Church Facility Use Policy
APPROVED IN REGULAR MEMBERS’ MEETING - OCTOBER 25, 2015
UPDATES APPROVED IN REGULAR MEMBERS’ MEETING - APRIL 23, 2023
UPDATES APPROVED IN REGULAR MEMBERS’ MEETING - APRIL 23, 2023
Purpose Statement
The church’s facilities were provided through God’s benevolence and by the sacrificial
generosity of church members. The church desires that its facilities be used for the fellowship of
the Body of Christ and to bring God glory. Although the facilities are not generally open to the
public, we make our facilities available to approved non-members as a witness to our faith, in a
spirit of Christian charity, and as a means of demonstrating the Gospel of Jesus Christ in
practice.
But facility use will not be permitted to persons or groups holding, advancing, or advocating
beliefs or practices that conflict with the church’s faith or moral teachings, which are
summarized in, among other places, the church’s constitution and bylaws. Nor may church
facilities be used for activities that contradict, or are deemed inconsistent with, the church’s faith
or moral teachings. The Senior Pastor, or his official designee, is the final decision-maker
concerning use of church facilities.
This restricted facility use policy is necessary for two important reasons. First, the church may
not in good conscience materially cooperate in activities or beliefs that are contrary to its faith.
Allowing its facilities to be used for purposes that contradict the church’s beliefs would be
material cooperation with that activity, and would be a grave violation of the church’s faith and
religious practice. (2 Corinthians 6:14; 1 Thessalonians 5:22.)
Second, it is very important that the church present a consistent message to the community,
and that the church 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 church’s faith would have a severe,
negative impact on the message that the church strives to promote. It could also cause
confusion and scandal to church members and the community because they may reasonably
perceive that by allowing use of our facilities, the church agrees with the beliefs or practices of
the persons or groups using its facilities.
Therefore, in no event shall persons or groups who hold, advance, or advocate beliefs, or
advance, advocate, or engage in practices that contradict the church’s faith use any church
facility. Nor may church facilities be used in any way that contradicts the church’s faith. This
policy applies to all church facilities, 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.)
Approved Users and Priority of Use
The Senior Pastor or official designee must approve all uses of church facilities. Generally,
priority shall be given to organized groups that are part of the ministry, organization, or
sponsored activities of the church and church members. Church facilities and equipment will be
made available to outside not-for-profit groups/organizations meeting the following
qualifications:
1. A church member must be a part of the group.
2. Groups or persons requesting facility use must affirm that their beliefs and practices and
planned uses of the facilities are consistent with the church’s faith and practice.
3. The group or person seeking facility use must submit a signed “Church Facility Reservation
Request and Agreement” form.
4. The group or person seeking facility use must be willing to take responsibility for the facilities
and equipment used and must agree to abide by the church’s rules of conduct for facility use, as
stated below and as described in any additional instructions by church staff.
Facility Use Hours
Requested hours of use must be approved by the Senior Pastor or official designee.
Scheduling Events
Facility use requests shall be made to by submitting the “Church Facility Reservation Request
and Agreement” form to the church office. The event will be reserved and placed on the church
calendar only when the pastor or official designee approves the use.
Fees
Use of church facilities is subject to a use and maintenance fee. Church ministries are not
required to pay a fee. All fees must be paid at least two weeks prior to the event.
Facility Use Guidelines
1. Alcohol Policy: No alcohol may be served in church facilities.
2. Smoking Policy: Smoking is not permitted in any church facility.
3. Groups are restricted to only those areas of the facility that the group has reserved.
4. Pets: No pets, other than service dogs, are allowed in any church facility.
5. Church equipment, such as tables and chairs, must be returned to original placement, unless
arranged otherwise prior to the event.
6. All lights must be turned off and doors locked upon departure.
7. Abusive or foul language, violent behavior, and drug or alcohol use are strictly prohibited on
church premises. Any person exhibiting such behavior will be required to leave the premises.
8. Any person or group must sign the “Church Facility Reservation Request and Agreement”
form prior to reservation of church facilities.
Facility Use for Weddings
Because God has ordained marriage and defined it as the covenant relationship between a
man, a woman, and Himself, First Baptist Church of Magnolia, Arkansas only recognizes
marriages between a biological man and a biological woman. The Pastors and staff of First
Baptist Church shall only participate in weddings and solemnize marriages between one man
and one woman. Further, the Pastors and staff of First Baptist Church are not required to
participate in any weddings and/or solemnize any vows. Finally, the facilities and property of
First Baptist Church shall only host weddings between one man and one woman.
Guidelines of the church’s “Facility Use Policy” apply to the use of the building and property for
a wedding. Additional facility requirements pertaining particularly to weddings can be found in
the church’s “Wedding Policy”.
Facility Use for Funerals
A Christian funeral affords an opportunity for the church and pastors to give comfort to the
grieving from the Scriptures and to preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ. The church facilities are
available to members and non-members for such funerals. Officiating ministers from outside the
church must affirm that their beliefs and practices and planned uses of the facilities are
consistent with the church’s faith and practice. The Senior Pastor or his designee must give final
approval for a funeral of a non-church member and for any outside officiating minister.
The church’s facilities were provided through God’s benevolence and by the sacrificial
generosity of church members. The church desires that its facilities be used for the fellowship of
the Body of Christ and to bring God glory. Although the facilities are not generally open to the
public, we make our facilities available to approved non-members as a witness to our faith, in a
spirit of Christian charity, and as a means of demonstrating the Gospel of Jesus Christ in
practice.
But facility use will not be permitted to persons or groups holding, advancing, or advocating
beliefs or practices that conflict with the church’s faith or moral teachings, which are
summarized in, among other places, the church’s constitution and bylaws. Nor may church
facilities be used for activities that contradict, or are deemed inconsistent with, the church’s faith
or moral teachings. The Senior Pastor, or his official designee, is the final decision-maker
concerning use of church facilities.
This restricted facility use policy is necessary for two important reasons. First, the church may
not in good conscience materially cooperate in activities or beliefs that are contrary to its faith.
Allowing its facilities to be used for purposes that contradict the church’s beliefs would be
material cooperation with that activity, and would be a grave violation of the church’s faith and
religious practice. (2 Corinthians 6:14; 1 Thessalonians 5:22.)
Second, it is very important that the church present a consistent message to the community,
and that the church 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 church’s faith would have a severe,
negative impact on the message that the church strives to promote. It could also cause
confusion and scandal to church members and the community because they may reasonably
perceive that by allowing use of our facilities, the church agrees with the beliefs or practices of
the persons or groups using its facilities.
Therefore, in no event shall persons or groups who hold, advance, or advocate beliefs, or
advance, advocate, or engage in practices that contradict the church’s faith use any church
facility. Nor may church facilities be used in any way that contradicts the church’s faith. This
policy applies to all church facilities, 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.)
Approved Users and Priority of Use
The Senior Pastor or official designee must approve all uses of church facilities. Generally,
priority shall be given to organized groups that are part of the ministry, organization, or
sponsored activities of the church and church members. Church facilities and equipment will be
made available to outside not-for-profit groups/organizations meeting the following
qualifications:
1. A church member must be a part of the group.
2. Groups or persons requesting facility use must affirm that their beliefs and practices and
planned uses of the facilities are consistent with the church’s faith and practice.
3. The group or person seeking facility use must submit a signed “Church Facility Reservation
Request and Agreement” form.
4. The group or person seeking facility use must be willing to take responsibility for the facilities
and equipment used and must agree to abide by the church’s rules of conduct for facility use, as
stated below and as described in any additional instructions by church staff.
Facility Use Hours
Requested hours of use must be approved by the Senior Pastor or official designee.
Scheduling Events
Facility use requests shall be made to by submitting the “Church Facility Reservation Request
and Agreement” form to the church office. The event will be reserved and placed on the church
calendar only when the pastor or official designee approves the use.
Fees
Use of church facilities is subject to a use and maintenance fee. Church ministries are not
required to pay a fee. All fees must be paid at least two weeks prior to the event.
Facility Use Guidelines
1. Alcohol Policy: No alcohol may be served in church facilities.
2. Smoking Policy: Smoking is not permitted in any church facility.
3. Groups are restricted to only those areas of the facility that the group has reserved.
4. Pets: No pets, other than service dogs, are allowed in any church facility.
5. Church equipment, such as tables and chairs, must be returned to original placement, unless
arranged otherwise prior to the event.
6. All lights must be turned off and doors locked upon departure.
7. Abusive or foul language, violent behavior, and drug or alcohol use are strictly prohibited on
church premises. Any person exhibiting such behavior will be required to leave the premises.
8. Any person or group must sign the “Church Facility Reservation Request and Agreement”
form prior to reservation of church facilities.
Facility Use for Weddings
Because God has ordained marriage and defined it as the covenant relationship between a
man, a woman, and Himself, First Baptist Church of Magnolia, Arkansas only recognizes
marriages between a biological man and a biological woman. The Pastors and staff of First
Baptist Church shall only participate in weddings and solemnize marriages between one man
and one woman. Further, the Pastors and staff of First Baptist Church are not required to
participate in any weddings and/or solemnize any vows. Finally, the facilities and property of
First Baptist Church shall only host weddings between one man and one woman.
Guidelines of the church’s “Facility Use Policy” apply to the use of the building and property for
a wedding. Additional facility requirements pertaining particularly to weddings can be found in
the church’s “Wedding Policy”.
Facility Use for Funerals
A Christian funeral affords an opportunity for the church and pastors to give comfort to the
grieving from the Scriptures and to preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ. The church facilities are
available to members and non-members for such funerals. Officiating ministers from outside the
church must affirm that their beliefs and practices and planned uses of the facilities are
consistent with the church’s faith and practice. The Senior Pastor or his designee must give final
approval for a funeral of a non-church member and for any outside officiating minister.