We have been created and redeemed by God for His own glory (Isaiah 43:7, First Corinthians 6:20). Our chief desire is to know, love, and obey Him, thus promoting His glory in every circumstance, everywhere, among all peoples (Matthew 22:37-40, Matthew 28:18-20). We desire to be intensely God-focused, even to the extent of pleasing God rather than people when the choice arises (First Thessalonians 2:4).

The one, true God has never been nor ever will be less or more than triune (Second Corinthians 13:14). The God-given illustration of this truth for this age is the water baptism of disciples of Jesus — one baptism consisting of three coequal actions (Matthew 28:19). It is the Second Person, The Lord Jesus Christ, Who is represented by the second — the central — baptismal action. It is Christ who brings us to the Father (First Peter 3:18), and it is the role of the Holy Spirit to glorify Christ (John 16:13). Christ is central. As His church we long to know Him, love Him, obey Him, praise Him, and serve Him. We worship Him as the honored center of the Scriptures and every portion of our lives, that “in all things He must have the preeminence (Colossians 1:18).

The preacher is to preach the Word with both exegetical accuracy and spiritual power (Second Timothy 4:1-2, First Thessalonians 1:5). The pulpit ministry is central in the church’s worship, knowledge, holiness, love, devotion, and mission. Therefore, it is indispensable and must not be diminished or replaced.

Flowing both to and from Expository Bible Preaching is Sound Doctrine. Sound Doctrine consists not only of accurate, cognitive biblical facts, but also the understanding of those facts which brings life-application, spiritual integrity, and obedience. In a time when many people do not accept or tolerate sound doctrine (Second Timothy 4:3-4), the elders of the church yet are responsible to guard the flock from compromising and dangerous influences (Acts 20:28-32). The Statement of Faith of the Charis Fellowship of Churches is the tool (not creed) we use to explain some of the vital doctrinal parameters.

We accept “The Bible, The Whole Bible, and Nothing But the Bible” as our authority. We do not accept the authority of creeds or other man-made formulations. In our worship, we do not recite creeds, nor sing them, nor read them. We do stand in honor of the reading of the Word of God (Nehemiah 8:5). It is our desire to be thoroughly biblical in the totality of our lives. Our purpose, methods, and goals must be from sound, biblical teaching. We reject the concept that biblical goals can be achieved by man-centered, man-empowered methods.

We affirm that the first eleven chapters of Genesis are actual, true history, and are to be believed and taught as such (as should all of Genesis and all historical portions of the Bible). The days of Creation Week are actual, real, 24-hour days revealed in Genesis as comprising a genuine historical time-block with no intervening gaps in the text or in history. Adam and Eve were real humans, the first two ever, not merely literary symbols of human existence nor vestiges of some pre-Adamic race of beings. The record of the Fall of Man and the events leading to the global catastrophic Flood are real, and the worldwide Flood is factually true history. This understanding is essential to a Biblical Worldview which accurately includes the establishment and outworking of the nation of Israel from the beginning through to the prophesied culmination of all things in the destruction of the present heavens and earth, and the establishment of the New Heaven and New Earth. Without this understanding of Genesis there is no possibility of interpreting the rest of the Bible in a way that sees its statements as true and accurate, including anyone’s personal salvation.

The direction of corporate worship is vertical, an engaging of God and the congregation. Worship involves ascribing honor, majesty and praise to Christ (Revelation 5:12-14) and learning from Him (Luke 10:38-42). The most significant feature, then, of corporate worship is the public reading of and expository preaching of the Word of God. All other features of corporate worship – the offering, announcements, music, drama, audio and visual, prayers, etc. – must seek to fulfill this vertical direction. The music department strives to lead the church family to glorify God and to edify one another through singing and musical instruments, ministering with spiritual passion and doctrinal integrity, while seeing God-honoring standards of musical excellence. Music is to reinforce sound Bible doctrine through song, and to express congregational praise and adoration to Christ Who is our Audience.

New Beginnings Music Team Worship Leadership Policy

Purpose:
To create an environment where the worship team aligns with biblical teachings on authority and submission, following the structure in 1 Corinthians 11.

Policy Guidelines:

1. Authority Structure:
Recognize the established order of authority: God is the head of Christ, Christ is the head of man, and man is the head of woman. This order should be reflected respectfully in worship leadership. The Elders provide the oversight of the Music team, but it is more closely managed by a designated spirit-filled and qualified male leader.

2. Role of Women in Worship Leadership:
Women are encouraged to participate in helping with worship, provided they do so with an attitude of submission to the designated male leadership within the church. Women may lead the congregation in worship songs under the guidance and covering of
the male church leadership team.

3. Symbolism and Heart Posture:
The “covering” mentioned in 1 Corinthians 11 is a demonstration of submission to authority. Female team members are not required to wear physical coverings (such as headscarves) but should exhibit a heart posture of respect and submission to the leadership structure.

4. Submission as a Prerequisite for Leadership:
Any member, male or female, must demonstrate a heart submitted to Christ and to their earthly authorities to lead worship. Women, when leading, should do so with the understanding that their leadership respects the biblical framework of gender roles. If no male leader is present, women leaders are
encouraged to consider wearing a type of head-covering as a reflection of their submission to biblical gender roles within the church.

5. Encouragement of Spiritual Growth and Accountability:
Male leaders are encouraged to maintain a spirit of humility and Christ-like leadership, ensuring a respectful and supportive environment for all team members. Accountability structures should be in place to help all leaders, male and female, remain
faithful to the teachings of Christ and the established authority order.

Conclusion:
This policy encourages a collaborative and respectful worship environment, where all members understand and honor biblical principles of authority and submission as they lead the congregation in worship (1 Corinthians 11). 

While we fully believe that salvation is the work of God in His sovereign grace (Psalm 3:8, Ephesians 2:8, Romans 9:15-16), we are also obediently committed to preach the Gospel to everyone, imploring people to believe and be reconciled to God (Mark 16:15, Second Corinthians 5:20). Such, too, is the sovereign work of God. And, while we believe that God calls some to the office of Evangelist, He does so to equip every believer to evangelize the lost (Ephesians 4:11-12). We understand that regeneration and saving faith cannot be produced by manipulation, coercion, or programming; rather they are the result of the supernatural work of the Holy Spirit (John 3:5-8, Titus 3:5). We believe the Holy Spirit does His supernatural work of regeneration through the preaching of the Gospel according to the Scriptures, not apart from it (Romans 1:16, First Corinthians 15:1-5, First Peter 1:23).

“Total depravity” or “total inability” are doctrinal phrases which describe the lostness of all people who are not yet regenerated in Christ. This is not to suggest that, relatively speaking, all people are “as bad as they can be”, but rather that all people are “as bad off as they can be.” There is “none righteous” (Romans 3:9), “none who understands”, “none who seeks for God” (Romans 3:10), and none who has any ability to please God (Romans 8:8). Without spiritual birth from above, man “cannot” – has no ability to – “see the kingdom of God” (John 3:3).

Regeneration is completely the sovereign work of God, and in no way is caused by or assisted by any work or decision of man (John 1:12-13, John 3:8, Titus 3:5). The gift of God in this new birth is a new heart (core identity) which truly desires to please God (Romans 2:29, 7:22). The first, necessary, and evidential act of the new birth is the exercise of the gift of faith (Ephesians 2:8, John 3:16), which is to the new birth what breathing, eating, and drinking are (John 6:53-54). Saving faith/trust involves the elements of knowledge (notitia – mental element/understanding – the perception of truth and its qualities), assent (assensus – emotional element/inclination – the persuasion of truth as the object of Faith), and confidence (fiducia – volitional element/will – personal reliance on the Person of Christ). To have the mental or emotional elements only does not constitute saving faith, for even demons believe in that sense (James 2:19). By the exercise of faith alone, the believer receives justification (Romans 3:28, 4:5), forgiveness of all sin (Colossians 2:13-14), right-standing with God (Romans 5:1-2), all the spiritual blessings of heaven in Christ (Ephesians 1:3), and new identity as a believer in Christ (Second Corinthians 5:16-17).