Since becoming the pastor at my church, there have been a few things I've changed about how we operate. One of these changes concerns membership. In our denomination, it is very easy to become a member of a church. All you have to do is come forward during the service and proclaim your faith in Jesus with words such as, "Jesus is the Christ, my Lord and my God." There are no tests of doctrine, just a confession of faith similar to ones of the Apostles Peter and Thomas in the Bible. (Compare this to churches where doctrinal agreement or submission is required.)
I'm cool with that, but I realized that the members of the church didn't have a clue as to what it meant to be a member. They didn't know anything about the church other than what they've seen on Sunday morning. And most of them didn't know anything about the denomination.
So, while we were modifying our church constitution and bylaws, we stated that attendance at a membership class was also necessary to becoming a member of the church. Now, over the past year, I've taught four classes (each three hours long). We've had over 40 people join the church in the past 1 1/2 years. That means we've doubled in size!
What are the membership requirements of your church? Have you gone through a membership class? Have you proclaimed your faith in front a congregation before?
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Comments (35)
@ashleyannaka@xanga - " Now begs the question, what then do you mean by church?"
Church has one foot in Heaven and one here in the world, so any question of meaning must take both facets into concideration (Church can not be reduced to a group of followers, nor to a building, though these are part of the picture). Church is a she, properly speaking, though like the Spirit and the Father, we can not see her. Church is where we worship and gather as a community of believers.
Why should we become a member of a Church? My first answer was worship and communion. This does not suffice though... Truely, I believe that the Church chose me, and not the other way around -- from my perspective, it is always God who takes the initiative and chooses us, and it is our job to respond with a yes. So, I never became a member of Church; it was she who claimed me and has authority over me.
Your Homegroup sounds like a good thing -- sharing the faith is part of the communion of believers, and it keeps us Christians on the right path.
@soy_esteban@xanga - I don't think membership is a bad thing, per se, as you have stated. I just don't see it as being biblical. It can cause division, pride, and separation from the one body of Christ. I do think it's a good thing to be involved and committed to a local assembly, but I think the "official" becoming a member is unnecessary and bordering on legalism. I've been committed to a couple different churches, not at the same time, but at different times, and they never had an official membership or joining the church, and they operated very well. They only ordained elders and deacons to those that proved worthy after a period of time in being faithful in attendance, walking in obedience, and serving others.
"What are the membership requirements
of your church?"
Baptism, with water, in the Name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Those already baptized can reaffirm their faith through confirmation.
"Have you gone through a membership class?"
Just confirmation classes, although many parishes in my denom. also offer classes for people curious about joining, too.
"Have you
proclaimed your faith in front a congregation before?"
When I was confirmed.
@ProDigit - I appreciate your advice, and I thank you for the time you've taken with this.
But, I have been going to this church for 15 years, and its the type of church that does not cope well with change. If one were to challenge the way something was done, that person would basically be asked to leave or shut up.
I am not saying I have never participated in Lord's Supper, I am saying I have not done it in a church. I have done it at various home church meetings. Its a completely different experience, at least for me.
@LadyGwenivere@xanga - I came from churches like that too.
If there's no freedom,then just simply leave!
Find a better chuch!
There are plenty around!
Unless if you can live with it.
No church is perfect, and if it's a good church otherwise, then stay.
But don't stay in a church where you feel like you're not growing!
@ProDigit - we have been prayerfully considering changing churches.. but everytime we plan on checking out someplace new, God tells us to wait. HE has asked us to wait on Him because he is going to bring about change in our church, so that is what we are doing.
My husband enjoys our church, and about half the time I do too. So rather then going against what God is telling us, I volunteerr in the nursery and toddlers rooms.
And, truth be told, the only time I ever felt like I was really growing was when I spent my Sunday mornings at home with God, praying, reading and worshiping in my own ways. I miss that. But God asked us to stay and trust Him and wait, so thats what we are going to do.
The problem is: most modern iterations of "Church" tend to be very much along the lines of:
"Ein volk, Ein Kirke, Ein Reich." ("One People, One Church, One Nation").
Yes, I'm very aware I'm paraphrasing Adolf Hitler, and I'm doing so because many modern churches carry far more social overtones and undertones of a Fascist system than they do a Christ-oriented or socially-oriented system of conduct.
It is for this very reason, that after over 40 years, I have abandoned churches as useless to me, and instead have chosen a different Ethical/Spiritual Path.
^Uyraell^.
The term membership can mean different things to different people and especially to leaders. Most leaders of churches today say church membership involves signing a document such as their constitution and bylaws. The Acts church membership meant it in a very different way. It meant they were of the body of Christ. In fact they were the only church in existance so they had no other choices, no other churches to go to. So for today's leaders to equate the Acts church "membership" with today's meaning is really disingenuous and really sort of deceiving. The real truth I believe around today's official membership is for control and legal issues. The Bible gives the leaders authority to discipline or hold people accountable not a signed document, but sadly in todays lawsuit crazy society this is what it has come to. I am not saying no one should sign on the bottom line but I am saying if you choose to do so very very carefully and examine your leaders very carefully. If in time you start to see issues of control or we know what's best for you or you need to check with us first before making any decisions, or all too much emphasis is being placed on membership-Run Run Run!
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