WHAT WE BELIEVE
“This Body, founded on the principles of Baptist faith and composed of persons who believe in Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior, in the authority of the Holy Scriptures, in the priesthood of the believer, in the competency of the soul in matters of religion, in the autonomy of the local church, in believer’s baptism, in religious liberty and in the separation of church and state, shall be known as Hayes Barton Baptist Church.” Hayes Barton Baptist Church Constitution, Article I, Section 1.
Hayes Barton Baptist Church is committed to historic Baptist principles. At Hayes Barton, you will find people who share a broad spectrum of theological perspectives and yet united in the following beliefs:
Jesus Christ Is Lord And Savior
We believe in Jesus Christ as the incarnate Son of God, who by the Holy Spirit was born of the virgin Mary, through whom we have deliverance from sin and death and the promise of eternal life.
The Authority Of The Holy Scriptures
We believe in the scriptures as contained in the Old and New Testaments as the inspired Word of God, the sufficient rule for both faith and practice.
Priesthood Of The Believer
We believe in the freedom and right of every Christian to interpret and apply scripture under the leadership of the Holy Spirit. We affirm the freedom and responsibility of every person to relate directly to God without the imposition of creed, the control of clergy or the interference of government.
Competency Of The Soul In Matters Of Religion
We believe that every person stands as a competent individual before God and is responsible to determine what his or her conscience dictates is right.
Autonomy Of The Local Church
We believe that Baptist churches are free, under the Lordship of Christ and guidance of the Holy Spirit, to determine their membership and leadership, to order their worship and work, to ordain whomever they perceive as gifted for ministry, and to participate, as they deem appropriate, in the larger Body of Christ.
Believer’s Baptism
We believe that baptism by immersion is the New Testament model and that it is to be administered upon a person’s profession of faith in Jesus Christ as Lord.
Religious Liberty
We believe in religious freedom for all people, regardless of creed.
Separation Of Church And State
We believe religious liberty is best protected when church and state are institutionally separated and neither tries to perform or interfere with the essential mission and work of the other.