,” does the church submit W-2s, 1099s, or any other forms to the employees and/ or the IRS?

 

  1. Is the church incorporated?

 

  1. Does the church have a constitution? By-laws? Any other kind of organizational document(s)? A church covenant? Any kind of doctrinal statement other than the Bible? If so, please list such document(s).

 

  1. Are you willing to educate yourself and the church body on the matter of organizing according to Bible principle as a church under Christ alone?

 

  1. In the process of educating your church body, are you willing to have at least a conference call or calls with me and the men of your church, so that I can answer and ask questions?

 

  1. Is the church tax exempt (Internal Revenue Code §501(c)(3) status or §508 status)?

 

  1. Can you think of any manner in which the church has acted legally? Examples: entered into any contract, sued, been sued, held property, held a bank account, etc. (some of these have been the subject of questions above).

 

  1. Does the church approve of women pastors or elders?

 

  1. Does the church approve of women deacons?

 

  1. Are there women officers of any kind in the church?

 

  1. The documents will make clear, in agreement with Bible principle and order, that the church does not have nor will it ever have a woman or unmarried man as pastor or deacon. This ministry strictly honors God’s definition of marriage–the union under God of a man and woman–and will not help any church who does not agree with and practice this requirement. Is this agreeable to you and the church?

 

  1. Was the pastor ordained?

 

  1. Who ordained the pastor?

 

  1. Was the pastor baptized in water by immersion?

 

  1. Do you understand that, should you wish to establish a Bible or common law trust with the help of this ministry, there will be one trustee of the trust estate?

 

  1. Do you understand that, should you wish to establish a common law (Bible) trust with the help of this ministry, the (a) pastor will serve as Trustee except in interim situations when there is no pastor?

 

  1. Do you believe in believer’s baptism (that baptism follows salvation)?

 

  1. Do you believe that water baptism saves a person or that water baptism is one part of one’s salvation?

 

  1. How many ordained pastors are in the church?
  2. Do you agree with the eleven earmarks of the New Testament church as laid down by J.M. Carroll (Please answer next to each earmark below):
  • Its Head and Founder—CHRIST. He is the lawgiver; the Church is only the executive. (Mt. 16:18; Col. 1:18.)
  • Its only rule of faith and practice—THE BIBLE. (2 Tim. 3:15-17.)
  • Its name—‘CHURCH,’ ‘CHURCHES.’ (Mt.  16:18; Re.  22:16.)
  • Its polity—CONGREGATIONAL—all members  (Mt. 20:24-28; Mt. 23:5-12.)
  • Its members—only  saved    (Ep.  2:21-22; 1  Pe.  2:5.)
  • Its ordinances—BELIEVER’S BAPTISM, FOLLOWED BY THE LORD’S SUPPER. (Mt. 28:19-20.)
  • Its officers—PASTORS AND DEACONS. (1 Ti. 3:1-16.)
  • Its work—glorifying God first and foremost, getting folks saved, then baptizing them by immersion, teaching them ‘to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded  you’ (Mt. 28:16-20.)
  • Its financial  plan—Gifts to God by the members of the church to be used for God  ordained purposes as laid out in the Bible. For  example, ‘Even so hath the Lord ordained  that they which preach the gospel should live of the gospel.’ (1 Co.  14.)
  • Its weapons of warfare—spiritual, not carnal. (2 Co. 10:4; Ep. 6:10-20.)
  • Its independence—Separation of Church and State. (see, e.g., Mt. 22:21.)

39. Do you have any other questions, comments, suggestions, etc.

40. Please let me know any other information which you deem important.

 

 

________________________________________________________________________
Signature of Pastor(s) or Elder(s) with name printed next to signature

 

________________________________________________________________________
Date Signed:

Churches under Christ Ministry is under the authority of Charity Baptist Tabernacle of Amarillo, Texas, Benjamin Hickam Pastor. Jerald Finney, a Christian Lawyer and member of Charity Baptist Tabernacle explains how a church in America can remain under the Lord Jesus Christ and Him only. "And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church" (Ephesians 1.22).

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