Becoming a Member of a Baptist Church
WHAT IS EXPECTED OF A MEMBER
A member is expected to support the church with his or her time, talents, and financial gifts. Regular attendance at the Worship Services is expected. Since spiritual growth is greatly enhanced through small group Bible study, attendance at at least one of the groups is strongly encouraged. The body concept of a local congregation illustrates how important it is for each member to find their niche in the ministry of the church, and to faithfully fulfil that aspect of ministry. Just as a human body becomes handicapped if one of its members (a leg for instance) is lost or quits fulfilling its role properly, so a church body is handicapped if every member is not fulfilling his/her role in the congregation.
THE DECISION TO BECOME A MEMBER
The decision to become a member of a particular church can only be decided by an individual and the Lord. The church then confirms the individual’s decision by vote. This decision should be a matter of prayer where the person seeks the Lord’s leading. There are a few factors to consider when looking at the possibility of membership. The Church Doctrinal Statement should be read, compared to Scripture, and any questions should be discussed with a member of church pastoral staff. The purpose, vision, and mission statements of the Church should be read with the questions directed to the pastoral staff. The Constitution and By-Laws of the congregation should also be read and discussed with the pastoral staff if there are any questions.
HOW TO BECOME A MEMBER
Baptists believe that the church is a local body of baptized believers that have gathered to fulfill the purpose Christ gave the Church; to Evangelize sinners, to Edify saints, and to Exalt the Savior. Therefore, for one to become a member of a local Baptist Church it is imperative that the individual first be a believer who deserves to live a life of obedience to the Lord. There are three basic ways one can demonstrate their faith and desire to unite with a local congregation:
- By profession of faith followed by believer’s baptism
- By statement of faith and previous believer’s baptism
- By promise of a letter of transfer from a Church of like faith
WHAT A MEMBER CAN EXPECT
A member of a Baptist Church can expect to be an important part of the body. As a human body has many parts that help it to function properly, so a local congregation has many members to help it function properly. Likewise, as the members of a human body all have a different function that adds to the overall health of the body, so the individual members of the church each have specific talents, gifts, and functions that cause the body to be in good health.
A member can expect to grow spiritually through the various opportunities provided through the Church. During Sunday’s services, the goal is to provide an atmosphere of worship, enabling a person to grow closer to the Lord. The sermons are designed to share the truth of God’s Word in an understandable and practical manner that enhances the spiritual knowledge and development of the hearers. Bible study times are designed to study and apply the Bible to daily living. In a small group atmosphere, questions and input from the participants are encouraged. Fellowship is an important aspect of spiritual growth and thus, is a high priority in the local congregation.
Membership is the most basic requirement for an individual to serve in the church as an officer, teacher, ministry team member, etc. Additionally, once one is a member, he/she can participate in the regular scheduled business meetings and any special called business meetings throughout the year. A member will be kept informed of the financial status of the church by receiving a copy of the yearly budget and regular financial statements showing both receipts and expenditures.