LEADERSHIP
The Head of Blanchester Church of Christ is Jesus Christ.
Elders – Are appointed by the congregation, serve as the spiritual oversight. Their primary work is to care for the members of the Church. They are to see that the church programs align with the Church’s mission and purpose and that individuals are equipped for service. This specifically includes: general oversight of church personnel, programs, and finances; care of church members; and church discipline – the recovery and restoration process.
Deacons – Are also appointed by the congregation, assist the Elders in shepherding and caring for the needs of people in the church. They attend to unique, personal congregational needs as directed by the Elders.
Staff – are responsible for the day-to-day equipping operations and programs of the church. They are responsible for casting a vision for overall ministry programs and implementing plans to accomplish ministry purposes. Their role includes establishing and training teams of people to help carry out the mission and vision of the church under the oversight of the Elders.
Ministry Leaders – define the vision and mission for their specific ministry and recruit a team to implement a strategy for accomplishing their mission, giving people the opportunity to exercise their spiritual gifts for ministry. They work in partnership with the Elders, Deacons, and Staff to see that church ministries and programs are provided. Each Ministry Leader is ultimately accountable to the Elders, but each is specifically accountable to an accountability partner that may be an Elder, Deacon, or Ministry Staff member.
OUR BELIEFS
About the Bible
The Bible is the inspired Word of God, written without error and preserved for our instruction. (I Cor. 2:7-14; II Tim. 3:16; II Pet. 1:20-21).
About God
God exists eternally in three persons – Father, Son and Holy Spirit. (Matt. 28:19; John 14:16-26). God is the absolute and sole creator of this world and the universe. (Gen. 1:1-2:25; John 1:1-4). Because of His compelling love, He sent Jesus Christ into the world to save sinners by His atoning death on Calvary. (Isa. 53:1-6; John 3:16; Rom. 5:8; Eph. 1:3-6).
About Jesus Christ
Jesus Christ in the flesh was both God and man. He was born of a virgin and lived a sinless life. He revealed the mind of God in his teaching and performed miracles exactly as described in the four gospels. He was crucified, died as the penalty for our sins and was raised from the dead, bodily, on the third day. He ascended to the Father, He is head of the church and intercedes for believers. He is coming again personally, bodily and visibly to this earth. (Phil. 2:5-8; Luke 1:26-35; Heb. 4:14-15; I Pet. 2:21-24; I Cor. 15:3-5; Acts 1:9-11; Eph. 1:18-23; I Thes. 4:15-16; John 14:1-6).
About Salvation
Man’s relationship with God has been broken by his own sin.
We can be restored to a relationship with God only through the sacrificial blood of Jesus Christ. Apart from Christ, man remains eternally separated from God, and is ultimately consigned to hell.
This restored relationship is based on God’s grace, not our efforts. God invites us to accept His gift of grace through faith in Jesus Christ.
A repentant life, a confession of Christ’s Lordship, and baptism by immersion are primary responses of our faith as modeled in the New Testament. (John 3:1-21; Acts 2:37-39, 8:26-39, 10:1-48, 16:11-34, 22:2-16; Rom. 3:21-31, 5:6-11, 6:1-23; I Cor. 6:9-11, 15:1-58; Gal. 3:13-14; Eph. 2:8-9; Heb. 9:11-14, 10:10-13; I Pet. 3:18; I John 1:8-10).
About Life in Jesus
The Holy Spirit lives by promise in the life of the Christian as God’s pledge and seal of salvation. (John 16:8-11, 13-15; Acts 2:38, 5:3-4; Rom. 8 & 9).
The Christian is enabled to grow in spiritual maturity through obedience to the Word of God by the indwelling Spirit. (Eph. 4:11-16; Col. 1:9-12, 3:12-17).
At death, the Christian’s spirit departs to be with Jesus Christ. At the return of our Lord our bodies will be raised to the likeness of His resurrected body and will live forever in His divine presence in heaven. (Luke 16:19-31; I Thes. 4:13-18; I Cor. 15:1-58)