Membership
"For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others."
Romans 12:4-5
The bible speaks into our commitment-shy culture and teaches us something deep and meaningful – To believe is to belong to a local church. We express this belonging through baptism and church membership. Membership means far more than regular attendance and is not simply for those who feel they have something to offer. Membership is our commitment to live life together as Christians, as the bible shows us.
If you're new to Bethany Baptist Church then we want to get to know you, love and serve you and see you grow in Christ. We would love for you to commit to the church by becoming a member. You can speak with our pastor about membership.
Our process for becoming a member is outlined below:
1. Membership Class
We normally ask anyone wanting to become a member to attend a membership class that covers the following:
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What is biblical church membership? - Learning what membership is from the bible.
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Statement of faith - Exploring what we believe as a church.
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Life together - Understanding how Christian belief shapes our practice as a church.
2. Membership Interview
After the membership class we ask those wanting to become a member to meet with an elder so that we can talk about the work of God's saving grace in your life. This is also an opportunity for us to consider together the particular gifts God has given you and how you might be able to use them to serve His church.
3. Church Affirmation
Following the membership interview, the elders will recommend new members be formally welcomed into the church during one of our meetings. This will normally be through baptism if you have not yet been baptised as a believer.
If you'd like to know more about what it means to belong to the church in membership, you can download this article written by our pastor - 'Membership Matters'