We believe that God by His Word and Spirit creates the Church, calling sinful people out of the whole human race into the fellowship of Christ's Body. By the same Word and Spirit, He guides and preserves that new redeemed humanity. The church is not a religious institution or denomination. Rather, the Church universal is made up of those who have become genuine followers of Jesus Christ and have personally appropriated the gospel. The Church exists to worship and glorify God as Father, Son and Holy Spirit. It also exists to serve Him by faithfully doing His will in the earth. The ultimate mission of the Church is worship and the means by which this is accomplished is the making of disciples through the preaching and embracing of the gospel. Upon conversion, newly redeemed men and women are added to a local church in which they devote themselves to teaching, fellowship, the breaking of bread and prayer. All members of the Church universal are to be a vital and committed part of a local church. In this context, they are called to walk out the New Covenant as the people of God and demonstrate the reality of the kingdom of God. The ascended Christ has given gift ministries to the church including apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers for the equipping of Christ's body that it might mature and grow. The gifts of apostle and prophet must be distinguished from the offices of apostle and prophet who spoke with infallibility as God’s progressive revelation in the formation of the scriptures was still in progress. The gift of apostle is seen in church planting and pioneer work and the gift of prophet is seen in those who by God’s grace speak words in season to build up individuals or the whole body via means of revelation/insight or appropriate application of scripture. All prophetic utterances are to be tested in accordance with the scriptures. Through the gift ministries, all members of the church are to be nurtured and equipped for the work of the ministry. In the context of the local church, God's people receive pastoral care and leadership and the opportunity to employ their God-given gifts in His service in relation to one another and to the world. We therefore believe in the priesthood of all believers in understanding that every believer in the church has the gifts and ability to serve one another and lead one another in worship. Furthermore, the local church is to be free from outside interference and is autonomous and self-governing, free to make decisions from within, including the appointment/affirmation of its leaders. The only recognized offices in the New Testament are elders and deacons. Elders (sometimes referred to as Bishops and pastors) are God’s under-shepherds responsible for the oversight, rule and spiritual direction of the church. They are gifted and set aside by the Holy Spirit, in recognition by the church to carry out their tasks. Deacons are those recognised by the church who lead and assist in the practical welfare and mercy ministry of both the church and the local community. The two ordinances given to the church are baptism and the Lord’s Supper. Baptism is to be administered only to those who profess Jesus Christ as Lord and saviour and is an expression of their spiritual baptism into the body of Christ and union with him. The Lord’s Supper is a privilege for all believers to remember the Lord’s work on the cross and be refreshed in their walk with him as they live their lives in a fallen world waiting for his return. Although the emblems used do not change in any shape or form or have any saving merit in them, the Lord’s Supper is a privileged means of grace for believers who partake of it.