sharpening the right questions on confessional subscription

[Kona Kuyperian]

Here are my questions. I’m not looking for answers yet. I’m looking to sharpen the questions themselves so we’re asking the right things with clarity and precision. If you’ve worked through this before, I’m mainly interested in how to better frame (metge) these questions so nothing important is missed yet get to the heart of the matter. Not trying to reinvent anything, just trying to be precise.

The questions flow from:
Our "Church is a church under the lordship of Jesus Christ. In unity with the historic Christian church, we believe and confess the Apostles’, Nicene, Chalcedonian Creeds, and the 1689 London Baptist Confession, as accurate representations of Scripture’s teaching. The doctrines within Shorebreak Church Statement of Faith represent what we believe to be faithful understanding and application of the Scriptures. All preaching and teaching of our Church will be in accordance with the doctrine represented in the Statement of Faith. All leadership, members, and volunteers at Shorebreak Church will be required to affirm the Statement of Faith."

1. Who is the "we" (that"believe and confess" the listed documents)? Members? Elders? Deacons?
2. Must a member/elder/deacon "believe and confess" all that is contained on them?
3. If a member/edler/deacon has, or eventually has, scruples, what will we not allow and what will we allow to be acceptable deviations?
4. Will there be exceptions allowed, and if so, how are they handled (at member level and, if different, at elder/deacon level)?
5. In what way are the scruples communicated (writing, meeting, etc.)?
6. Must members/elders/deacons reaffirm their adherence (often theological views change)
7. What authority will the documents actually have in the life of the church?
8. Similar to the question above, are they descriptive of what we believe, or prescriptive and binding?
9. Will these be used in church discipline, and to what extent?
10. Will new members be taught and brought into agreement with these?

 

[Jake]

Is this a new constitution? Are you joining as a new member? I'm trying to understand how this statement came about.

Is the "Statement of Faith" a separate document from the combined sum of the confession and creeds mentioned?

 

[philomath]

Our "Church is a church under the lordship of Jesus Christ. In unity with the historic Christian church, we believe and confess the Apostles’, Nicene, Chalcedonian Creeds, and the 1689 London Baptist Confession, as accurate representations of Scripture’s teaching. The doctrines within Shorebreak Church Statement of Faith represent what we believe to be faithful understanding and application of the Scriptures. All preaching and teaching of our Church will be in accordance with the doctrine represented in the Statement of Faith. All leadership, members, and volunteers at Shorebreak Church will be required to affirm the Statement of Faith."

As for this statement, I think you're questions are on point.

3. If a member/edler/deacon has, or eventually has, scruples, what will we not allow and what will we allow to be acceptable deviations?
4. Will there be exceptions allowed, and if so, how are they handled (at member level and, if different, at elder/deacon level)?

Specifically focusing on these questions, I may add some more questions in the area of confessional subscription. I know a quite a few Baptist churches that hold to the 1689 on paper, but don't agree with a Sabbatarian view of The Lord's day. I've also seen some that disagree with the 1689 on church polity.

I think your questions already cover the general topic of members and office holders taking exceptions, but it may be helpful to see if the church itself takes any exceptions (like some of the churches I mentioned).

 

[No Other Name]

I know a quite a few Baptist churches that hold to the 1689 on paper, but don't agree with a Sabbatarian view of The Lord's day.

Sadly so true. This is circling around the backdrop of my real-life situation and when it comes forward, I will probably be online far less.

 

[Theoretical]

I’m NAB, but one question in Reformed Baptist circles that seems to have been an issue for at least a couple of hundred years is where they fall on the open/close/closed communion spectrum, especially regarding infant baptized only believers. How they answer that question also likely tells you some more details about the church, and i mean that in the sense that the way they explain what they believe is at least as important as what their actual position is on that internal debate that good men have disagreed about.

 

[TheBoringBaptist]

Sadly so true. This is circling around the backdrop of my real-life situation and when it comes forward, I will probably be online far less.

What do you mean?

 

[Edward]

If a member/edler/deacon

elder