First Baptist Church
1008 8th St.
Shallowater, TX 79363
(806) 832.4511, Fax (806) 832.4114
Office Hours: 8:30 - 5:00 M-F
For a PDF of these policies, click here.
Participation Eligibility:
Members of First Baptist Church and their guests.
Approved outside groups.
Reservations
The Ministries of First Baptist Church will have priority in reserving any part of the Church.
Each group making a reservation will be responsible for its own program.
Please recheck the date, time and other arrangements which have been confirmed. If there is any change whatsoever, or a cancellation the person making the reservation is responsible to notify the office at least one week in advance.
All groups are expected to clean up after use.
Reserved facilities shall be relinquished immediately upon termination of the reserved time.
Priority used for determining use of the building:
- Church wide events and programs.
- First Baptist Church organizations, such as Sunday School classes, choir and ministry teams.
- Requests by members of First Baptist Church.
- Outside groups.
General Rules:
The organization using the building is responsible for the care of the building and supervision of the program during use. This includes providing leadership to supervise all areas to be used as well as providing a manager to supervise the entire facility. Groups are responsible for cleaning and straightening the building and putting it back into the shape that it was found.
Each group is responsible for providing an adequate number of sponsors for their group.
Individuals or groups must pay for replacement of equipment or furnishings damaged, lost, or destroyed due to the neglect or careless use.
No unauthorized nails, tacks or screws shall be put in walls, furniture or pews.
Protective covering must be placed under all candles.
Conduct:
No food or drink in the Worship Center.
No one under the influence of alcohol or drugs may use the church. They will be asked to leave immediately, and the authorities will be called.
No Pets.
No alcohol, drugs or tobacco used.
Nothing that can be considered a weapon will be allowed.
No activity will be allowed that is contrary to church policy.
No loitering.
Equipment must be checked out from the office. No equipment is to be taken without compliance with the check-out rules.
Any church equipment which is damaged, lost or destroyed must be replaced by the individual or group responsible. Give all equipment proper care.
No profanity, foul language, course talk or fits of temper will be tolerated. Violators will be asked to leave.
No skate boards, roller skates or roller blades.
No secular music will be played in the church without the approval of the Ministerial Staff.
The Reach Out Center will be closed to support all scheduled church-wide meetings and services.
Public displays of affection are out of place in the Church.
No fighting will be allowed in the facility.
Appropriate behavior is expected.
Dress:
All participants will dress in an appropriate Christian manner.
No short shorts or halter tops.
No beer, tobacco or other questionable logos on T-Shirts or caps may be worn on church property.
Shirts must be worn at all times and must be long enough to be tucked into pants.
Discipline - Infractions will be handled as follows:
First infraction - warning, explanation of rules.
Second infraction - reminder, notification of parents for 18 years old and under.
Third infraction - a parent conference with 18 year olds and under.
The person on duty shall have the authority to call the police for assistance when deemed necessary for the protection of persons and property and for reporting any infractions of the law.
Building Reservations:
First Baptist Church groups and outside groups may reserve the Church.
All reservations must be made through the church office.
Priority will be given to First Baptist Church individuals, groups and organizations until two weeks prior to a given date.
The foyer and other common traffic areas are not available for any use, other than for the purpose for which they were designed.
Liability:
The use of the facility and all equipment will be at the risk of the participant. First Baptist Church does not assume liability or responsibility for any injury to a user of the facility.
First Baptist Church does not make any express or implied warranty of the premises, the equipment, the machinery, fixtures or furniture.
Room Specific Policies
Reach Out Center / Kids Church:
Equipment:
All equipment requiring set up (volley ball standards, basketball goals etc., will be set up by authorized persons only.
Participants checking out equipment will be responsible for any damages.
Participants checking out equipment should not loan to others, but check them in to be checked out again.
General:
Accidents or damages should be reported to the Church Office immediately.
Programmed activities will take precedence over free play in the Reach Out Center.
Dunking or hanging on goals is not allowed.
Violation of the rules concerning profanity, fits of temper and inappropriate dress will result in immediate expulsion for that day.
No spitting in the Reach Out Center or water fountain.
Kicking of basketballs or volleyballs is not permitted.
Dress:
All participants will dress in an appropriate Christian manner.
No short shorts or halter tops.
No beer, tobacco or other questionable logos on T-shirts or caps may be worn in the facility.
Shirts must be worn at all times and must be long enough to be tucked into pants.
Kitchen:
The kitchen is to be left clean with every thing in its place.
Dirty linen should be cleaned, dried and put away properly.
The refrigerator and freezer are for church use; however, we will try to accommodate your needs.
Leftover food and personal dishes should be taken home immediately and not left in the kitchen.
Playground:
The playground is for the use of children.
Any damages caused by misuse will be paid for by the person responsible.
Only children who are 48" or less may use the playground.
Classrooms / Upper Room / Conference Room
Please bear in mind these classrooms are used in normal church activities. The party using the room must leave it in the manner in which it was found.
Worship Center
The primary function of the Worship Center is for Worship. Please keep in mind that you cannot move anything (stage equipment, chairs, furniture, etc.) at the risk of forfeiting your deposit. If you have any questions, please ask the Church Representative.
The party using the Worship Center is responsible for leaving it in the manner in which it was found.
Absolutely no food or drink is allowed in the Worship Center.
User Fees
As it is the mission of First Baptist Church to fulfill the Great Commandment (Mark 12:30-31) and the Great Commission (Matthew 28: 19-20) and as it is the vision of First Baptist Church to share Jesus with every person and be a family of loving, joyful, obedient servants of our Lord Jesus Christ, fees for the used of the facilities will be determined by the nature and purpose of the event. The nature and purpose of the event will be categorized as either for ministry or for non-ministry purposes. With this in mind, please take responsibility for the areas that you use, by leaving the area in the manner in which it was found (i.e., returning any items borrowed from other areas, racking tables and chairs and returning them to the storage closet, emptying the trash, etc.)
1. The following up front fees will be required of the person or persons who rent or utilize the respective buildings of First Baptist Church:
Member Member or Non-Member Non-Member No Deposit
No Maintenance Fee
No User Charge
$500 Deposit (up front)
$150 Maintenance Fee (up front)
$25 Sound/Media Technician
(per person, per hour)(up front)$500 Deposit (up front)
$150 Maintenance Fee
$2.00 per person or student (Overnight)
2. In addition to the above referenced up front charges, the following are the rental rates for facilities for non-ministry events:
WORSHIP CENTER $150.00 per hour (a two hour minimum required) REACH OUT CENTER $75.00 per hour (a two hour minimum required) MAIN KITCHEN $25.00 per hour (a two hour minimum required) KIDS CHURCH $25.00 per hour (a two hour minimum required) CLASSROOMS $5.00 per day UPPER ROOMS $10.00 per day CONFERENCE ROOM
The Ministry and Non-Ministry deposit ($500) is required up front to hold the date on the church calendar. If no damage occurs to the property and the General Policies are adhered to during the event, the deposit will be refunded within 10 business days.
We reserve the right to waive any of the above referenced fees on proof of necessity or indigence. This must be presented to the Properties Committee at least thirty days prior to the date of the Wedding.
- The determination of what constitutes a ministerial event is to be determined at the discretion of the Pastor and/or the Properties Committee. Typically, the ministry will have its origins founded and funded through First Baptist Church, Shallowater.
- There will be no charges of any kind for funerals as it is a ministry of First Baptist Church.
- The member or non-member who is renting any facilities of First Baptist Church must be a participant in the event and also must agree to be responsible for any damages that occur to the facilities over and above the required deposit.
- We will not schedule non-ministry events on one of the seven major holidays (New Years, Easter, Memorial Day, Fourth of July, Labor Day, Thanksgiving and Christmas) Holidays are defined as actual holidays or a holiday weekend where the actual holiday falls on Friday, Saturday, Sunday, or Monday.
- "Member" as it relates to the ministry exclusion for members means any person who has formally join First Baptist Church pursuant to the constitution and By-Laws of First Baptist Church, is in good standing with First Baptist Church at the time of said event, and are not currently subject to termination pursuant to the Constitution and by-Laws of First Baptist Church. (Children of members are intended to be included in this exclusion)
- At no time will church facilities be utilized or rented for any enterprise or event which results or could result in a personal or business gain to the person or entity who wishes to rent the facilities.
- Exception:
- Church facilities may be utilized or rented for any person or entity who is designated and/or recognized under the laws of the United States or the laws of the State of Texas as a non-profit organization or tax-exempt organization.
- In order for said non-profit organization to utilize or rent church facilities for financial gain, the person or entity must submit a qualified plan of operation and distribution to the Pastor or Properties Committee.
- The qualified plan must also include the beneficiary or beneficiaries of the event and in what percentages the proceeds from said event will be distributed to said beneficiary or beneficiaries.
Cancellation Policy
In the event there should be a cancellation, money will be refunded according to the following guidelines:
A full refund will be given for a cancellation made up to 10 days in advance.
A 50% refund will be given for a cancellation made 9 days or less in advance.