The

Birmingham District Association

l_

of

UNITED FREE WILL BAlPTIST CHURCH OF CHRIST

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1941

Proceedings of the

3rd Aonllal Session

Convened at Pleasant Hill Church

Jasper, Alabama, Route 1

OF 'l'BE

THIRD ANNUAL SESSION

OF 'l'IIE

Birmingham District Association OF THE

UNITED FREE WILL BAPTIST

CHURCH OF CHRIST

HELD \Y I 'l'II

Pll'<l~illlt 11 ill F'J·et• \Yill Baptist < 'hnr:·h. .Jaspel·. AIHhHIIIH. Hont·~ 1. :-ieptemlwr 1~ HlHl 1:3. 19-ll .

OFFICER~

.\I odt•r;ll or. Eld. Don~la::. llanis. Binn ill.!..dlillll. ~\Ia . . \ ... ~ ., . .\fod .. Ehl. LPe Hanks. Adams\ illt• . . Ala. < 'l"rk·TJ·c•;l...,., Britt it> I-l<mks, ~\d<llllsYilJP. _\Ia.

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TIH• ll<·xt s<'1 I ing of 1 his J\...;-..oeiat ion will h<• IH•l<l

at 1·nio11 Fr·<·<· \\~ill Baj)ii~t Chnrch. IIPHI' Linns Park i11 .\ r·uo Nt•t t ]Pml'JJ1. lH•ginning li,ri<la.'· 11ight brfore t lit> l'il'-.1 .\fnnd<1~· in NPptemlwl', lfl-l~.

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!·~ r ·,· \\'111 Baptist C:em. ~11 Bond Sl.. :\Iorwlt. :\Iis::-;onrl

PROCEED:tNG$

FRIDAY l\1:0RNING SESSION Proceedings of the Third Annual Session of the

Birmingham District Association convened with Pl easant Hill Church, near Jasper, Alabama, Route 1.

Opened by s inging " H oly Manna". Pra Yer b,• Eld. W. R. Parker. :Vloderat~r taking charge, reading 1 Cor. 1 :1-10. Test fellowship of conferen ce, reading new rule passeu

at la t se sion, inYiting brothers and sister · to seat· with us.

The body went into the eledion of officers. The fol­lowing were elected.

Moderator, Eld. Douglas H arris; Assistant ::\J oderato1·, Eld. Lee H anks; Clerk-T1·eastuer. Brittie Hanks.

Called for church letters: Shilo, Birmingham, Ala.; Meadows Chapel, Blossburg, Ala. ; Pleasant Hill, Jasper , Ala.; Union, Cordova, Aiabama.

Reading Committeee was appointed as follo,vs: Bro. "Lee l\L Bro,vn and Sister Lula Rice.

The church letters were r ead and adopted. The fol­lowing delegates were seated:

Pleasant Hill- Bro. Thomas Key, Bro. Lee lVI. Brown, ister LuJa Rice. Union - Sister P. 7.. Banks. Sister l\Iaggie Sanders. ' hach· Grove- Eld. \\ .... R. Parker.

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Meadow'i Chapel- Sister Jane Harden, Rister Fannie Franklin, Bro . Charlie Franklin.

Shilo- BY letter. ~

A)Jpointment of committees as follo"-s: Devotional - Bro. '\\illiam South, Bro. '\Y. C. Bailey,

. 'ist(lr ~Iaggie Sanders, Sister P. Z. Banks.

Temperance- Eld. '\Y. R . Parker, Bro. Lee ~I. Brown, Bro. 'rhoma K ey.

Business- Sister Lula Rice, Bro. V{illiam South, Eld. Lee H anks.

Deceased Membe.r·s-Sister Fannie Fraukbn, Sister .Jane JiardPn, Sister P. Z. B anks.

Executiv<> and Standing of ::\Iinish·y- Bro. Charlie Ji)>anJdin, Bro. '\Villiam South, Bro. Lee ::\I. Brown.

Auclitiuf:- Eld. \Y R. Parker, B1 o. \Y. l'. Bailey, -3-

Bro. Charlie Franklin. Ordainin(Y' Council-Eld. Lee Hank:-:, Eld. Ocie :Morgan,

Eld. Ilene~ Davenport, Bro. Cha die Franklin, Bro. \Yilliam South.

FRIDAY ELEYEN 0 'CLO< 'I\. SEHVIUE Sermon by Bro. J. F. Thompso11 ; text, Eph. 4 :13-~a.

The servicP ·was enjo~-ed br all, m nch shouting and re-. . JOycmg.

Adjourned for lunch which was serYctl on ~hur~h ground ·.

FRIDAY AFTERXOOX "'ESSJOX Called back in session by singing ·Borne Day · '. Prayer bY Bro. H ence DaYenport. '\Yhile tl;c committees were out Eld. D ouglas Harris

r ead Shilo LE-ague letter. It was m c1\ ed and t:arrit••l that the letter be• pri11te<l in the mimu '"· Also tcn<l an<.l disc ussed <'burch CoYenant and A r til~es of Fa itli.

Eld. LL<~ Hanks offered to gi ,.e property fur the building of an orphans homE'. PLm:-:, were 111<1de to raise mone) fOl' the building of t}J, homP wldt·h is to be started a-; soon as possible.

Each churches· delegates Yoted lt> help raise fuuds for the home by electing a trea"U l'<"'l' to l'Hl'e for funds collected. and sl'tHling it in to tlw A.:-:sociatio11 <·IL'l'k tultil thr pro per officer~ have been e l<'ct t'•L

\Ye '''mt e(.lch Assoeiation to h:.n · <1 pm·t in thi".> great work. so we r.re trYing to c•Jnta · t them H!S .s•lOn as . ~

possible. The derk was reque:-:,tetl tu keep a separate record of all funds -paid iu by Pach dmre:h.

FRIDAY :--.J:GHT ~E i. ,· rcE Bro. O<.:ie :\forgan coucluc:ted the devotional ..,t·rvh.:e,

all Christians taking part. Bt·o. Hence Davenport brought 1 ht> message.

~ ' ... \ TrRD.A:Y .JIORXIXG ~ES'::liON

Opened SPrYices by ~iuging .. rrllt ' Old A teo IIIIi '' r!')

f.-;pttled Long Ago·'. P rnyct· by Bro. H en<·e Davenport. Scripture l'l'Ctd by Douglas Ha1·j·i,, :Matt. 27 ::!I. D.iscusseLl sending out an A!:!~llt..:iation Evang.el.i~t.

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. Y oted fo send out a n association evangelist. Voted _to sl'nd Eld. L<'e Hanks. Also voted to send all evangehst l'nnch; to A~sociation d<.'rk.

RAT{1R.DAY ETJE\TEN 0 'CLOCK HER\'ICR

Eld. \\T. R. Parker brought the message, reading 1 Cur. 12 :27. Tlw messagf' was enjoyed by all.

Then <~gain we <'ll.ioyed a nice lunch on the ehur ·h gronucl~.

'-;,\ 'I'l"RDA Y AFTERXOOX 8ES810X Hon-.;t• "as <·ailed b:trk in c:;ession. singing- ''\Yht>r<' \\-e

\\Till XP YCl' (h'<'W Old". Eld. L<>f' Hanks r a<.l Psalms 13B. Hepor1s of all c· m 1111 it tE'es were. r ead awl tli~posed of

in the <tt'e<• 1)ted for 11. All ~omnuttee. were dtf:,~llarg~d <'X<·ep1 the ~tnndinu- r·onnnittef'. . ..

Yott•d tr> ..,end d( l<• l!ates to Flint Rn·er A'-'~O<.:lH!lUil, <'lcc·tin l.!· Fl<l. LeE' flrnk~. Elll. Douglas H arri'i, Bro. < 'harli<> Fl'anklin.

The ,\-..:soc•iatiou ,. >t ... fl to meE't with Union Church fnr . llt'Xt S(':-.~1011.

Ad,iolll'llPd nnti] J~'rida~- night before th e f ir st Monday m Rept rm h<' r. 1 !.H~ .

:-11\ 'L'I;; I \ y NIGHT SERVICE ·Eid. I)'' g-las Hn r•·1s brought the IJ1 E'S'i<l~P; scriptnrfl,

r >~ir:d• :~:1 -7 <.lnd G(·n . :3:4. Aftf'r <1 :.rood lll f' l->~ .lae Eld. Lee Hanks took ehargc

'Pn·mz the Lord\ :--upper. followed b;\- feet washing. :--f>,.(' l' fl I took par1 in the service.

COl''Il''IITTEE REPORTS

TE~IPERAXCE- We. your Committee on Temperance, sub­mit lh" follow mg report:

Be t C'mpera tc in all things. First. add to your faith, temper­ance. BP not drunlH.: H with wine wherein is excess, but be filled \\ i1 h the Spirit.

- Eld. W. R. Parker, Chairman.

ACDITTNG We. your Auditing Committee, find all books are in order.

- Eld. W. R. Parker, Chairman.

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BuSINESS- We, your Committee on BusinesiS. wish to m ak e the following report:

1. We fin d in the letleT from Union Church a request t.o examine Bro. J. M. H olley and, if found worth y, exchange paper~ with h im.

2. Also find in same letter request for que::;tioning of Bro. ~oah J folley and. if found worthy, that he be ordained to preach the gospel.

3. We recommend that all our ministers and deacons be gTantecl certificate of standing.

4. \\'e recommend that Bro . .J. l\I. Holley and Bro. Noah Holley l>c granted Ji(·ensc.

:3. ·we recommend that all pastors encourage th~ organizing of youu~ people's meetings in the churches.

G. We also recommend that this body elect a young man for the organizing of a young people's meeting in all of our churches.

7. We find that Sbilo and Cnion both ha\'e ask for the next l'e!'sion of this Association.

8. We find that the Shilo eburch r ecommends that Bro. Leroy Smith be examined and if found worthy be given license to prca(·h the gospel.

!J . We also recommend tlu.1 t Bro. W. R. Parker be exammed ami lf found worthy that we exdtange paper·s with him.

UH.l >AINING <. Ol· NCIL-We v•ish to rua.ke the following repo1·t :

Wa have examined Brothers J. M. Holley, W. R. Parker, and Xoah Holley, and we find them to be firm in the faith.

We recommend that Bro. Xoah Holley be ordained; also that we exchange papers with Brothers J. l\1. Holley and W. R. Parker.

DECEASE'D I\IEMBEllS - We, your Committee on Deceased Members, wish to report tbat since we last met two of our siste rs from Shady Grove church have passed away, leaving the homes sad, but with a hope of being reunited on that resu nection morning. Sis ter Liltie Caldwell and Sister H urdeline Click, who left a wonderful testimony for her love ones of J esus and that heavenly home. Pleasent Hill has lost one slster, ! della Godfrey who leaves a husband and two children to mourn her death.

-Sister Fannie Franklin.

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-... .. . MINISTERS ' REPORTS

~~LlJER LEE BANKS - Number Churches Paslored. :1; ~um­ber Sermons Preached. 131: ~umber Baptized. 9; Number Ft111erals Conducted, 3; Number Revivals Assisled in , 5; Num · her Maniages Performed, 2; N umber Miles Traveled . 3198; Amounl of OffeTiugs Received, $162.25; Expense of Ministerial Wo1·k. $fi4.~9.

};JLIJ:IJJR W. R. PARKER- :\o. Churches PaslorPd. 1; Xo. Sermons Preached. 1:14; ~o. :\Jiles Traveled. 3:i0; Amount of Offerings Rerei\'ed. $27.~!0.

ELDER DOt"OLAS HARRIS - Xo. Churches Pa!:ilored. 11011t>:

Xo. Sermons Preached. 67; Xo. Baptized. none; Xo. Marriages Performed. none; ~o. Miles Traveled. 1728; Amount of Offerings Received. 7.6:3: Expense of MiniEterial Work. $11.63.

F.;Jders 1\oah Holley. J. :\f. Holley, and J. :\1. :\Tnrry g;ave

Y<'rhn 1 repnr l ~-t.

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:MINISTERS' ROLL

Ordamed C~;;c '.f n k ::. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . · . .. · .. · · Ad:une"~illl" Ala .

Dou ~;las HJ.rriA . . . . . . . . . . . Rou te 7, Blrmmghanl A\s W H. p8 ,·kl"l' . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Add D\15VH1e. Ala. ~o.lh Holl('y . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Route 1, Empire. Ala. .J. l\L Holley .. ..... ......... . . . . Route 2. Cordova. Ala. J . w. :\1uny ......... . .... .. ...... Route 1. Jasper, Ala.

Licentiates T ~ s 'tl Route 'i, Birmingham. Ala. gJd. JA:I'OY m 1 1 . . ........ · · ... .

Visiting Ministers Rev. Hence Davenport, Rev. 0. C. Morgan, Re,·. Henry Marton. Hev. J. F. Thompson,

Rev. Robert Moncrief, Rev. I. J. Akins.

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YOUNG PEOPLES ' ENDEAVOR OF·SHILOH CHURCH

~·e wil:lh to make the following re'Port: eague organized, .January 26 1941 with Mrs. J. E. Smith

aud MrR. Lydia Hogan a 1 d ' ' J 8. t •I ,, s . ea ers. Average number of pupils

' eac lCJ s, ...,, l\loney raised for buildin . . ' for literature $? 00 Am g and 1 epa1r, $24.90;

W . · -· · ount enclosed for minutes $2 00 e wtsh that all Free Will Bapt'st ·h . h ' · ·

·1 F. . TP· 1 B L c tn c es would organize c I ee n I I aptist League.

Marie Bennett, Secretary,

RoutE- 7, Box 267, Birmingham Alabama.

CLERK 'S REPORT

R t f' ('ijJ(S:

Amount in tJ·easury from last Associati Collected for :\Jj 11 u tes on · · · · · · $ 2.17 Collected for Home .\Ii~~i·o·~. ~~·~d ............... 22.00 J<'rE'e Will Offerin <> . · · · · · · · · · · · · · · 2.10

'rota! ..., · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · . . 7.23 • • • • • • 0 • • • • • • •

1Jtsliursc111

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: • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • $33.50

:>Ull Church Letter Porms and 500 Deacon's Certificates

2·00 .Mfnist~rs Certti'katcs r · • · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · . . . . . . 2 .5o • .nu os ·tor· !a:;t y~~~·

~·ota! .. - . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . u~.2 9 • • 0 • • • • • • -

·· ·················· $2798 0 • 0 • • • • 0 • • • • •

................ $ 7.14

Brittle Hanh:~ . Clerk I

Houte 1, Box 1S4, Adams\'llle, Alabama.

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FREE WILL BAPTIST ARTICLES OF FAITH

1. TilE B1 BLE. The Scriptu1 es of the Old and ?\ew Te.:;ta· ments wen· g iven by inspiration of God, and arc on t inralliblc rule of faith and practice.

2 Timothy 3:16.

2. GOD- There is one li\·ing and true God, n•vea led in nature as thP Creator. PresunT. and Ujgllt"'ou::; GO\'Prno1· or Ll1 P uui verse, and in the Scl'iptures as the Father. Son and Il oly Ghost yel as unc l:od. im nitely ·wise and ~ood. whom all in tdligeut cr<'atn r es art-' ~upremely to loYe, adore a•1d 1)b.-y.

1 Cor. 8:6; :\Iatt. 28:19.

:.:. CHHIST.- Christ i~ God manif.,,t iu Lite fte::;h; in 1~-" divi11e natutt• truly Gnd. in Hi~ huPlal! nature nuly man. Thf' medic. tor b"t ween God and man. once r·rucifi,·d. He is now ri~~:n and glo ·ii1ed <n d ic; ou• eYe1· pre~ent Sa•;ior and Lord.

St. John 1:1-12.

4. T ilE H OLY SP [}UT.- ThP Script•.tres a~·i' 11 t o the ll<'I Y S11irit all lhe :-~ttril ntc. or Co<L He i:' the HPJ roH•:·. ('fl'Jl-

fortrT f'uide and '3'-tll tilll'r nf mPn.

St. John 16:i-8; Acts 2:4: Eph. 4:46.

5. TilE (:OYEn:..;-:\fE'\'T CF GOJJ.- Goo , xl:'• ci.,eF a w ·se atHi bene\'olc•nt !Jl'OYidonre n' ~'>!' all I.Jr>ings .,nd all thin:!S by main· ta!ning the c(Jnslitution end laws of nature. rre also per·i'ortn• special uct::< of gruel', unt olherwi::>e providEd for. as the hight:3l wPlfarc or wan reqntres.

Psalm 22:28; 91:2.

ti. TilE SI:\F'T.:'L).. ESS OF :\IA~.- :\!all was t•reut~rl h1no1!ent, but by disolJedienc, fell nno a state of c;in and condemnatluo. His po<;terity, thert:'l'ore inherited a rallcu uature of :;u,!n tendencif"l:' that all who f'Otne to yt-ars of n1 I'Ollntaldlit} ln, and bc:l'um~ cuilt~ bdort- God.

Gen. 2:17: 3: 1!:1. 7 THE \YORK OF CHRIST.- The Sou ul God. by Hb in• ::u··

nation. life. ::utlerinc:'. death und 1 e::.:mtt er.:tion an'ec·t~;d for :.!11 a 1 edPmption trom sin tl.at b t'ull and 11 ee ·utd i~ the ground or <:al\'ation by taittl.

1 J ohn 2:2 . . ~. 'l llE lE~:l\I~ OF SAL\'_.\T!Ol\_- ThP CJt.diticns ut 83.1\a­tion aru: I. Ht>p ttl< ll f' ,Jr ~ JH'elt sOlTO';'.' ft•r si n at.d the heart~· rt.•nuPd~lti( u ni it ~ !-o.:ith ot the unre~cned committal M Cll•! '<; :·nlf In C'hri ;t s S:1YL~ 3TJU Lord. v. ilh 1.urp.1~e tu lo\..: <tht! nh ,. Him ill ;,II rlliiJ .r~. In the ··:,en i P of .;a\ \u~ rnlth lht-> c:ou J !~ n• ,. ul :):; l:l• IInh- S!Jil'it in···rl 1 rom the don.ii.hhL of sin and h(>(•(lJU( ; ( 1• i!ri r f n.vJ :{. { 'nnlillll l!.!vc! in faith and obeclil·n~.:~ unt il death.

2Cor. 7:10; Prov. 23:13. --9- ,

9. ELECTlOi\'.- Uod determined from the beginning to save all who should comply wHh the conditions of Rnlvntion. Hence by fruith in Christ men become His elrct.

1 Tim. 2:4. 10. FREEDOM OF WILL.- The human will is fr('e> and aelf·

c·ontrolled, llaving power to yield to the infiuence of thE> tJ'UI h nnd the Spirit and live. OJ' to resist them and peri!'; h.

Joshua 24:15. 11. SALVATION FREE.- God desireg the salvation of an.

the Gospel ln-.iles all. the Holy Spirit strives with all. and whosoever \\ill may ~'Ome and take of rhe water or Life freely.

Rev. 22:17. -1:!. PERSEVERAXCE.- All l>eli~vcrs in Chrh·l. who through

grace, persevere in holiness to the enrt of I ift>. ha' t' the p1·omise of elE!rnal salvation.

St. John 15:6; 2 Peter 2:20-22.

13. GOSPEL ORDI~AXCES.- Baptism. or the immersion of believers in "'·ater, and the Lo1·d's SUJJJJt'1'. are ordinances tu bu perpetuated under the Gospel: Feet ll'asl1i11~. an 0rdinanre teaching humility, of uurversal obligation. and to he adtniDJ:o.­tered to all true bellevers.

.Mark 16:15; 2 Cor. 4:5; St.. John 13:14.

14. Tffr; CHRISTIAN SABBATH. The divine law requires that one day in seven be set apart from secular employ111ents and amusements. for resL. worship. holy works, and a('~ivitie-s. and fo1 pensonal communion with God.

<;en. 2:3; Exod. 20:8-11.

15. RESL"RRECTIO~, Jl'"DG~IENT, AND FINAL RETRI­BUTIQ.:\1. '1 he Scriptures teach the resurrection of all men at lhe last clay They that ha .. -e done good '' il1 come forth to the resurrection of life. and they that have done e'.·iJ unto lhl' n : . .:une< lion of d Jmual ion: rben the wicked shall ··~o awa}' into eternal punish men' :,ut the right t>OUs into etet·nal lift-

John 5:29; ~Jatt. :}5·46.

CHURCH COVENANT

Having given ourselves to God by faith in Christ and ad­joining the word of God as out· rule and faith and p1·actice, we now give ourselves to one another by the will or God in this goJemn C'ovenant. We will not forget the asl:iemhling or ourselves togethet· for church conference.

We agree to accept Christian admonition and reproof with lll~c->kn<'RH and watch over one anotheJ· ln luYc. endeavoring to " keep the unity of the Spirit" in the bonds or peace, Lo !-l tr~>nAthen th<' weak and admonish the c.•neing. " '(' everyone, hold Chri..:itiau p1 indples sacred.

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