Church membership is an extraordinary privilege. The gospel is God’s invitation for us to be a part of His family. That entails a profession of faith, obedience in baptism, and a life of repentance and belief. Church membership is an outward expression of the inward reality of accepting God’s invitation. Therefore, church membership is for those who have accepted Christ as Lord and Savior through repentance and faith expressed in obedience by believers baptism.
We are encouraged in the bible to seek church membership for our encouragement, edification, and protection. The church is to discern with great care who joins the household of God. To ensure we give clarity to the gospel and of our expectations, we seek to carry out the process of church membership in four steps.
Step 1: Membership Class
All prospective members must attend our Membership Matters class. The curriculum is composed of four two-hour classes entitled:
- The Christian Faith
- Baptist Beliefs 1
- Baptist Beliefs 2
- Expectations & Equipping
Class Schedule
Classes are offered on a Friday night/Saturday morning format periodically throughout the year. Upon completion, those who attended all four classes can sign up for a membership interview.
Step 2 - Membership Interview
In a 30-minute meeting, the prospective member meets with the pastor and a deacon to provide basic biographical information and recount God’s converting work in his or her life. The prospective member would fill out an application for membership and sign the covenant upon completion of the interview.
Step 3 - Pastor & Deacon’s Recommendation
At a regularly scheduled pastor & deacon’s meeting, the pastor & deacons will review the applicant’s testimony and interview. Upon receiving their collective approval, the candidate’s application proceeds to the next step: congregational affirmation.
Step 4 - Congregational Affirmation
On a Sunday of the pastor’s choosing, the pastor and deacon who conducted the interviews briefly describe how the applicants, who are desiring to be admitted to membership, have come to know the Lord. Questions are fielded, a vote is taken, and with a majority secured, candidates are admitted into membership.