Camp Statement of Faith & Constitution

CONSTITUTION Of CAMP SHILOH

ARTICLE I – NAME

The name of this camp shall be Camp Shiloh. It shall be incorporated under the above name.

ARTICLE II – PURPOSE

The object and purpose of this camp shall be to plan and administer a Bible camp and program for the participating Baptist Churches, and for the spiritual, educational and recreational benefit of the Constituency.

ARTICLE III – STATEMENT OF FAITH

The Holy Scriptures: We believe in the plenary – verbal inspiration of the Scriptures. That the Bible is the infallible and authoritative Word of God to men (II Timothy 3:13-17; II Peter 1:2-21).

The Godhead: We believe in the one true God, eternally existing in three persons; Father, Son and Holy Spirit, the three persons being equal in power and majesty yet executing distinct but harmonious offices (Psalm 90:2; Matthew 3:13-17; Genesis 1:26-27).

The Holy Spirit: We believe in the personality and power of the Holy Spirit. That He was sent into this world according to the promise of the Father and the Son, to reprove the world of sin, and sanctify believers, and to guide us into all truth (John 16:13; Genesis 1:2; Acts 2:16-18; John 14:16-18; John 16:8; I Corinthians 6:11; Ephesians 2:1; Ephesians 1:13).

The Local Church: We believe that a local church is a company of believers in Jesus Christ immersed on a credible confession of faith, and associated for worship, work and fellowship and to exercise the various gifts of the Holy Spirit. We believe that Jesus Christ instituted the ordinance of baptism, by immersion, to be observed once after salvation. That He instituted the Lord’s Supper be observed perpetually and that He committed these unto the local Church until He Himself comes to catch home His Bride. We believe, moreover, that the Great Commission as given to the disciples, “Go ye into all the world and preach the Gospel to every creature . . . Baptizing them in the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit” is the great commission of the church today (Matthew 16:18; Ephesians 1:22-23; Ephesians 5:25-30; I Corinthians 3:11; Mark 15:16; Matthew 28:19,20).

The Person of Christ: We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ is the only begotten Son of God, born of the Virgin Mary, conceived of the Holy Spirit; that He is truly God and truly man (John 3:16; Luke 1:26-35; John 20:3; I Timothy 2:5; I Corinthians 15:3-8).

The Work of Christ: We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, as a substitutionary sacrifice and that all who receive Him are justified on the ground of His shed blood. We believe in the resurrection of the crucified body of our Lord Jesus Christ and that our redemption and salvation is guaranteed to us by His literal, physical resurrection from the dead; in His bodily ascension into heaven: and in His present life there for us as High Priest and Intercessor (Leviticus 17:11; Matt. 28:5,6; Acts 2:9; Romans 3:24; Romans 4:25; I Corinthians 15:3-4, I Corinthians 15:12-19; II Cor. 5:21; Hebrews 4:14-16; Hebrews 7:23-25; Hebrews 9:22-24; I John 2:1-2; I Pet. 3:18, I Pet. 2:24).

Justification by Faith: We believe that men are justified and saved, not by meritorious works, but on the single ground of faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and His finished work (Titus 3:5; Ephesians 2:8,9; Romans 3:28, Romans 5:1).

Eternal Security: We believe that all who are justified by Jesus Christ are saved forever, and nothing can separate them from the Love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our lord (Romans 8:38-39; Romans 6:4; Ephesians 4:5; I Corinthians 11:23-29).

The Eternal State: We believe that the spirit of every believer at death departs to be with Christ, there to abide with Him in conscious bliss and rejoicing for eternity. The spirit of every unbeliever at death is forever banished from the lord in a conscious condition of remorse and punishment (II Corinthians 5:8; Philippians 1:23; John 14:1-31; Isaiah 9:17; Luke 16:19-26; Revelation 20:11-15).

The Second Advent: We believe in the imminent personal, visible, and bodily, pretribulational, pre-millennial return of Jesus Christ according to His Word, to this earth again to judge the nations, to bind and imprison the Devil, to establish His Millennial Kingdom of Peace and Righteousness upon the earth (John 14:3; Acts 1:11; I Thessalonians 4:16-17; Matthew 25:31-46; Revelation 19:20).

Satan: We believe in the personality and diabolical cunning of Satan, who is also called the Devil. That he is the archenemy of God, and the Deceiver of mankind (Isaiah 14:12-14; Matthew 4:2-11; II Corinthians 4:3-4).

The State of Men: We believe that man was created in the image and likeness of God, but that in Adam’s sin the race fell and thereby incurred not only physical death, but also spiritual death, which is separation from God; and that all mankind have inherited a sinful nature, became willful sinners with the first expression of personal choice, are totally unable to regain their former position, and are without excuse before God (Genesis 1:26; Genesis 3:1-24; Romans 3:23; Romans 5:12).

Christian Behavior: In view of all these things, “What manner of persons ought we to be in all holy conversation and godliness?” We believe that as Christians, we should follow Christ, even as He commanded. As followers of Christ we must abstain from all appearance of evil, ceasing to allow those things which cause our brothers to stumble, or be offended, or made weak, and at all times seeking to walk worthy of the vocation wherewith we are called (II Peter 3:11; Matthew 4:19; I Thessalonians 5:22; Romans 14:21; Ephesians 4:1; II Corinthians 5:20).

Creation: We believe in the Genesis account of the six 24 hour days of creation and that it is to be accepted literally and not allegorically or figuratively; that man was created directly in God’s own image and after His own likeness; that man’s creation was not a matter of evolution or evolutionary change of species, or development through interminable periods of time from lower to higher forms; that all animal and vegetable life was made directly and God’s established law was that they should bring forth only ‘after their kind.’ (Genesis 1-2; Hebrews 11:3)

ARTICLE IV – AFFILIATION

Affiliating churches for this camp shall be those who concur with the articles of this constitution, and shall stipulate by church action and communication of such action a desire to associate in this camping program. Representatives of these churches shall constitute the Camp Board. Non-affiliating churches are invited to attend meetings, but without the privilege of vote or holding office or camp leadership position.

Any church not actively participating in the board meetings for a period of two consecutive years shall be considered to be disinterested and shall be contacted by letter to determine its desire to remain affiliated with the camp association.

ARTICLE V – OFFICERS

The officers of this camp are elected at the spring meeting each year, and assume office on September 1 following their election. The new officers and at-large members of the executive committee will present their recommendations for deans for the next year at the fall meeting. Their duties shall be as follows:

Camp Director: He shall be general chairman and shall endeavor to coordinate all of the camp activity. He shall moderate all business sessions unless he chooses another to act in his stead. He shall be in position of final authority in matters of decision and dispute, subject to reversal only by majority vote of the corporate body in business session. He shall call a camp business meeting each fall & spring for the purpose of electing all officers and conducting other matters of business. He shall call special business meetings as required and/or at the request of the majority of the pastors of participating churches.

Treasurer: He shall have charge of all monies and records thereof and shall disperse checks from bank deposits in the name of the camp. He shall receive orders of payment through the Camp Director, Camp Deans, or the Camp Board. Disputed payments are to be brought to the Camp Director. The treasurer shall compile a general financial report to be given at the regular business meetings.

Secretary: He shall keep the minutes from each called meeting for the business sessions and shall have same available for rereading upon call. He shall act as registrar of each camp and shall be present at the camp at the time of registration. He shall collect all registration fees and transmit them to the Treasurer.

ARTICLE VI – EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

The Executive Committee of the Camp Board shall consist of the Officers and two members elected at large at the spring meeting, and assume office on September 1 following their election.

The duties of the Executive Committee shall be:

To represent the Camp Board during the months between meetings in all areas not limited to the full Camp Board or to the Camp Director.

To conduct all business delegated to it by the Camp Board.

To choose the deans for each year’s camps. This shall be done by deliberation of the Executive Committee, and shall be presented to the full Camp meeting in the fall prior to camp for final ratification.

ARTICLE VII – VOTING CONSTITUENCY

Eligible voters shall consist of the pastor and two other messengers from each participating church, duly chosen by local church action. A quorum shall consist of fifty (50) percent of the churches participating in the camping program the previous year. All camp meetings shall be duly advertised by the Secretary sending letters of announcement to pastors of participating churches at a recommended two weeks in advance of the meeting.

ARTICLE VII – AMENDMENTS

This constitution may be amended at any regular meeting provided such amendment has been read and placed in file with the Secretary at the previous meeting. A two-thirds vote of the ballots cast shall be necessary to carry such an amendment except Article III, which shall require a three-fourths vote of the ballots cast to carry.

ARTICLE VIII – CAMP STAFF

Camp staff shall consist of such personnel as required to conduct a efficient and effective camping program. Personnel required and their assigned duties may vary with the number and ages of campers. Each camp will generally have the following:

Camp Dean

Camp Evangelist

Camp Missionary

Music Director

Recreation Director/Life guard

Nurse

Teachers

Counselors

Cooks

Duties of the Camp Staff shall be available in printed form from the Camp Secretary. These are to be read and discussed prior to the camp and followed throughout the camp session.

Amended and adopted: April 18, 2005.