The name of this Church shall be the East Clarksburg Baptist Church of Clarksburg, West Virginia

The purpose of this church is to give visible form in this community to that faith and fellowship of which God has called His people. We also acknowledge ourselves to be a local manifestation of the universal church in and through which Jesus Christ continues to minister to the world by His Holy Spirit. We shall seek to fulfill this calling through corporate worship services, a program of Christian nurture by which our members may be built up in their faith and love, the proclamation of the Gospel by word and deed, and through ministering to human need in the name of Christ.

The congregation shall consist of persons meeting the requirements set forth in the By-Laws, a body of professing and baptized believers in Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour, covenanting together to fulfill the purposes of Christ for His Church. Such covenant as the church may wish shall be drawn up, adopted, and revised from time to time as an expression fo our understanding of the Scriptures, our sole authority for faith and practice.

In carrying out the wider ministry for which Christ has made his Church responsible, we shall adhere to and be a member of the Union Baptist Association, the West Virginia Baptist Convention, and the American Baptist Churches in the U.S.A. This church shall not withdraw from any of these bodies except by a duly adopted amendment to the constitution of this church, and then only after consultation has been by the boards of deacons and trustees of this church with the moderator of the Association and Executive Minister of the Convention or his designate.

The church shall also be in cooperation with the larger Christian fellowship through local and other councils of churches as the congregation deems appropriate.

This constitution may be amended by a 3/4 vote of the active members of the church present and voting at a duly called meeting for such purpose, provided that such a proposed amendment is read upon the occasion of no less than two regular business meetings of the church.

This constitution shall replace all prior constitutions adopted.

Having been led, as we believe, by the Spirit of God, to receive the Lord Jesus Christ as our Saviour, and on the profession of our faith, having been baptized in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, we do now in the presence of God, angels, and this assembly, most solemnly and joyfully enter into covenant with one another, as one body in Christ. We engage, therefore, by the aid of the Holy Spirit, to promote its prosperity and spirituality; to sustain its worship, ordinances, discipline, and doctrines; to contribute cheerfully and regularly to the support of the ministry, the expenses of the church, the relief of the poor, and the spread of the Gospel through all nations. We also engage to maintain family and secret devotion; to religiously educate our children; to seek the salvation of our kindred and acquaintances; to walk circumspectly in the world; to be just in our dealings, faithful in our engagements, and exemplary in our deportment; to avoid all tattling, backbiting, and excessive anger; to abstain from the sale and use of intoxicating drink as a beverage, and to be zealous in our efforts to advance the kingdom of our Savior. We further engage to watch over one another in brotherly love; to remember each other in prayer; to aid each other in sickness and distress; to cultivate Christian sympathy in feeling and courtesy in speech; to be slow to take offense, but always ready for reconciliation and, mindful of the rules of our Savior, to secure it without delay. We moreover engage that, when we remove from this place, we will as soon as possible unite with some other church where we can carry out the spirit of this covenant and the principles of God's Word.

BAPTISTS stand for the Bible, with particular emphasis on the New Testament. It is their law, their creed, and their final authority in all matters relating to faith and practice.

BAPTISTS stand for regeneration, or "the birth from above", as a basis of church membership.

BAPTISTS stand for believer's baptism - the immersion of the believer in obedience to Christ's command, as a symbol of the death to the old life and the resurrection to the new.

BAPTISTS stand for the separation of Church and State and for the largest measure of civil and religious liberty.

BAPTISTS stand for education, evangelism, and worldwide missionary endeavor.

BAPTISTS believe in one God, the Father, the Son, the Holy Spirit - three persons, yet but one God, Whose name is Jehovah.

BAPTISTS believe in the deity and the humanity of Jesus Christ, who is none other than God the Son manifest in the flesh, and in whom all the fullness of the Godhead dwells forever.

BAPTISTS believe that Jesus Christ is the one and only Head of the church; that all believers are equally priests unto God; that ordination, while it recognizes position, bestows no power; that the local Church is independent and sovereign.

BAPTISTS believe that all men are sinners needing a Savior; that salvation is only and altogether through simple faith in Jesus Christ, who died for our sins, - faith always accompanied by works qualified for repentance, and that without such faith there can be no salvation here or hereafter.

BAPTISTS believe in unbroken conscious existence after death determined by life before death; in the personal coming of Christ to judge the world; in the resurrection of the body which, for those who die in the Lord, shall be like Christ's glorious body; in the eternal zeal of the saved and the eternal woe of the lost.

New members to the Board may be elected by a 3/4 affirmative vote of those present and voting at the Annual Business Meeting, as needed. New Board members have all privileges except to vote on matters pertaining to themselves, and to act as Chairman of the Board. No one shall be elected for the office of Deacon who does not submit to ordination.

The Board of Deacons shall meet in January and elect one of their members to serve as its chairperson.

It shall be the duty of the Deacons to care for the spiritual life of the individual members of the Church, assist the Pastor in the administering of the Ordinances, interview and recommend to the Church all candidates for baptism and church membership, conduct all disciplinary measures instituted against delinquent or disorderly members, arrange for pulpit supplies in the absence of the Pastor or when there is no Pastor, be responsible for the spiritual training of new members, visit those who are in need in the name of the Church, and act with the Pastor as an evangelism committee. They shall also serve the interests of both the Pastor and the Church as a pastoral relations committee that there might be the fullest accord between the Pastor and people.

a. This Board will consist, of three people plus the Pastor and the Superintendent. The Board will be responsible for the:

1. Recruitment and maintenance of teachers from the Sunday School, and adult advisors for youth work, from the active membership of the Church;

2. Selection of all teaching and leadership materials for the Sunday School, youth work, Vacation Bible School and any other special educational ministries of the Church. The adult classes will elect their own teachers.

b. The Board shall submit a written report of its efforts in behalf of the Church at the Annual Business Meeting, and the newly constituted Board will meet within a month of the Annual meeting to select its Chairperson.

This church receives the Bible as an all-sufficient basis of doctrine and practice adherent to the doctrine of the New Testament for Christian conduct among its members. It adopts the Church covenant commonly accepted by Baptist churches.

The Church may authorize the formation of any auxiliary organizations according to the patterns of American Baptist Women, American Baptist Men, the Baptist Youth Fellowship, etc., to fulfill the needs of the church family for fellowship and service. In no case, however, may these organizations conflict with the doctrinal beliefs, the Constitution of this Church, or its attendant By-Laws and Rules of Procedure.

These By-Laws may be amended by a 3/4 vote of the active members of the Church present and voting at a duly called meeting for such purposes, provided that such a proposed amendment is read upon the occasion at a prior regular business meeting and the two immediately prior Sunday morning services at the Church.

The Lord's Supper (Communion) will be observed in conjunction with the morning service of worship on the first Sunday each month and at such times as recommended by the Pastor and the Board of Deacons. Participation in this ordinance is reserved to believers. (It may be conducted by an ordained Deacon in the absence of a Pastor.)

Services of Baptism will be conducted when upon the recommendation of candidates to the Church by the Board of Deacons and the Pastor authorizes them.

1. The Church may act upon the reception or dismissal of members by letter to other churches, at the conclusion of any regular service, without advance notice.

These Rules of Procedure may be amended by the majority vote of the active membership present and voting at a duly called meeting for that purpose, provided notice is given at no less than two prior Sunday morning services.