ABOUT FIRST COMMUNITY CHURCH

 

HISTORICAL BACKGROUND

                The First Community Church of Buckeye Lake, Ohio, had its inception in 1921 when Charles F. Miller began holding services on park benches in the rear of the Lake Breeze Hotel.  The Church continued in a cottage on Mill Street called ‘Liberty Hall’ until a successful building campaign resulted in the erection of the Miller Church in 1923.  For over 24 years, Rev. Miller pastored the little Church on Picnic Point.  In 1947, upon his death, Miller Church closed its doors.

                The Church remained closed for six weeks until interested Christians, with assistance from the First Community Church in Columbus, Ohio, formed a Constitution and changed the name to the Miller Memorial Community Church.  The Church was affiliated with the International Council of Community Churches of Columbus, Ohio.

                In August 1947, Rev. Charles Alspach of Canal Winchester, Ohio was engaged as Pastor.  Rev. Alspach served until April 19, 1953.

                Continuing the progress of the Miller Memorial Community Church, on April 26, 1953, Rev. Howard A. Meacham was engaged as Pastor.  In 1955 the Church purchased two acres of land on Rt. 79.  At a Special Congregational Meeting on April 13, 1958, a new Church was voted for and groundbreaking took place on July 27, 1958.  The first service took place on Good Friday, March 27, 1959.

                The focal point of the Church is the stained glass window that surmounts the chancel and depicts the coming of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost.  The window is a gift created by Ludwig von Gerichten of Munich, Germany, who desired that the window be donated to the first Protestant Church built in Buckeye Lake.

                The following year, the congregation voted to erect a four-bedroom parsonage next to the Church.  In 1961, Dr. Clyde Reed donated the Fellowship Center, located behind the Church, in memory of his wife, Mamie.  In 1969, the bell tower, holding the original bell from the Church at Picnic Point, was erected in memory of Beth Braig.

                Rev. Meacham retained leadership of the Church until September, 1969.  At that time, Rev. Jack Swick became Pastor and served until June, 1974.  In 1974, Rev. Edward Baldwin was called as Pastor and served for the next 15 years.  During the summer of 1989, Rev. Baldwin announced his retirement from the pulpit, surprising those in attendance.

                Rev. Arnold Ettenhofer, a retired Methodist Minister, provided pastoral care on an interim basis while a nationwide pastoral search was conducted.  Following a search which extended for most of the next 12 months, Rev. Kevin Roach became full-time Pastor in July, 1990.  Rev. Roach served the Church for the next 2 ½  years, through December, 1992.

                In March, 1993, Kevin Blade was ordained by the Church and appointed Associate Pastor to serve the Church’s needs while a pastoral search was again conducted.  In the summer of 1993, Rev. David Moody became the 7th full-time Minister in the history of First Community Church.

                At the Annual Congregational Meeting in October, 1997, the congregation voted to erect an addition to the rear of the existing Church building in order to accommodate the growing membership.

                On October 7, 2007, John Wick was ordained as the first Missions Pastor in the history of the church.

                In October, 2011, following the retirement of Pastor Moody, the congregation voted to call Kevin Blade as the 8th full-time Minister of First Community Church.

 

SERVICES

                Sunday School is held each Sunday morning beginning at 9:15 AM.  Classes are available for all ages, nursery through adult.

                Worship Services begin at 10:30 AM each Sunday morning.  A Jr. Church program is operated by the Board of Education  for children in Kindergarten through 6th Grade.  A nursery is also provided during the Worship Service.

                The Youth Fellowship, for students in 6th through 12th Grades meets at 7:00 PM on Wednesday evenings.

 

FELLOWSHIPS

(It is not necessary to be a member of the First Community Church to participate in the following fellowships.)

 

WOMEN’S DISCIPLESHIP CLASS – This Bible-study group for women meets on Wednesday evenings at 7:00 PM at an announced location.

 

In addition to this ministry opportunity, the women also have an annual ‘Women’s Retreat’ which focuses on the women of the Church along with members of their family and friends.

 

MEN’S MINISTRY – This Bible-study group for men meets at 7:00 PM on Wednesday evenings.

 

In addition to this ministry opportunity, the men of the Church have an annual ‘Men’s Retreat’ which focuses on the men of the Church and their needs.

 

JOY BIBLE CLASS – Meets at 10:30 AM on the 3rd Tuesday of each month.

 

LADIES GUILD – Meets the 2nd Wednesday of each month at noon.

 

FRIDAY MORNING MEN'S PRAYER GROUP  -  This group meets at 8:00 AM each Friday morning with a focus on prayer.

 

FRIDAY MORNING FELLOWSHIP - This adult Bible-study group meets at 10:00 AM each Friday morning.

 

ADULT CHOIR – Meets every Tuesday evening at 7:15 PM from September through May.

 

YOUTH FELLOWSHIP – Students may become members when entering the 6th grade and continue through high school.  The Youth meet each Wednesday evening at 7:00 PM and activities are planned at various times throughout the year.

 

PRAYER COMMUNITIES - Groups of people interested in the prayer life of the church family gather each day of the week in various locations. More information on meeting locations can be made available upon request.

BOARDS AND COMMITTEES

(It is necessary to become a member of the First Community Church before election or appointment to the following Boards and Committees.)

 

BOARD OF TRUSTEES – Consists of 9 members of the Church, elected at the Annual Congregational Meeting, to not more than two consecutive 3-year terms.  Responsible for the Church government and related areas, including physical upkeep of Church buildings, etc.

 

BOARD OF DEACONS – Consist of 9 male members of the Church, elected at the Annual Congregational Meeting, to not more than two consecutive 3-year terms.  Responsible for collecting and counting tithes and offerings, recording attendance, serving communion, and ensuring the comfort of the congregation.

 

BOARD OF WOMEN – Consists of 9 female members of the Church, elected at the Annual Congregational Meeting, to not more than two consecutive 3-year terms.  Responsible for recruiting door greeters, bulletin sponsors, preparing the element for the Service of Communion, preparing the Church for weddings, and changing and caring for the paraments and symbols on the altar and pulpit.

 

BOARD OF EDUCATION – Consists of the Superintendent and Assistant Superintendent, elected at the Annual Congregational Meeting for one year, the Pastor, and all Sunday School and Jr. Church teachers.  Responsible for the Christian instruction of children, youth and adults.  Provides a summer youth camping program and Vacation Bible School.

 

HOME MISSIONS COMMITTEE – Consists of 3 members of the Church, elected at the Annual Congregational Meeting, to 3-year terms.  Responsible for seeking out and meeting human needs within the Church and surrounding community in cooperation with other agencies in the area.

 

MISSIONARY COMMITTEE – Consists of 3 members of the Church, elected at the Annual Congregational Meeting, to 3-year terms.  Responsible for promoting the missionary interests of the Church in the community and throughout the world.

 

MUSIC COMMITTEE – Consists of the directors of music, the organist and pianist, and 3 other members of the Church, elected at the Annual Congregational Meeting, to 1-year terms.  Responsible for selecting and directing the use of music for the stated services of the Church.

 

HISTORIAN – A member of the Church, elected at the Annual Congregational Meeting, to a 1 year term.  Responsible for recording the activities of the Church during the year for historical preservation.

NOMINATION COMMITTEE – Consists of the presidents and chairpersons of the various boards and organizations of the Church, with the Minister serving as chairman.  Responsible for submitting a ballot of nominees for all of the offices to be elected at the Annual Congregational Meeting.

 

PULPIT COMMITTEE – Consists of persons appointed by the Board of Trustees when a vacancy in the ministry occurs.  Responsible for interviewing and recruiting candidates to preach a trial sermon, and to meet with the Board of Trustees for consultation.  Based on the trial sermon and interview, the committee recommends candidates for consideration to the Board of Trustees and the Congregation.

 

ANNUAL CONGREGATIONAL MEETING

 

The Annual Congregational Meeting shall consist of the members of the First Community Church.  Public announcement of the meeting is to be made during the Sunday School and Worship Services for two Sundays prior to the meeting.  The meeting is held on the second Sunday in October each year.

 

Special Congregational Meetings may be called by the Minister or the President of the Board of Trustees.

 

Only members of the First Community Church may vote for nominees or other matters.  The voting age is 13 years, except on legal decisions where law requires a limitation of 18 years of age.

 

No person shall hold more than two elected offices concurrently, as elected at the Annual Congregational Meeting.

 

Unless otherwise specified, a majority vote is sufficient to transact any item of business.

 

The Congregation authorizes all buying, selling, mortgaging or transferring of Church property with a value in excess of $500 by a two-thirds majority vote of the members present.

 

The Congregation approves the annual budget submitted by the Board of Trustees.

 

The Congregation approves any amendments to the Constitution and By-Laws by a two-thirds majority vote of the members present.

 

The Congregation approves the contract, written by the Board of Trustees with the Minister, by a two-thirds vote of the members present.

MEMBERSHIP

 

Qualifications for Membership

                The Membership of this Church shall be composed of individuals who are believers in the Lord Jesus Christ and affirm the tenets of the First Community Church of Buckeye Lake's Constitution and Bylaws, and who offer evidence, by their confession and their conduct, that they are living in accord with their affirmations and this Constitution and Bylaws, and are actively pursuing and continuing in a vital fellowship with the Lord, Jesus Christ. The membership of the Church shall have final authority in all matters of Church governance as set forth and described in this Constitution and Bylaws.

 

Reception of Members

                Members may be received into the Church membership by confession of faith in accordance with the Qualifications for Membership cited previously or by letter of transfer. A letter of transfer will be accepted from any Christian Church provided the individual seeking transfer understands and accepts the Qualifications for Membership cited previously, the tenets of the First Community Church of Buckeye Lake, this Constitution and Bylaws, and accepts the sufficiency and infallibility of the Holy Scriptures.

                Membership classes shall be offered to inform prospective members, who shall not be less than thirteen years of age, concerning the government and policy of the Church, the expectations of membership, and their opportunity for service.

                The reception of members shall take place at a public worship service.

                Children of families received into membership, but not yet thirteen years of age, shall be listed as provisional members. When a person thirteen years of age or older attends the membership classes and accepts the covenant and vows of membership they shall receive voting privileges. All adult members of the Church shall be listed in the permanent record book according to the date of their reception.

 

Rights of Members

                All members may participate in the worship, teaching and fellowship of the Church. Members not less than thirteen years of age may vote on all matters pertaining to the life of the Church except when prohibited by State law. Members not less than eighteen years of age may hold any office elected at the Annual Congregational Meeting.

 

Duties of Members

·         To fulfill their covenant with God through Jesus Christ.

·         To attend the services of the Church.

·         To give regularly toward the support of the Church.

·         To share their talents in the ministry of the Church.

·         To cooperate with other Christian Churches.

 

E. Transfer of Membership

                Any member, on request, may receive a letter of transfer or certificate of good standing to any other Christian Church, provided that the member is, in fact, in good standing. To be considered to be a member in good standing, the member would actively be meeting the Qualifications of Membership, fulfilling the Duties of Membership and is not the subject of any active Church disciplinary action. Any member in good standing moving from the community shall be encouraged to attend and support the Church of their choice.

 

                Any member, on request, may terminate their membership with this Church provided that the member is in good standing (as described above) and is not the subject of any active Church disciplinary action.

  

 

THEOLOGICAL POSITION AND STATEMENT OF FAITH OF THE FIRST COMMUNITY CHURCH

We, the members of the First Community Church of Buckeye Lake, believe that Jesus Christ was born of the Virgin Mary and is the visible image of God and that He is the fullest expression of God available to us.

 

Because scripture calls on us to proclaim Christ everywhere we go and in whatever we do, we recognize that our Christian beliefs relate to every facet of our lives.  If we are to proclaim Him at all times, it is necessary that we maintain our Christian beliefs in all parts of our lives.

 

We believe that salvation through Jesus Christ is made available to everybody, but is possible only through repentance and acceptance of Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior.

 

We believe that, in accepting the Bible is without error and is the Inspired Word of God, we must also accept the Bible in its entirety.  The Bible informs us that satan is a real presence in the world and that Good will triumph over evil.  We accept the Bible teaching that God exists in three persons:  God the Father; God the Son; and God the Holy Spirit (the Trinity).

 

In accepting that ‘the Holy Spirit is an active presence of God made known in spiritual gifts, we also accept the writings of Paul in 1 Corinthians chapter 14 in which Paul addresses orderly Worship Services.  Our Worship Services are not characterized by speaking in tongues, and we believe that doing so in a public Worship setting would edify self rather than God, except as described by Paul in the above noted scripture reference.  We believe, as recorded in scripture, that spiritual gifts extend beyond speaking in tongues and prophecy, and include wisdom, discernment, teaching, etc.  We believe the Holy Spirit is capable of equipping all who do their part in seeking and accepting those gifts.

 

We believe that prayer can be as powerful or, conversely, as limited as people allow it to be.  Through prayer, it is possible to receive strength, comfort, healing, and guidance.  It is through prayer that we confess our sins before God and ask for His forgiveness, give Him praise and thanksgiving, and make our requests known.  God’s will is then made known to us in His own time.  In this way, God speaks to us personally and guides our daily lives.

 

Currently, communion is served once per month, typically on the first Sunday of each month.  In December we also serve communion during the Christmas Eve Service and, during the month in which Passion Week falls, we serve communion during the Maundy Thursday Service.  The elements are normally distributed by the Deacons as the congregation remains seated.  We believe the importance of communion is in the individual partaking doing so with the proper attitude and preparation of their heart.

 

Finally, we believe that baptism is an outward symbol of having experienced a rebirth in, and a commitment to Jesus Christ.  We believe that, as a symbol, the method of baptism is a matter of personal choice.  Since we do not have a baptismal in our Church, baptisms performed in the Church are done via sprinkling.  If an individual prefers to be immersed, he or she and the Minister would work out the details.  Infant baptisms are not performed, however infant dedications may be requested.

 

STATEMENT OF FAITH 

We believe that God wonderfully and immutably creates each person as male or female, and that these two distinct, complementary genders together reflect the image and nature of God.

 

We believe that God created marriage to be exclusively the union of one man and one woman, and that intimate sexual activity is to occur exclusively within that union.

 

STATEMENT ON MARRIAGE, GENDER AND SEXUALITY 

We believe that God wonderfully and immutably creates each person as male or female. These two distinct, complementary genders together reflect the image and nature of God (Genesis 1:26-27). Rejection of one's biological sex is a rejection of the image of God within that person.

 

We believe that the term "marriage" has only one meaning: The uniting of one man and one woman in a single, exclusive union, as delineated in Scripture (Genesis 2:18-25). We believe that God intends sexual intimacy to occur only between a man and a woman who are married to each other (1 Corinthians 6:18; 7:2-5; and Hebrews 13:4). We believe that God has commanded that no intimate sexual activity be engaged in outside of marriage between a man and a woman.

 

We believe that any form of sexual immorality (including adultery, fornication, homosexual behavior, bisexual conduct, bestiality, incest, and use of pornography) is sinful and offensive to God (Matthew 15:18-20; 1 Corinthians 6:9-10).

 

We believe that in order to preserve the function and integrity of First Community Church as the local Body of Christ, and to provide a Biblical role model to the Church's members and the community, it is imperative that all persons employed by First Community Church in any capacity, or who serve as volunteers, agree to abide by this Statement on Marriage, Gender and Sexuality (Matthew 5:16; Philippians 2:14-16; 1 Thessalonians 5:22).

 

We believe that God offers redemption and restoration to all who confess and forsake their sin, seeking His mercy and forgiveness through Jesus Christ (Acts 3:19-21; Romans 10:9-10; 1 Corinthians 6:9-11).

 

We believe that every person must be afforded compassion, love, kindness, respect and dignity (Mark 12:28-31; Luke 6:31). Hateful and harassing behavior or attitudes directed toward any individual are to be repudiated and are not in accord with Scripture nor the doctrines of this Church.

 

STATEMENT ON MARRIAGE

Because God has ordained marriage and defined it as the covenant relationship between a man, a woman, and Himself, the First Community Church of Buckeye Lake, Ohio will only recognize marriages between a biological man and a biological woman. Further, the Pastor and staff of First Community Church shall only participate in weddings and solemnize marriages between one man and one woman. Finally, the facilities and property of First Community Church shall only host weddings between one man and one woman.

 

STATEMENT ON THE SANCTITY OF HUMAN LIFE

We, the members of First Community Church of Buckeye Lake, Ohio, believe that all human life is sacred and created by God in His image. Human life is of inestimable worth in all its dimensions, including pre-born babies, the aged, the physically or mentally challenged, and every other stage or condition from conception through natural death. We are therefore called to defend, protect, and value all human life (Psalm 139).

 

STATEMENT OF FINAL AUTHORITY FOR MATTERS OF BELIEF AND CONDUCT 

The Theological Position and Statement of Faith  does not exhaust the extent of our beliefs. The Bible itself, as the inspired and infallible Word of God that speaks with final authority concerning truth, morality, and the proper conduct of mankind, is the sole and final source of all that we believe. For purposes of the First Community Church of Buckeye Lake's  faith, doctrine, practice, policy and discipline, our Pastor, in conjunction with the Board of Trustees, is the Church's final interpretive authority on the Bible's meaning and application.

 

STATEMENT ON CHURCH DISCIPLINE 

The threefold purpose of Church discipline is to glorify God by maintaining purity in the local Church (1 Corinthians 5:6), to edify believers by deterring sin and promoting purity (1 Timothy 5:20), and to promote the spiritual welfare of the offending believer by calling him or her to return to a Biblical standard of doctrine and conduct (Galatians 6:1).

 

The Lord Jesus Christ has entrusted the local Church with the authority and responsibility to discipline members for flagrant sin or serious doctrinal error, with the goal of the restoration of the offender. This discipline is entrusted to the Pastor and the Spiritual Life Committee in conjunction with the Board of Trustees and is to follow the Biblical pattern as set forth in Matthew 18:15-20; 1 Corinthians 5; 2 Corinthians 2:7-8; Galatians 6:1; 2 Thessalonians 3:6; Titus 3:10-11; and 2 John 7-11. Any member of this Church who practices or affirms a doctrine or conduct that, in the judgment of the Pastor and the Spiritual Life Committee in conjunction with the Board of Trustees, is opposed to the teaching of the Word of God, or is threatening to the testimony of this Church, or is divisive to the body, shall be subject to Church discipline.

 

Discipline will follow the stated Biblical pattern, and is an effort to bring the individual to repentance and protect the Church from unrepentant sin. Discipline may involve exclusion from participation in ministry and communion, as well as dismissal from the fellowship of this Church. An individual may be disciplined by the Pastor and the Spiritual Life Committee in conjunction with the Board of Trustees short of dismissal from the fellowship, as they deem appropriate for the specific circumstance (for example, an individual may remain in certain circumstances a member of this Church but be denied the privilege of serving in a particular ministry).  The Pastor and the Spiritual Life Committee in conjunction with the Board of Trustees, as required by Scripture, may report to the congregation the names of those who have lost membership by reason of Church discipline, and the reason for that discipline, as described in Matthew 18:15-20.

 

The members of this Church further knowingly and voluntarily agree that a member cannot voluntarily withdraw or resign his or her membership in the midst of the discipline process, and may only voluntarily withdraw or resign his or her membership if they are not the subject of a discipline proceeding at the time or only after a disciplinary process, of which they are the subject, has been concluded as determined by the Pastor and the Spiritual Life Committee in conjunction with the Board of Trustees.

 

STATEMENT ON MEDIATION 

Members of the Church agree to submit any legal dispute with the Church for mediation before a mutually agreed-upon, Christian mediator, or if none can be agreed upon, one selected by Peacemaker Ministries, or a similar Christian organization.  Lawsuits between believers, or threats of lawsuits between believers, are a matter of grave concern for the Church, and are contrary to Biblical and Church teaching. Mediation is an effort to resolve disputes in a Biblical fashion (1 Corinthians 6:1-7)