Tenets of Faith

5. Water Baptism

Baptism in water is immersion, is a direct commandment of our Lord and is for believers only. The Ordinance is the Christian's identification with Christ in His death, burial, and resurrection (Matthew 28:19; Romans. 6:4; Colossians.2:12; Acts 8:36-39).

6. Baptism in the Holy Spirit

The Baptism in the Holy Spirit is a gift from God as promised by the Lord Jesus Christ to all believers and is received subsequent to the New Birth. Evidence of this experience is receiving power to be effective in their Christian walk. (Matthew. 3;11; John 14:16-17; Acts 1:8; Acts 2:38-39; Acts 19:1-7; Acts 2:4). We believe in the operation of the gifts of the Spirit in the Body today, as enumerated in I Corinthians Chapters 12-14 and as manifested in the early church.

7. Sanctification

The bible teaches us that without holiness no man can see the Lord. We believe in the Doctrine of Sanctification as a definite, yet progressive work of grace, commencing at the time of regeneration and continuing until the consummation of salvation (Hebrews. 12:14; I Thessalonians. 5: 23: II Peter 3;18; Philippians. 3:12-14; I Corinthians. 1:30).

8. Divine Healing

Healing is for the physical ills of the human body and is wrought by the power of God which can manifest through one, or a combination of several, of the following: the prayer of faith, anointing with oil and prayer of the Elders, laying on of hands, words of knowledge, gifts of healing, working of miracles, treatment and medicines from the medical profession, or we may even be healed as we pray for others. Healing is provided for in the atonement of Christ and it is the privilege of every member of the Church today. (Matthew 21:21-22; Mark 16:18; James 5:14-16; I Peter 2:24; I Corinthians. 12:9-10; Matthew 8:17; Isaiah 53:4-5).

9. Resurrection of the Just and the Return of the Lord

The angels said, "This same Jesus shall so come in like manner." We believe in the personal, literal Second Coming of Jesus Christ. His coming is assured. When He comes, "the dead in Christ shall rise first; then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air" and return with Him to the earth to inherit it. (Acts 1:11; I Thessalonians 4:16-17; Matthew 5:5).

10. Hell and Eternal Retribution

The one who physically dies in his sins without Christ is hopelessly and eternally lost in the Lake of Fire and, therefore, has no further opportunity of hearing the Gospel or repenting. The lake of Fire is literal. The terms "eternal" and "everlasting," used in describing the duration of punishment of the damned in the Lake of Fire, carry the same thought and meaning of endless existence as used in denoting the duration of joy and ecstasy of saints in the presence of God (Hebrews 9:27; Revelation 19:20; Revelation 20:12-15).

11. Faith and Works

We believe that faith without works is dead. Our faith is an active faith that requires the doing of acts in the world. Our faith is not a passive or complacent system of intellectual belief or assent to doctrine. Our faith is an active force in our lives that requires action to be taken. A living, active faith will be manifested not only in belief and mental assent but in actions based upon that belief. If a belief is truly held, it will be acted upon. The act is as much a fundamental aspect of our faith as the belief upon which the act is based. (James 2:14-16; Ephesians 2:8-10; Matthew 7:24-27; Matthew 5:16; 2 Corinthians 5:10; Matthew 16:27; Revelation 22:12).

12. Church Discipline

We Believe in church discipline administered within the relational group in a spirit of meekness and confidentiality. The purposes of such discipline are the restoration of the one subject to the discipline and/or the purification of the church. The steps of discipline are one-on-one private confrontation, private confrontation with witnesses and finally, if there is a failure of resolution, exposure to the church for the purpose of leading to restoration or separation. (Matthew 18: 15-20; Galatians 6:1; Romans 16:17; 2 John 9:11; I Corinthians 5; 2 Corinthians 2:6-8; I Timothy 5:20).

13. Autonomy and Relationship

We believe that the local church, although autonomous, should be related to other local churches and ministries through fellowship and formed relationships. In particular, we believe that there are foundational ministries of Apostles and Prophets that are to assist the local church. The local church should be in a relationship with such a ministry or ministries for the purpose of advice, counsel, oversight, encouragement and help. We believe that the individual believer is autonomous but has a need to be submitted to an authority over them for the purpose of spiritual covering, prayer, instruction and encouragement. We also believe that the local church needs to be submitted to an authority other than its own for the purpose of spiritual covering, prayer, instruction, and encouragement. We all need to be submitted to something greater than ourselves, both individually and corporately (Ephesians 2:20; Ephesians 4:11).

14. Leadership of the Holy Spirit

We believe that in all matters concerning the direction, discipline, ministry and functioning of the Body of Christ; that specific guidance and instruction, and revelation and discernment of truth from falsehood, is available by the leading of the Holy Spirit, who enables us to know spiritual things by the spirit. (Acts 13:1-3; I Timothy 1:18; I Timothy 5:22; John 16:13-15).

15. Laying on of Hands

Laying on of hands is a biblical practice. Jesus practiced it in Mark 10:13-16 as a blessing. It is our grounds for baby dedication instead of baptism. We believe in the laying on of hands for healing (Mark 5:22-23, Mark 5:41; Mark 5:28-31; Acts 28:8; Acts 1:11-12); to confer office (Acts 6:2-6); to receive the Holy Spirit (Acts 8:18); to receive anointing and giftings (Romans 1:11; II Timothy 1:6; Numbers 34:9); to cultivate the anointing (I Timothy 4:14); and for appointment to Eldership, as well as baby dedications.

16. Mediation

Believers are expected to resolve conflicts that may arise among them (Hebrews 12:14; I Thessalonians 5:13-14; Romans 12:18; Matthew 18:15-17; Galatians 6:1) for the sake of the covenant; even where one party has sinned. Jesus teaches us that the first step towards resolution is on the part of the offended. He or she should approach the offender and make his case understood. When these have met and cannot come to agreement, the offended will return with one or two others as witness/mediator (often one of the Elders). If there is still no resolution, the involved parties will come before the Pastor or his designee in preparation for exposing the matter to the congregation. In the case where the party recognized as in the wrong will not respond to the word of the assembled congregation, Jesus teaches that he is to be considered as a foreigner. At this point it is felt that the court system is an acceptable alternative for judgment if the nature of the disagreement necessitates legal action

17. The Role of the Prophetic Ministry in the Church

We believe that God speaks today. There are at least five means of prophecy by which God speaks to His people today. They are the Office of the Prophet, prophetic preaching, prophetic presbytery, the gift of prophecy, and the spirit of prophecy. All five means are received and encouraged in this church. We believe that hearing from God, both individually as members and corporately as a church, through prophecy or any other biblical means chosen by God to communicate, is essential to our faith and walk with God. Prophecy and prophetic utterance is only one method of discerning God's will and direction and it is recognized that none of the methods or means of prophecy will always be 100 percent accurate. Actions should not be taken on the basis of prophetic words alone (without other confirmation). We believe that in the Body of Christ the prophetic presbytery serves the purpose of activating, establishing, releasing, commissioning, and ordaining, people to their office, function, and place of relationship and/or leadership. (I Corinthians 14:3; Ephesians 4:11; Ephesians 2:20; I Timothy 4:14; Acts 13:1-3; Romans12:6; I Peter 4:11; I Corinthians 14:39; I Corinthians 14:1; I Thessalonians 5:19-21; I Timothy 5:22; 2 Timothy 1:6).

18. The Role of the Apostolic Ministry in the Church

We believe in the apostolic ministry for today. An Apostle is one who functions as a father, in one or more localities, laying the foundation, which is Christ, and equipping the saints for the work of ministry. We seek to relate to the Apostles of Christ and to be apostolic ourselves. (I Corinthians 4:15-16; Ephesians 4:11-16; Colossians 1:25-29; Ephesians 2:20).

19. The Three-fold Realm of Prosperity

We believe that there is a three-fold realm of prosperity as it relates to the full nature of man�s spirit, soul, and body. We are encouraged by the Lord to gain wealth according to the three-fold dimension, for the sole purpose of establishing His Covenant in the earth. (Psalms 1, Joshua 1:8; 3 John 2; Deuteronomy 8:18; Proverbs 3:9-10, Romans 14:5)

20. Financial Support

We believe that Scripture sets tithes and offerings as the standard of generous giving in the Kingdom of God. Jesus confirmed this to be true even today in Matthew 23:23-24. It is an important way of declaring and demonstrating His Lordship in our lives. Financial support is to be brought into the storehouse, which is the place where we receive primary spiritual care and oversight as well as identifying with it as "our church."

21. Ordinances

We believe in two primary New Testament ordinances: baptism by immersion and The Lord's Supper. Water baptism has already been discussed previously. The Lord's Supper, or Communion, as it is often called, is representative of the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ

22. Visionary and Government

We believe that there is always a person who is the presiding leader on any leadership team raised up by God. That person will be the first among equals - the leader of the leadership team. We believe that the leader will be an ascension gift (Ephesians 4: 11-14 Apostles, Prophets, Evangelists, Pastors, Teachers), although not necessarily a Pastor. At One Accord Worship Center, however, the title of Senior Pastor is the title given to the leader, through whom the main vision of the church is received, articulated and developed. That person is Apostle Burnell T. Williams, Sr. He will be the one with the final responsibility and decision-making authority in all matters concerning the church. He will be recognized by the grace, anointing, ability, and vision given to him by God (Numbers 27:15-22; I Corinthians 12:18; Ephesians 4:11; Acts 13:1). God will raise up Elders and other ascension gifts to function with and in relationship to the visionary. However, it will be the Senior Pastor who will have sole and final authority in all matters concerning the church, its management and leadership structure, and its operation. It is the intent of the church to utilize these �Bylaws (Tenets of Faith)� as the ruling document having the expressed authority on how One Accord Church (which trades as One Accord Worship Center) will conduct its spiritual, business, and legal affairs. We believe the church will continue until Jesus returns for us; however, legal provision must be made to submit to our federal, state, and local governmental authorities (Romans 1:1, 5-7) as it relates to dissolution. In order to fulfill the legal requirements, dissolution will occur in accordance to the laws governing nonprofit organizations - Internal Revenue Code of 1954, Section 170 (c), (b) and section 509 (a), (1), (2) or (3).

23. Succession

We believe that provisions must be made for the future leadership of the church. The time will come for the mantle of oversight of this local body to be placed upon another couple. The Senior Pastor, being alive, will follow the biblical example of Moses� appointment of Joshua in Deuteronomy 31 and 34. Should the Senior Pastor pass on into eternity, the Co-Pastor, with the advice of the Elders, shall within one year install a successor. Should both Senior and Co-Pastors pass on, the Elders will follow the biblical example of the Apostles in Acts 1:23-26. Here, a process of selection (not to be confused with a vote) replaced Judas Iscariot. This entire process will be conducted decently and in order by the leading of the Holy Spirit. Should the Co-Pastor become the Senior Pastor, her choice of a Co-Pastor must be a seasoned and faithfully committed husband and wife. This will allow for male leadership to be present with the Senior Pastor who is a female.

24. Founders

The Founders of One Accord Church will always be honored and respected as Leaders and Pastors of One Accord Church. The Church will honor and respect them by providing both financial and material resources throughout their entire lives. This family has given their lives for the sake of the Gospel of Jesus Christ here at One Accord Church. As they age, we, the Church, will commit ourselves to caring for them spiritually, mentally, emotionally, financially, and socially. The Founders will be given a place to preach, teach, counsel, train, and mentor those Leaders who should follow them as Pastors and Elders of One Accord Church. They will be memorialized throughout the history of One Accord Church until Jesus Christ�s Second Coming. This Bylaw or Tenet is never to be removed for altered except at the doing of the Founders. The Founders of One Accord Church are Dr. Burnell T. Williams, Sr., Grace M. Williams, and children.

Addendum: These By-Laws may be amended, but not repealed in order to change the spiritual or biblical requirements purposed by the word of God and the Founders of One Accord Church trading as One Accord Worship Center. Any new amendment shall not minimize the leadership�s authority based on fear, mistrust, or control. If the leader has violated the integrity and/or does not demonstrate the competence required of one holding such office, it becomes the responsibility of the Eldership to convene for the sole purpose such matters. Amending the By-Laws must be for the purpose of further clarifying any existing By-Laws. These By-Laws are not meant to benefit or unduly profit any person or group of persons. However, we do hold our Founders and leadership in a place of honor. We intend for Founders to memorialized and leadership to be empowered to lead One Accord Church as these By-Laws express.