Church Membership

“Jesus commanded us to make disciples (Matthew 28:18-20). Jude says to build yourselves up in the faith (Jude 20-21). Peter calls you to use your gifts to serve others (1 Peter 4:10). Paul tells you to speak the truth in love so that your church will become mature (Ephesians 4:13, 15).” In the New Testament alone, the phrase “one another” or some variation of it, appears 65+ times!

Scripture is inviting us out of spiritual isolation into, the family of believers, to love one another, encourage each other, support each other, forgive, forbear, hold accountable in love, and more. God is calling us into a covenantal commitment to one another.

“If it’s so important why do you make becoming a member such a process? Why do I have to go to a class? Sign an agreement?”.

These are common questions, and they are fair to ask. It’s true. We consider membership with a lot of gravity. Committing yourself to a body of believers is beautiful, but it is also weighty.

When Covenant Members join, they commit to a spiritual family that provides encouragement and support. They are called to a degree of responsibility, service and, sacrifice to their brothers and sisters in Christ. Our elders and leaders also pledge to assist our Covenant Members with care, counsel, prayer, and teaching.

Covenant Membership Class

As you think about making a decision to join the church, we offer a class that covers what it means to be a Covenant Member, as well as our mission, basic beliefs and theological distinctives. We want you to know exactly what it means to join and what is required when you do before asking you to make a decision. There are three steps to becoming a Covenant Member:

Baptism

Baptism is intended only for those who have professed faith in Jesus Christ and can give sufficient testimony to the basics of Christian beliefs. We baptize by immersion because it is not only the original significance of the word but also best symbolizes the reality to which baptism points—our death and resurrection in Christ.

If you have not been baptized following salvation, we ask you to take this step before becoming a Covenant Member. To help prepare you, we offer a Baptism Class. The class covers the biblical significance of baptism, frequently asked questions and gives you an opportunity to share your testimony.

Required Reading

We require prospective members to read Church Membership by Jonathan Leeman before signing the Membership Covenant. This book is handed out at Covenant Membership. It explains what membership is and why it’s important to commit to a local body of believers.

Signing the Covenant

The final step in becoming a member is to meet with your membership table leader to sign the Membership Covenant. We will explain the covenant, listen to your testimony and answer any questions you might have. Once you fulfill the requirements of membership and sign the covenant, you are considered a Covenant Member.