USA > New York > New York City > Manual of the Broadway Tabernacle Church, N.Y. containing the history of the church, its principles, rules, covenant, articles of faith, and a catalogue [of members] > Part 2
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7
V. RELATION OF CHURCHES TO EACH OTHER .---- Congregationalism is distinguished from simple Inde- pendency and Separatism by holding as a cardinal principle the Communion of Churches. This is not merely the principle of comity by which a member of one Church is admitted to occasional communion in another, for such comity exists among Churches most diverse from each other in their forms of government. It is the principle of mutual helpfulness and mutual responsibility among Churches which find in the
19
BROADWAY TABERNACLE CHURCH.
Scripture the same platform of ecclesiastical order. Such Churches, though equal in anthority, and mu- tually independent, are nevertheless bound to consult with each other for the common interest, to seek and give advice on occasions in which the action of one Church is important to the welfare of neighbor Chur- ches, to give account to each other of any proceeding or neglect which seems contrary to the order and purity of the Gospel, and to give or receive admoni- tion in the spirit of meekness, when admonition seems to be required.
VI. GENERAL ECCLESIASTICAL BODIES. - Although the Scriptures give to no men, or set of men, power over the Churches, yet the Churches, or their pastors, or both, may associate together for practical religious purposes, which seem desirable, but which do not con- flict with their independence.
Associations are composed either of ministers ex- clusively, or of Pastors and delegates from the churches. They meet for prayer and mutual counsel; they ex- amine and approbate persons who desire to enter the ministry ; and they offer suggestions to the Churches, without trenching upon their rights.
The General Association or Conference of each State is usually composed of delegates from the small- er Associations, although sometimes it is constituted of pastors and delegates directly representing the churches. This body meets annually ; hears reports on the state of religion; and offers advice to the Churches on matters connected with the concerns of benevolence, sound doctrine, and religious duty. It is to be particularly noted, that these bodies possess no ecclesiastical power, like the superior judicatories
:
A)
- ?
-
S 1
20
MANUAL OF THE
of the Romish Church, and of some Protestant de- nominations.
VII. ECCLESIASTICAL COUNCILs. - When matters of peculiar importance or difficulty come before a Church, it avails itself of the advice of other Churches. Thus, when a Pastor is to be ordained or installed, the Church sends to a number of the neighboring Chmur- ches an invitation, called a "letter missive," to be present at a certain time, by their Pastors and dele- gates, to form an ecclesiastical Council, to examine the proposed Pastor, and to act in behalf of the Church in the public solemnity of ordination or in- stallation, if they see no valid objection. And so, when a Pastor is dismissed, the Church calls a Coun- cil to advise and act for it in the emergency.
If a member who has been disciplined thinks that injustice has been done, and particularly if the vote of the Church was divided, it is usual to call a mutual Council, chosen half by each party, to give their opin- ion or advice to the Church. If the Church should pot concur in the result, a copy of the opinion of the Council may be used as a letter of recommendation for the aggrieved person with which to apply to an- other Church. If the Church refuse to unite with the complainant in calling a mutual Council, he may summon an ex parte Council; and if that Council justify him, he may use their result as a letter of re- commendation.
No Council can act on any matter not mentioned in the letter missive, or remain in existence after ad- journment at the close of that business.
VIII. OF THE NAME CONGREGATIONALISM .- The term Congregational expresses the fact that all eccle-
21
BROADWAY TABERNACLE CHURCH.
siastical power resides in the congregated body or members of the Church; that is, in the congregation or brotherhood, and not in the officers.
IX. DIFFERENCES FROM OTHER DENOMINATIONS .- Congregationalists differ from Presbyterians princi- pally in Church government. Presbyterian Churches have each a boly of lay elders, who with the Pastor compose the " Session," by whom the government of the Church is exercised ; members being received or excluded by their vote alone. Over the Session is the Presbytery, composed of the Pastors of the Churches in a certain district, and an elder from each Church, appointed by the Session. The Presbytery has power to control the Sessions and reverse their proceedings, and no Pastor can be called and settled without its permission. Over the Presbytery is the Synod, com- posed of several Presbyteries ; and above the Synod is the General Assembly, formed by delegates from all the Presbyteries in the land. These delegates are appointed by the Presbyteries, and are always minis- ters or elders. A case of discipline may be carried up successively through all the judieatories to the Gen- cral Assembly. The people have no voice in the system, except when the elder is first elected.
Congregationalists differ from Baptists with regard to baptism and church communion. Baptists hold that immersion alone is baptism, that none but adult believers should be baptized, and that none but im- mersed professors should be admitted to the Lord's table; while Congregationalists a Imit the validity of any baptism in which water is applied to the person in the name of the Trinity, believe that baptism should also be given to the infant children of believers, and welcome to the Lord's table all evangelical Christians.
¥
22
MANUAL OF THE
Congregationalists differ also from Methodists in church government ; the latter governing their Churches by bishops and conferences, who legislate for the whole body, and appoint and remove the min- isters.
Congregationalists differ from Episcopalians in ceremonies of worship, and in church government. The Episcopalians bold to three orders in the ministry, and confide the admission and exclusion of members to the Pastor and the diocesan Bishop, who is set over the Churches and Ministers of a particular district, and alone has power to confirm members and ordain Ministers. Among Congregationalists every Pastor is a Bishop, as among the New Testament Churches ; and all Ministers are equal in office.
X. INTERCOURSE WITH OTHER DENOMINATIONS .- Con- gregationalism, desiring to be free from any narrow sectarianism. insists upon no denominational peculi- arities as the condition of fellowship. This principle is carried out in intercourse with other denominations. At their seasons of communion, Congregational Churches invite all church-members, who are in regu- lar standing in any evangelical denomination, and who are honoring their profession by a godly life, to sit down with them at the table of the Lord. If any of their members wish to unite with Churches of other evangelical denominations, letters are given to such Churches ; or if any come from such denominations, and there is no evidence against their Christian char- acter, they are received as from sister Churches.
The principles of the Congregational polity are thus seen to be accordant with the Scriptures, and with the practice of the first and apostolic age of Christianity.
23
BROADWAY TABERNACLE CHURCH.
CONFESSION OF FAITH
OF THE
BROADWAY TABERNACLE CHURCH.
As a Church of Jesus Christ associated in accord- ance with the teachings of the New Testament, for the public worship of God, for the observance of Gos- pel Sacraments and Ordinances, for mutual edification and encouragement in the Christian life, and for the advancement of the Redeemer's kingdom, we declare our union in faith and love with all who love our Lord Jesus Christ.
Receiving the Scriptures of the Old and New Tes- taments as the Word of God and the only infallible rule of religious faith and practice, we confess our faith in the one living and true God, revealed as the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost ; the Creator and Preserver of all things, whose purposes and pro- events vidence extend to all wants, and who exercises a righteous government over all His creatures.
We believe in the universal sinfulness and ruin of our race, since "by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin, and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned."
We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of
1 .
24
MANUAL OF THE
God, having taken upon himself our nature, has by his obedience, sufferings, and death, provided a way of salvation for all mankind ; and that through faith in His name, whosoever will, may be saved.
We believe that although salvation is offered freely to all, they only repent and believe in Christ, who, in thus obeying the Gospel are regenerated by the Holy Spirit ; and that all who are thus regenerated are " kept by the power of God, through faith, unto salvation."
We believe that there is a Day appointed in which God will raise the dead, and judge the world ; that the wicked shall "go away into everlasting punish- ment, and the righteous into life eternal."
COVENANT ON THE PART OF PERSONS RECEIVED INTO THE CHURCH UPON CONFESSION OF THEIR FAITH.
Accepting this as the faith of this Church, you who now present yourself to be received into its fellowship, do by this act avow your personal sense of the love of God in the forgiveness of your sins ; and trusting that He who hears and answers prayer, will uphold and strengthen you, you do give yourself to the Lord Jesus Christ to be His disciple, receiving Him as your only Priest and Propitiation, your great Teacher, Lawgiver and King; you dedicate yourself to God as the object of your highest love, and to His service as your highest joy ; engaging to walk with us in the due observance of Christian ordinances, and that, by the aid of the Divine Spirit, you will honor your pro- fession by a consistent Christian life.
In this solemn consecration, you confess your belief in God the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and
25
BROADWAY TABERNACLE CHURCH.
earth ; And in Jesus Christ his only Son our Lord ; Who was conceived by the Holy Ghost, Born of the Virgin Mary ; Suffered under Pontius Pilate, Was crucified, dead and buried : The third day he rose from the dead; ILe ascended into heaven, And sitteth at the right hand of God the Father Almighty ; From thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead.
You believe in the Holy Ghost ; the Holy Catholic Church, the Communion of Saints ; the Forgiveness of sins ; the Resurrection of the body ; and the Life ever- lasting.
[Here Baptism will be administered to any who have not before received it.]
RESPONSIVE COVENANT OF THE CHURCH.
In view of these your professions aud engagements, we affectionately receive you to the communion of this Church, and welcome you to this fellowship with us in the blessings of the Gospel, and in the service of aur Divine Redeemer. May you walk worthy of Him, ond of your profession ! May the Lord guide and pre- serve you till death ; and at last receive you and us to that blessed world where our love and joy shall be forever perfect ! Amen.
L
26
MANUAL OF THE
ARTICLES
OF THE
CHURCH AND SOCIETY.
Soon after the organization of the Society, Oct. 2e, 1840, as a religious corporation, the following Arti- cles were adopted by both the Church and Society, as the basis of union and co-operation :
I. The Congregation shall hold the property, and receive the income, and make all pecuniary engage- ments, appropriations and payments.
II. In calling a Pastor, the Congregation and Church will act as concorrent bodies-a majority of cach being necessary to constitute a call ; the Church nominating, and the Congregation confirming or re- jecting the nomination,
III. The Committee of the Church will provide for the supply of the pulpit when there is no settled Pas- tor ; make the necessary arrangements for singing, and, in general, for the orderly celebration of religious worship; and the Congregation will liquidate all rea- sonable expenses thereby incurred. Provided, That
27
BROADWAY TABERNACLE CHURCH.
if the Congregation choose to do so, they shall always have the right to make the committee a joint commit- tee, by putting on it as many members of the Congre- gation as have been ele ted from the Church.
PERMANENT RULES OF THE CHURCH,
ADOPTED AT THE ADJOURNED ANNUAL MEETING IN DEC., 1865.
1. The permanent officers of this Church shall be a Pastor, or Pastors and Deacons. There shall also be elected annually, a Clerk, a Treasurer, and four breth- ren who, with the permanent officers, shall constitute a Committee for the general oversight of the interests of the Church. This Committee shall provide for the supply of the pulpit in cases of emergency ; they shall designate the objects of benevolence to be brought before the Church for its contributions ; they shall confer with persons who offer themselves for admis- sion, and report to the Church the names of all whom they deem suitable condidates. They may also trans- fer the regular prayer-meeting to another evening of the same week.
2. All officers of the Church shall be elected by ballot, and without any public nomination, unless a committee shall be appointed for that purpose. When a vacancy occurs in any office, the Clerk shall notify the Church of the same at the first business meeting thereafter ; and the Church shall designate a time for filling such vacancy, of which notice shall be given on the Sabbath proceeding.
3. The Church shall meet for prayer and conference on Tuesday evening of each week ; except that the
28
MANUAL OF THE
first Monday evening of each month shall be substi- tuted for Tuesday evening. The Lord's Supper will be administered on the first Sabbaths of January, March, May, July, September and November, and the prayer meetings next preceding these Sabbaths, shall be also business-meetings ; at which any matter re- lating to the interests of the Church may be intro- dneed ; and the meeting preceding the first Sabbath in March shall be the Annual Meeting; at which the Committee and the Treasurers of the Church and of the Deacon's fund, shall present their reports, and the officers for the ensuing year shall be elected. Upon the requisition of ten brethren, in writing, the Clerk shall call a special meeting for business, by causing a notice to be read from the pulpit on the Sabbath pre- ceding such meeting. No business shall be transacted at any meeting other than the business meetings herein provided, except the consideration of requests to par- tieipate in ecclesiastical councils, and applications for contributions at the time for special objects of bene- volence ; which requests and contributions shall be in order in any meeting.
4. Candidates for membership shall be reported to the Church at least two weeks, before a regular busi- ness meeting. No person shall be admitted to mem- bership except by the election of the Church, at such meeting ; and those who have not already made a public profession of their faith shall make such pro- fession in order to complete their admission.
5. Requests for letters of dismission may be an- nonneed at any of the stated services of the Church; and if at the end of one week, no objection has been made to the Clerk, he shall issue to the applicant the
29
BROADWAY TABERNACLE CHURCH.
customary certificate, which shall be valid only one year from its date, at which time his or her relation to this Church shall terminate, unless such certificate shall have been returned to the Clerk.
6. It shall be the duty of the Committee to report to the Church, from time to time, the names of those members who have removed from the city without requesting letters of dismission, and of those who are habitually absent from Sabbath services and the com- munion table of the Church, for such action as may be deemed proper in the premises ; it being under- stood that this rule does not supersede the responsi- bility of individuals to labor personally to recover such as may fall into error or sin, and, if need be, to bring their cases to the knowledge of the Church.
7. All questions shall be determined by a majority of the male members present on the occasion ; with this exception-that the articles of faith, covenant, form of admission, or permanent rules shall not be altered but by a vote of two-thirds at an Annual Meet- ing ; notice of the intention to propose alterations, and a statement of the substance of such alterations, hav- ing been submitted at a previous business meeting.
-
e 1 ,- - e f 3 1
i- =
30
MANUAL OF THE
PRINCIPLES OF DISCIPLINE.
The following principles of Discipline, embraced in the report of a special Committee, were adopted by the Church, June 29th, 1852. They have since been incorporated by the Plymouth Church, Brooklyn, in their manual ; and copied into the manuals of many other Congregational Churches :---
The subject of Church Discipline, like that of Church polity, is left in the New Testament to the guidance of general principles rather than specific precepts. One invariable rule is given for the settlement of pri- vate difficulties and the censure of private offenses ; one conspicuous example is recorded of the method of dealing with an open and scandalous offense against a church ; there are also occasional instructions upon the proper subjects of church censure and the mode of treating an offender; but no formal process of Church Discipline is anywhere laid down in the New Testament: that is left rather to the judgment and experience of individual churches. Your committee have therefore sought to embody the principles of the New Testament upon the subject, in a series of re- commendations, and to digest a plan of discipline suited to the circumstances of this particular Church.
-
31
BROADWAY TABERNACLE CHURCH.
The directions given by Christ in Matthew xviii. 15-18, should be implicitly followed in all cases of private and personal offense. The Church should never in any form entertain a complaint, or suffer an insinuation from one member against another, in a matter of private grievance, until these instructions have been complied with in good faith and without effect. Even where the letter of these instructions has been followed, regard should be had to the ques- tion whether they have been complied with in spirit or only in form. The Church should never allow a private grievance to be spread before them without satisfactory evidence that the aggrieved party has used all reasonable endeavors to gain redress in pri- vate, in the spirit of forgiveness, of forbearance, and of brotherly love. When one member of the Church suffers himself to be alienated from another, or from the communion of the Church, because of a private difficulty, while yet he does not in a proper spirit seek to reconcile the matter in private, any member of the Church cognizant of the facts should labor with him to persuade him to his duty.
Your Committee are of opinion that the rule of proceeding laid down in Matthew xviii. is obligatory as a rule only in cases or private offense. That rule was given prior to the organization of local churches ; it was given to the disciples as individuals-associated, indeed, in one brotherhood, but not incorporated as a local church, under a covenant and laws. It was a rule of practical wisdom for the settlement of personal differences; a rule equally appropriate out of the church and in it; a rule for kindly intercourse be- tween man and man. If thy brother shall trespass
32
MANUAL OF THE
against thee, i. e., according to the precise import of the original, if he shall do thee a wrong-if he shall injure thee in thy person, in thy property, in thy reputa- tion, in any of thy personal interests and relations, if he shall give thee offense, or do thee any injury what- ever, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone,-endeavor to settle it in private ; if he shall hear thee thou hast gained thy brother. But if he will not hear thee, then-still for the purpose of a reconcilia- tion, and with as little publicity as possible-take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established. And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it to the church-the whole company, circle, or brotherhood with which you are associated, and towards which you sustain relations in common. But if he neglect to hear the church-if he will not regard the whole society of believers-let him be to thee as a heathen and a publican.
A breach of church covenant, or any public and scandalous offense against religion, is not a personal wrong done to any particular member of the church, or to the members of the church as individuals, in any such sense as would bring it within the scope of the instructions of Christ for the healing of private of- fenses. But while in the judgment of your Commit- tee, the rule given in Matthew xviii. is not in such case obligatory as a rule, it is nevertheless desirable that the principle and the spirit of the instructions there given should be applied also to offenses of a public nature, wherever this is practicable. Indeed, the Committee deem it of the utmost importance that every member of the church should feel it to be
33
BROADWAY TABERNACLE CHURCH.
his personal duty to admonish in private an erring brother, and to seek to restore him to the path from which he has wandered. This is one of the most im- pressive obligations of that mutual covenant into which church members enter with one another. No member of the church has a right to pass over without notice the dereliction of a fellow-member from Christian duty, on the plea that the offense is not per- sonal against himself. The knowledge of the trans- gression imposes upon him an obligation to seek im- mediately the restoration of the erring member, and the purification of the church from his offense. To omit this is to be guilty of a breach of covenant and an offense against the purity of the church; it is in a measure to connive at sin. How can that church member be faithful to his own covenant with the church, who knows that a fellow-member of the church is living in the habitual violation of that cove- nant, in the belief of some deadly error, or in the al- lowanec of some known sin, and yet takes no steps to recover the transgre sor or to deliver the church from the scandal that he is bringing upon it ? The discip- line of the church belongs not to the Pastor, or to the Deacons, or to the Church Committee ; it is a matter of personal duty and responsibility with every member of the Church.
In all large churches, and especially in all city churches, where membership is perpetually changing, it comes to pass, in the course of years, that there are numerous absentees enrolled upon the list of members, whose very names are hardly known to the active members of the church, and of whose character and position nothing is known to the body of present
34
MANUAL OF THE
communicants. The case of such persons cannot be left to the ordinary course; if there is anything in them worthy of discipline, it is not likely to be ascer- tained by any individual inquiry. Your Committee would therefore recommend that the church from time to time appoint Committees of Inquiry upon the cases of absentees, or of members who, though resid- ing in our vicinity, are supposed to be living in the neglect of covenant obligations. The way for such inquiries has been opened by the recent adoption of the standing rules respecting absentees ; but these inquiries should not be devolved exclusively upon the Church Committee, and much less upon the Clerk of the Church, who is already overburdened with the duties of his office. But the appointment of such a committee of inquiry respecting an absentee or a supposed delinquent, should in no case be regarded as the commencement of a process of discipline, or even preparatory to such a process ; and it should not give license to the utterance of any charges or insinuations touching the character of the person concerning whom the inquiry is proposed. If even in a criminal court an accused person is presumed to be innocent until adjudged to be guilty, certainly a church meet- ing should hold itself aloof from canvassing the char- acter of an absent member, who is not even upon trial. The sole object of the Committee of Inquiry should be to procure information respecting the resi- dence and the church commumion of absent members, and not to gather up materials for accusation against them, as if they were already arraigned. If in the course of their investigations they find matters worthy of discipline, they should act precisely as it is proper
35
1001486
BROADWAY TABERNACLE CHURCH.
for church members to act in any case where facts requiring the discipline of the church are brought to their knowledge.
In cases of public and scandalous offense, the church may proceed in a more summary manner upon com- mon fame. The authority for this is given in the in- structions of Paul to the church at Corinth. It is reported commonly that there is fornication among you : the common fame of this scandal in the church had reached the Apostle at Philippi : immediately on hearing of it, he rebuked the church for their neglect and connivance in the matter, and required them on their first coming together to cut off the offender from their fellowship without delay. Here is a precedent for proceeding at once, and in a public manner, to discipline a church member, whose offense is an open scandal before the world. Obviously every such case should be brought to the adjudication of the church. A flagrant case of immorality, such as intemperance, fraud, or licentiousness in a church member, dishonors the church and the cause of Christ, as this is repre- sented in and by the church. In such a case it is not enough that one or more individuals, who have had special oversight of the case, are satisfied of the re- pentance of the offender; the church should also be satisfied, and an open offender should in no case be restored to his full standing in the church, without making to the church a confession of his sin, and giving satisfactory evidence of repentance.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.