Each person is responsible for studying the Bible, living by it and working out his or her own salvation with his or her Maker. Christ gave the church the job of helping in this process in a great many ways. This congregation is but one of many local assemblies of believers that comprise the Church of which Christ is the Head.

Practices: The writing of extensive doctrinal statements encourages people to study statements, rather than study the Bible. In order to make fellowship easier, we list the following practices which are held by most of those attending our congregation, but we do not insist that these practices are essential for salvation:

• We meet on the Sabbath at 12:00 noon for singing and 1:00 p.m. for our main service.

• Church meetings are private, but all men, women and children—whether they are believers or not—are welcome to attend our services as long as they are willing to conform to these practices.

• When a person repents and dedicates their life to Christ, we baptize him/her by immersion and have the hands of the brethren laid on that person to ask for the imparting of the Holy Spirit. When a person attending believes they have a valid conversion experience by some other method or sequence, we acknowledge that the Bible does record some exceptions to this, and that issue must be worked out between the believer and God.

• Food described as unclean in Leviticus 11 should not be brought to any congregational meal nor served to other members without their approval.

• Drunkenness, theft, fighting, inappropriate sexual contact, smoking or the use of mind-altering drugs at any congregation meeting or other event are not permitted because they are a danger to those attending and a bad example to everyone.

• People attending services and activities of the congregation agree not to attempt to sue the congregation or any member of it in a government court but will use the procedure found in Matthew 18:15-17 and the congregation's membership covenant.

• Membership in the local congregation is available to those who regularly attend more than 25 times per year and who will publicly acknowledge that they have committed their lives to God. Such membership is not a "recognition of conversion", but a commitment to serve in the local congregation.

• People who are disruptive to church meetings, who continually attempt to teach false doctrine or who openly practice sin may be removed as members and/or barred from attending according to the procedure given in Matt 18:15–17 and the membership covenant.

This statement should contain the congregation's name, the date it was accepted and the people who accepted it.