Church Manual - General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists

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CHURCH MANUAL
General Conference the Highest Authority .................................. 27
Authority of the Church and the Church Manual .................. 28
CHAPTER 6
Church Membership ........................................................................ 29
Membership on a Spiritual Basis ................................................... 29
Baptism a Gospel Requirement ..................................................... 29
Baptism a Prerequisite to Church Membership ....................... 30
Mode of Baptism ...................................................................... 30
Ministers Thoroughly to Instruct Candidates Previous
to Baptism ........................................................................... 30
Public Examination .................................................................. 31
Baptismal Covenant ................................................................. 31
Baptismal Vow and Baptism ......................................................... 32
Baptismal Vow ........................................................................ 32
Vow ..................................................................................... 32
Vow (Alternative) ................................................................ 33
Certificate of Baptism and Commitment .................................. 34
Commitment ........................................................................ 34
Welcoming Candidates ............................................................ 35
Receiving Members Who Are Not Known ................................ 35
Baptismal Ceremony ................................................................ 35
Regular Standing ........................................................................... 36
Transferring Members ................................................................... 36
Transferring Church Members ................................................ 36
Method of Granting Letters of Transfer ................................... 36
Clerk to Prepare Letter ............................................................ 37
Alternative Method for Membership Transfer ......................... 37
Membership During Interval of Transfer ................................. 37
Receiving of Members Disturbed by World Conditions ........... 37
Counted in Statistical Reports .................................................. 38
If Member Is Not Accepted ....................................................... 38
No Letters to Members Under Discipline ................................ 38
Church Letters Granted Only to Those in Regular Standing ... 38
Not to Vote Letter Without Member’s Approval ...................... 38
Church Boards Cannot Grant Letters ...................................... 39
Conference/Mission/Field Church ................................................. 39
Organized Companies ................................................................... 40
Queries Concerning Receiving and Removing Members .............. 40
Receiving Members on Profession of Faith ............................. 41
Removing Names ...................................................................... 42
No Retired Membership List .................................................... 42