Membership/Fellowship Guidelines

The CBA is a network of churches that work together for the furtherance of the gospel Each church chooses to associate with the CBA in a cooperative effort.

The Columbus Baptist Association has affirmed its approval of the Baptist Faith and Message of 2000 by adopting it into the Association’s Constitution. That document shall serve as a written testament of the Association’s beliefs and practices to petitioning churches. The Credentials Committee has identified other issues that have been and will be discussed with various churches/missions making application to join the Columbus Baptist Association.

  1. A church seeking fellowship with the CBA shall have a spirit of cooperation. A cooperating church is one that is in harmony with the work and purposes of this association through mission, ministry, and doctrinal integrity.
    This spirit of cooperation can be demonstrated by the local church through its commitment to participate with the CBA:
    a. By sending forth volunteers for various mission projects,
    b. By making regular contributions to the mission causes of the Cooperative Program and the Columbus Baptist Association,
    c. By not being dually aligned with any other denomination or convention, i.e., National Baptist, Cooperative Baptist Fellowship, etc., and
    d. By participation of ministerial staff in various functions of the association.
    (Amos 3:3; Matthew 12:25; Acts 2:46; Philippians 1:27; I Corinthians 12:1-31)

  2. A church seeking fellowship with the CBA shall understand and accept the following statement on the ordination of women: Ordination is seen as “the church appointing a person to the role of authority in the church to preach the word and administer the ordinances.” Therefore, ordaining a woman to such a position is not consistent with the association’s understanding of created order and the roles of authority in the church. Scripture teaches that the value of women is equal to that of men. Scripture also teaches that the role of women in ministry is not identical to that of men in every respect. Women are an integral part of the ministry of the churches in the association. We celebrate their Great Commission impact. (I Cor. 11:3, Gen. 1:27, 2:21-23, 2:24, John 4, Mark 5:25-34, 1 Tim. 3:8-13, I Tim. 2:11-14, I Cor. 14:34-35).

  3. A church seeking fellowship with the CBA shall not knowingly take, or has not taken, any action to affirm, approve, or endorse homosexual behavior. (Leviticus 18:22, 20:13; Romans 1:24-32, Revelation 21:8)

  4. A church seeking fellowship with the CBA shall affirm historic Baptist tenants of worship. A petitioning church would be incompatible with the Association if it encourages, engages in, or endorses non-biblical worship practices and theology (i.e., salvational value of speaking in tongues, being slain in the spirit, etc.) that are divisive and disruptive and that exclude a scriptural expression of faith.