About Our Denomination

The Bible Fellowship Church, has a rich and actively progressive history dating back to its origins in the mid 1850’s.  Formerly the Mennonite Brethren in Christ Church, the name changed in 1959 to the Bible Fellowship Church (BFC).  The new name reflects changes that were occurring in the 50’s concerning both theological distinctives and church polity. Today, the BFC is a unique hybrid of reformed theology and anabaptist emphasis on believers baptism by immersion.

Its 60 plus churches and missions are committed to the proclamation of the doctrines of God’s saving grace balanced by the faithful spreading of the gospel message to all men.

As a connectional church*, we are larger than our own local fellowship. We are united with brothers and sisters in other BFC churches (on the basis of a mutual conviction regarding the body of truth found in the Scriptures). Although autonomous*, our churches are not independent*. As was done in Acts 15, where the "apostles, elders, with the whole church" met together at the council of Jerusalem, and passed decrees that affected all the local assemblies, so also, the BFC has chosen a form of church government in which representatives of the particular churches (pastor and delegates) meet annually (Annual Conference) to provide governance, oversight and accountability of the churches and agencies under its care. This body has the power to provide legislation, govern the churches on a denominational level, amend the "Faith and Order," receive appeals and complaints from the particular churches, resolve questions of discipline, examine, license, ordain, install, judge, and remove ministers… It also has the authority to examine and approve or censure particular churches and to provide supervision of vacant pulpits and give counsel in the calling of pastors.


This form of government is based on the conviction that the Church "consists of' many congregations, which need mutual counsel and assistance to preserve soundness of doctrine and discipline, to enter into joint efforts to advance the work of Christ and to prevent infidelity, error and immorality" (F&O 203-5).


Oversight of the particular church is provided by Jesus Christ conveying authority to officers who are gifted and committed to serving Him. These offices are Ministers (teaching elders) & ruling Elders (lay).


The Board of Elders is composed of called pastors and all the active lay elders of the congregation. The elders are elected by the congregation on the basis of their biblical qualifications (1 Tim. 3; Titus 1; 1 Peter 5).


F & O 401-1.3 "The Board of Elders shall have the general oversight of the life and work of' the church, including worship, preaching, ordinances, evangelism, visitation, discipline, finances, and maintenance of the properties."


For more information on the history of the denomination check… www.bfchistory.org


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