Biblically centered in our worship. The Bible is God’s perfect and fully sufficient guide for all matters of life, and it is the only ultimate authority and standard for truth. We believe in the direct, divine inspiration (God-breathed) of Scripture and that it is without error, has been tested, and is trustworthy. As a result, the Bible plays a central role in our worship gatherings, and we look to it as our guide for how we should worship. We seek to neither take away from or add to the instructions that God has given us in His Word.
Reformed in our theology. We believe that prayerful study of God’s Word reveals a Triune God who rightfully acts for His own glory. Without a doubt, the most dramatic and miraculous act of God is when He graciously draws a sinner to Himself through the Holy Spirit and grants mercy and righteousness to that person through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the cross. These truths are most accurately expounded in the Reformed tradition, and we find the 1689 Baptist Confession to be a faithful summary of biblical doctrine. You can read that and other helpful confessions of faith here.
Distinctively Baptist in our church organization. The New Testament describes local, autonomous congregations that were comprised of professing believers who participated in baptism by immersion as a means of identifying with the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus. These early churches were under no ecclesiastical authority except the Lord Jesus Himself. Accordingly, we find that regenerate church membership, believer’s baptism, and a congregational church structure are essential to God’s plan for a healthy local church. In keeping with this biblical pattern, Grace Baptist Church of South Hill, Virginia is a congregational independent church that is led by elders who are chosen by existing elders and the members of the church.
Elders: Elders are to be qualified men ordained by Christ through the discernment and direction of existing Elders and approved by the congregation to lead the church by teaching scripture, administering the ordinances, and shepherding the flock of God. No one will be ordained as an Elder without him being committed to the spiritual gatherings of the church such as worship services, Bible study, and prayer meetings. Therefore, elders are not selected on the basis of seniority, popularity, social status, etc., but, led by the Holy Spirit, he will be selected based on his biblical, spiritual, moral, and ethical faithfulness.
Pastor: (Elder; Bishop; Overseer; Pastor) The Pastor is an Elder among other Elders in the church, and he will be committed to the main and regular teaching and preaching of the Word of God to the congregation.
Deacons: Deacons are to be qualified men or women ordained by Christ through the determination of the Elders and approved by the congregation to, subordinate to the Elders, serve the church by attending to the material and organizational needs of the congregation. No one will be ordained as a deacon without him/her being committed to the spiritual gatherings of the church such as worship services, Bible study, and prayer meetings.
Reformed in our theology. We believe that prayerful study of God’s Word reveals a Triune God who rightfully acts for His own glory. Without a doubt, the most dramatic and miraculous act of God is when He graciously draws a sinner to Himself through the Holy Spirit and grants mercy and righteousness to that person through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the cross. These truths are most accurately expounded in the Reformed tradition, and we find the 1689 Baptist Confession to be a faithful summary of biblical doctrine. You can read that and other helpful confessions of faith here.
Distinctively Baptist in our church organization. The New Testament describes local, autonomous congregations that were comprised of professing believers who participated in baptism by immersion as a means of identifying with the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus. These early churches were under no ecclesiastical authority except the Lord Jesus Himself. Accordingly, we find that regenerate church membership, believer’s baptism, and a congregational church structure are essential to God’s plan for a healthy local church. In keeping with this biblical pattern, Grace Baptist Church of South Hill, Virginia is a congregational independent church that is led by elders who are chosen by existing elders and the members of the church.
Elders: Elders are to be qualified men ordained by Christ through the discernment and direction of existing Elders and approved by the congregation to lead the church by teaching scripture, administering the ordinances, and shepherding the flock of God. No one will be ordained as an Elder without him being committed to the spiritual gatherings of the church such as worship services, Bible study, and prayer meetings. Therefore, elders are not selected on the basis of seniority, popularity, social status, etc., but, led by the Holy Spirit, he will be selected based on his biblical, spiritual, moral, and ethical faithfulness.
Pastor: (Elder; Bishop; Overseer; Pastor) The Pastor is an Elder among other Elders in the church, and he will be committed to the main and regular teaching and preaching of the Word of God to the congregation.
Deacons: Deacons are to be qualified men or women ordained by Christ through the determination of the Elders and approved by the congregation to, subordinate to the Elders, serve the church by attending to the material and organizational needs of the congregation. No one will be ordained as a deacon without him/her being committed to the spiritual gatherings of the church such as worship services, Bible study, and prayer meetings.
Recommended articles by Desiring God and The Gospel Coalition:
"First, elders must have an ability to teach biblical truth and correct deviant teaching (1 Tim. 3:2; 5:17; Titus 1:9). Second, they must have gifts of leadership (1 Tim. 3:4–5; 5:17; Titus 1:7). And remarkably, teaching and exercising authority over men is the very thing disallowed for women in 1 Timothy 2:12. Women therefore may serve as deacons because the diaconal office is one of serving, not leading. Deacons don’t teach and exercise authority, but rather help in the church’s ministry." ~Thomas Schreiner