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Our History:
SULPHUR FORK MISSIONARY BAPTIST CHURCH
Organized: September 14, 1888
Sulphur Fork Missionary Baptist Church was organized as an independent body at a meeting held for that purpose at the old Bon Air school house in Sumner County, Tennessee on September 14, 1888.
The building that housed Bon Air School is located approximately 200 yards from the current church site. It stands today as a converted residence.
The presbytery was enrolled with Elders: S.H. Pope and J.S. Thompson from New Middle Fork Baptist Church. Deacons enrolled were J.W. Simpson from Pleasant Hill Baptist Church; Levi Cantrel from Rock Bridge Baptist Church and T. Stamps from New Middle Fork Baptist Church. The presbytery was organized by electing S.H. Pope as Moderator and J.S. Thompson as Clerk. The following brethren and sisters presented themselves with letters to be constituted into a Baptist church: Brothers L.J.Escue; W.W. Karr and B.F. Gregory; Sisters M.L.Escue and M.E. Escue.
After presenting and reading of their Articles of Faith and the adoption of same, the constitutional sermon was delivered by Elder S.H. Pope. Prayer was offered by J.S. Thompson. The presbytery extended the hand of fellowship and the above brothers and sisters were appointed as an independent Baptist church.
The church then called Brother L.J. Escue and R.W. Karr as Deacons and set them before the presbytery for ordination. They were examined by J.S. Thomas. Sermon and prayer was given by Elder S.H. Pope and the laying on of hands was done by the presbytery.
Brother B.F. Gregory was elected as the church clerk.
Brother J.W Bracken, Sister Emma Lamb and Brother J.L. Bell were received into the church.
Elder J.S Thompson was elected as the first pastor.
A motion was made, seconded and adopted to call the church Sulphur Fork. According to the minutes of record, at its inception, Sulphur Fork Church was called by the name United Baptist Church of Christ at Sulphur Fork and used this name until it joined the Wiseman Association in September of 1916. The preamble to the Wiseman Association as recorded in J.H. Grime’s History of Middle Tennessee Baptist states, “We, the missionary Baptist churches of Christ”….and this was adopted by Sulphur Fork. Thereafter, the Missionary Baptist Churches of Christ at Sulphur Fork was used until November 1934 when without reference to change, Sulphur Fork Missionary Baptist Church was used and is still used today.
This church is an offspring of Rock Bridge Missionary Baptist Church located on the Highland Rim in Sumner County, which was established on January 20, 1883. The Rock Bridge church is an offspring of Pleasant Hill Missionary Baptist Church located off Dobbins Pike in Sumner County.
Sulphur Fork Church represented in the Bays Fork Association from August 1890 until September 1916. At that time the church petitioned the Wiseman Association and convened with them through 1952. The Wiseman Association, having grown so large, agreed to divide, thus, in 1952 the Siloam Missionary Baptist Association was constituted and consisted of 24 churches, including Sulphur Fork. They continue with Siloam Association today.
Four Churches have been organized from Sulphur Fork:
SULPHUR FORK MISSIONARY BAPTIST CHURCH
Organized: September 14, 1888
Sulphur Fork Missionary Baptist Church was organized as an independent body at a meeting held for that purpose at the old Bon Air school house in Sumner County, Tennessee on September 14, 1888.
The building that housed Bon Air School is located approximately 200 yards from the current church site. It stands today as a converted residence.
The presbytery was enrolled with Elders: S.H. Pope and J.S. Thompson from New Middle Fork Baptist Church. Deacons enrolled were J.W. Simpson from Pleasant Hill Baptist Church; Levi Cantrel from Rock Bridge Baptist Church and T. Stamps from New Middle Fork Baptist Church. The presbytery was organized by electing S.H. Pope as Moderator and J.S. Thompson as Clerk. The following brethren and sisters presented themselves with letters to be constituted into a Baptist church: Brothers L.J.Escue; W.W. Karr and B.F. Gregory; Sisters M.L.Escue and M.E. Escue.
After presenting and reading of their Articles of Faith and the adoption of same, the constitutional sermon was delivered by Elder S.H. Pope. Prayer was offered by J.S. Thompson. The presbytery extended the hand of fellowship and the above brothers and sisters were appointed as an independent Baptist church.
The church then called Brother L.J. Escue and R.W. Karr as Deacons and set them before the presbytery for ordination. They were examined by J.S. Thomas. Sermon and prayer was given by Elder S.H. Pope and the laying on of hands was done by the presbytery.
Brother B.F. Gregory was elected as the church clerk.
Brother J.W Bracken, Sister Emma Lamb and Brother J.L. Bell were received into the church.
Elder J.S Thompson was elected as the first pastor.
A motion was made, seconded and adopted to call the church Sulphur Fork. According to the minutes of record, at its inception, Sulphur Fork Church was called by the name United Baptist Church of Christ at Sulphur Fork and used this name until it joined the Wiseman Association in September of 1916. The preamble to the Wiseman Association as recorded in J.H. Grime’s History of Middle Tennessee Baptist states, “We, the missionary Baptist churches of Christ”….and this was adopted by Sulphur Fork. Thereafter, the Missionary Baptist Churches of Christ at Sulphur Fork was used until November 1934 when without reference to change, Sulphur Fork Missionary Baptist Church was used and is still used today.
This church is an offspring of Rock Bridge Missionary Baptist Church located on the Highland Rim in Sumner County, which was established on January 20, 1883. The Rock Bridge church is an offspring of Pleasant Hill Missionary Baptist Church located off Dobbins Pike in Sumner County.
Sulphur Fork Church represented in the Bays Fork Association from August 1890 until September 1916. At that time the church petitioned the Wiseman Association and convened with them through 1952. The Wiseman Association, having grown so large, agreed to divide, thus, in 1952 the Siloam Missionary Baptist Association was constituted and consisted of 24 churches, including Sulphur Fork. They continue with Siloam Association today.
Four Churches have been organized from Sulphur Fork:
- Cedar Grove Missionary Baptist Church in Gallatin, TN
- Emmanuel Missionary Baptist Church in Portland, TN
- Maple Grove Missionary Baptist Church (No. 3) – Liberty Community in Sumner County, TN
- Pipers Chapel Missionary Baptist Church – Highway 52 East- Portland, TN
Original Articles of Faith and By-Laws of Decorum
Sulphur Fork Missionary Baptist Church was organized as an independent body at a meeting held for that purpose at the old Bon Air school house in Sumner County, Tennessee on September 14, 1888. At that time, the church adopted seven (7) Articles of Faith and eighteen (18) By-laws of Decorum. These have remained in effect with no record of addition, subtraction, or alteration (other than what is noted below regarding Article 17 of By-laws of Decorum). In July of 2014, the Church appointed a committee to review, update and clarify the existing Articles of Faith and Rules of Decorum and to bring back to the church a recommendation in the form of a Draft Document. The objective was to better define the position of the church with regards to organization, membership and doctrine while insuring that the original foundation of the Church’s organization was in no way altered. It was also felt this would enable the publication of a formal document which would benefit current members and provide a clear guideline for future generations. The original Articles of Faith and By-laws of Decorum adopted in 1888 are as follows:
ARTICLES OF FAITH
Article 1. We believe in one true and living God and that there is a trinity of persons in the Godhead. The Father, Son, and the Holy Spirit and they are all in one.
Article 2. We believe that the scriptures of the Old and New Testaments are the Word of God and that they, and only they, are the true guidelines of faith and practice.
Article 3. We believe in the fall of man and all his posterity, the corruption of his nature and the impossibility for a man to recover from that state by his own free will or ability.
Article 4. We believe that sinners are justified in the sight of God by the righteousness of Jesus Christ being imputed to them and that good works are the fruits of faith and follows justification. Works only justify us in the sight of men and are evidence of our gracious state.
Article 5. We believe that the Saints will persevere and that none of them will be lost.
Article 6. We believe that there will be a resurrection of the dead, a general judgment and that the happiness of the righteous and punishment of the wicked will be eternal.
Article 7. We believe that baptism by immersion and the Lord’s Supper are sacred ordinances of the house of God and should be attended to strictly.
BY-LAWS OF DECORUM
Article 1. We believe it is our duty to meet once every month to keep the house of God in order.
Article 2. It shall be the duty of the moderator to invite visiting members of the same faith and order to sit and work with us.
Article 3. The fellowship of the church shall be called for.
Article 4. A door of the church shall be opened for reception of members.
Article 5. Reference shall be called for.
Article 6. Business in gospel order to be attended to according to 18th chapter of Matthew and other scriptures respecting discipline.
Article 7. Only one person shall speak at a time who shall rise from his seat and address the moderator who shall not be interrupted until he is done speaking.
Article 8. He shall strictly adhere to the subject and in no wise reflect on the person who has spoken before. He shall make no remarks on his slips or failings or imperfections but shall fairly state his case so as to give his light or idea.
Article 9. No person shall abruptly break off from the church or absent themselves therefrom without leave of the moderator.
Article 10. No person shall speak more than three times to one subject without leave obtained from the moderator.
Article 11. No member shall have the liberty of talking or whispering during the time of public worship.
Article 12. A motion and second shall be attended to without delay, unless opposed by a majority of the church, which shall be in all cases except in the accepting of members which shall be unanimous.
Article 13. The delegates to the Association shall be chosen by the majority of the church.
Article 14. No member shall be permitted to address another by any other name than brother or sister.
Article 15. The moderator shall not prohibit or interrupt any member from speaking unless he breaks the rules of this decorum.
Article 16. The names of the several members shall be called over as often as the church shall think proper.
Article 17. Any member failing to attend two church meetings shall give reason before he takes his seat on the third.
(Article 17 was rescinded in the business meeting of March 1894)
Article 18. Any member that shall break these rules willfully and knowingly shall be reproved as the church may think proper.
The following Constitution, By-laws, Rules of Decorum and Articles of Faith were adopted as an addendum to the original on September 14, 2014.
ARTICLES OF FAITH
Article 1. We believe in one true and living God and that there is a trinity of persons in the Godhead. The Father, Son, and the Holy Spirit and they are all in one.
Article 2. We believe that the scriptures of the Old and New Testaments are the Word of God and that they, and only they, are the true guidelines of faith and practice.
Article 3. We believe in the fall of man and all his posterity, the corruption of his nature and the impossibility for a man to recover from that state by his own free will or ability.
Article 4. We believe that sinners are justified in the sight of God by the righteousness of Jesus Christ being imputed to them and that good works are the fruits of faith and follows justification. Works only justify us in the sight of men and are evidence of our gracious state.
Article 5. We believe that the Saints will persevere and that none of them will be lost.
Article 6. We believe that there will be a resurrection of the dead, a general judgment and that the happiness of the righteous and punishment of the wicked will be eternal.
Article 7. We believe that baptism by immersion and the Lord’s Supper are sacred ordinances of the house of God and should be attended to strictly.
BY-LAWS OF DECORUM
Article 1. We believe it is our duty to meet once every month to keep the house of God in order.
Article 2. It shall be the duty of the moderator to invite visiting members of the same faith and order to sit and work with us.
Article 3. The fellowship of the church shall be called for.
Article 4. A door of the church shall be opened for reception of members.
Article 5. Reference shall be called for.
Article 6. Business in gospel order to be attended to according to 18th chapter of Matthew and other scriptures respecting discipline.
Article 7. Only one person shall speak at a time who shall rise from his seat and address the moderator who shall not be interrupted until he is done speaking.
Article 8. He shall strictly adhere to the subject and in no wise reflect on the person who has spoken before. He shall make no remarks on his slips or failings or imperfections but shall fairly state his case so as to give his light or idea.
Article 9. No person shall abruptly break off from the church or absent themselves therefrom without leave of the moderator.
Article 10. No person shall speak more than three times to one subject without leave obtained from the moderator.
Article 11. No member shall have the liberty of talking or whispering during the time of public worship.
Article 12. A motion and second shall be attended to without delay, unless opposed by a majority of the church, which shall be in all cases except in the accepting of members which shall be unanimous.
Article 13. The delegates to the Association shall be chosen by the majority of the church.
Article 14. No member shall be permitted to address another by any other name than brother or sister.
Article 15. The moderator shall not prohibit or interrupt any member from speaking unless he breaks the rules of this decorum.
Article 16. The names of the several members shall be called over as often as the church shall think proper.
Article 17. Any member failing to attend two church meetings shall give reason before he takes his seat on the third.
(Article 17 was rescinded in the business meeting of March 1894)
Article 18. Any member that shall break these rules willfully and knowingly shall be reproved as the church may think proper.
The following Constitution, By-laws, Rules of Decorum and Articles of Faith were adopted as an addendum to the original on September 14, 2014.
