The Scripture teaches that the Church, the body of Christ, began on the day of Pentecost.[1]1 Founded on Jesus Christ, the head of the body, the Church has members added as the Spirit baptizes them into it, placing the believer “in Christ.”[2] The Church will be completed at the time of the rapture after which it will be presented faultless before the Father, as a spotless bride.[3]

The local church is a limited expression of this universal Church. Consisting of those who are believers, the church is organized to meet as an autonomous group so that the members may edify one another.[4] There are two offices in the local church, that of a bishop and that of a deacon. The bishops (also referred to as pastors and elders) have the task of oversight; the deacons are involved in the work of service.[5] The church recognizes two ordinances: water baptism and the Lord’s Supper. Water baptism, performed as an act of obedience and identification, pictures the baptizing work of the Spirit as a work that united the believer to Christ in his death and resurrection. It is to be done by immersion and in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Spirit.[6] The Lord’s Supper is a memorial to be held in remembrance of Christ until he returns. The bread and cup represent his body given for us and the new covenant in his blood respectively.[7]

The ministry of the local church is directed primarily to itself as believers seek to glorify God.[8] Furthermore, through the use of the spiritual gifts the members are to seek to edify one another in love.[9] However, the members of the church generally and the evangelists particularly are also to evangelize those outside of the church who are unsaved.[10]

[1]	Eph 1:22,23; Acts 1:5; 2:1-11; 10:44,45; 11:15-17
[2]	Matt 16:18; Eph 5:23; 1Cor 12:13
[3]	1Th 4:14-17; 3:13
[4]	Gal 1:1,2; Rom 1:1; Acts 2:41,47
[5]	Phil 1:1; 1Tim 3:1,13; 3:5; Heb 13:17; Acts 20:17,28; 6:1-7
[6]	Matt 28:19,20; Col 2:12; Rom 6:3-5; Acts 8:35-38
[7]	1Cor 11:23-25
[8]	1Cor 10:31
[9]	Eph 4:11-16; Rom 12:6-8; 1Cor 12:8-10,28-30; Eph 2:21,22; 1Cor 13:8-10
[10]	Acts 1:8; Eph 4:11

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