Ministry/Church/Venue Facilities Use Policy

Purpose Statement

Our Report Ministries & Publications facilities and meeting places were provided through God’s benevolence and by the sacrificial generosity of the Body of Christ. The church desires that its facilities and meeting places be used for the fellowship of the Body of Christ and to bring God glory. However, we make our facilities and meeting places available to non-believers as a witness to our faith, however, they must NOT be hostile to the Gospel, yet seeking the Lord Jesus Christ for repentance, in a spirit of Christian charity, and as a means of demonstrating the Gospel of Jesus Christ in practice.

But facility and meeting places use will not be permitted to persons or groups holding, advancing, or advocating beliefs or practices that conflict with the biblical faith or moral teachings, which are summarized in, among other places, the church’s constitution and bylaws. Nor may ministries facilities be used for activities that contradict, or are deemed inconsistent with, our biblical faith or moral teachings. The pastor, or his official designee, is the final decision-maker concerning use of this ministries facilities and meeting places.

This restricted facility use policy is necessary for two important reasons. First, the ministry may not in good conscience materially cooperate in activities or beliefs that are contrary to our faith. Allowing its facilities and meeting places to be used for purposes that contradict the ministries beliefs would be material cooperation/agreeement with that activity, and would be a grave violation of our biblical faith and practice. (2 Cor 6:14; 1 Thess 5:22.)

Second, it is very important that this ministry present a consistent message to the community, and that the ministry staff and members conscientiously maintain that message as part of their witness to the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Allowing facilities to be used by groups or persons who express beliefs or engage in practices contrary to the biblical church’s faith would have a severe, negative impact on the message that the Body of Christ strives to promote. It could also cause confusion and scandal to this ministry and the communities we serve because they may reasonably perceive that by allowing use of our facilities, this ministry agrees with the beliefs or practices of the persons or groups using its facilities and meeting places.

Therefore, in no event shall persons or groups who hold, advance, or advocate beliefs, or advance, advocate, or engage in practices that contradict the ministry faith use any of the ministry facility and meeting places. Nor may ministry facilities and meeting places be used in any way that contradicts our/the biblical faith. This policy applies to all ministry facilities and properties, regardless of whether the facilities are connected to the church’s sanctuary, because the church sees all of its property as holy and set apart to worship God. (Col 3:17.)