Membership
How do you become a member of the church?
Becoming a member of the church is as simple as answering two questions.
First, we ask: “Do you confess Jesus Christ as your Savior and Lord?” Church membership is not just about joining an institution. It’s about living in an ongoing love relationship with God. If you’ve never dealt with this question, it’s worth thinking about. If you’ve entered a relationship with Jesus previously, it’s good to affirm your faith. There are many models we might use to understand how you come to faith in Jesus. Here’s a visual model developed by James Choung.
Second, we ask: Will you support this church with your prayers [pray for its people and ministries], presence [be here], gifts [financial support], and service [time and using your spiritual gifts]?” The Christian life isn’t the kind of thing we can do on our own. We need each other. God has brought each of us here for a reason. God wants to bless you here – and make you a blessing to those around you.
If you’ve been baptized at some point in your life – whether in a United Methodist Church or any other – that’s good enough for us. If you haven’t been baptized, then we will baptize you – by whatever method you prefer: sprinkling, pouring, or immersion. As you might suppose, sprinkling is all we’re equipped to do in the Sanctuary so the other methods would require a special meeting elsewhere.
If you’re coming here from membership in another church, you need not contact that church and get a letter or transfer. Our office takes care of that.
The most common way for the process to happen is for you to come down front and join me during the singing of the last hymn on Sunday morning. Sometimes people tell me they’ll be doing it, sometimes not.
Why do we do it this way – why not just a make a phone call and take care of things in the office? Though we can do that, becoming a member of the church is a public thing – it’s those people sitting there that you’re joining. When you join in front of them they also make a public commitment to you – to receive you as one of their own, to love you, and to help you grow in Christ.
If you’re curious about membership and have more questions, contact the pastor before or after worship, at via email or at 903-856-2839.
April 24 2008 02:57 pm
Davey Miner on 27 Jun 2008 at 5:08 pm #
Richard,
While browsing your VBS photos, I decided to take a peek at your “Pastor Blog”, I enjoyed it so much it is now bookmarked on my browser! This page on becoming a Church Member is the most efficient explanation I have seen on this matter. Love the UMC site, your Church, and family!
Your Neighbor in Christ,
Davey Miner