What is required to be a member of your congregation?

[Presbyterian Continuist]

The level of attendance at my church all someone has to do to become a member is just to turn up on Sunday!

 

[Myychael]

In a manner of speaking, I suppose, but it is especially likely to attract people who are drawn to Judaism. Different Messianic groups have various emphases, but there is a strong underlying idea of emphasizing Judaism sometimes at the expense of Christian uniqueness (Messianic people would probably deny this).

Well a lot of Gentile Congregations will put you under the Law to i can tell you do this dont do that family influence what clothes to wear,wifes hair to short passing the offering numerous times making people feel guilty iif they dont come up to the Alter and confess their sins after a sermon now listen im not against going up to the Alter and praying on a serious matter and having a brother or sister coming over to hold your hand or put hand on your shoulder or pray with you ill do that in a moment whatever it takes to be free and get back to ones walk with the Lord without guilt and have peace.are you speculating or have you seen this take place in a all Messianic group im not trying to be mean spirited in my mind in this day and age
they would be free from the Law or the 635 +- ordinances

 

[JCFantasy23]

I could be mistaken, but I don't think anything. When I became a member of a local Methodist church, I know I wasn't required to be baptised first, and I didn't have to do any interview, class, survey, or requirement. It was my first official church membership so there wasn't a letter of transfer. May depend on the church.

 

[bbbbbbb]

The level of attendance at my church all someone has to do to become a member is just to turn up on Sunday!

That is pretty much what happens at my church, as well. We don't have any formal membership.

 

[mreeed]

It seems from poll results that 6 people have responded so far to the actual poll, with a total of 14 votes (multiples allowed). There was no poll option for "No requirement", but 3 people have indicated that this is the case at their congregation. So extrapolating from our very very small sample here with unclear distribution, is it unreasonable to think that 1/3 of congregations have no requirements for membership?

Oscarr, bbbbbbb, and JCFantasy23, how do decisions get made at your congregation? Does your pastor always decide? Is there another leadership body that does this? Do they work together to any extent, or each have their own domain? Are there certain kinds of decisions that members get to have a say in? What about lay leadership?

Is this purposeful, a decision for an informal, welcoming culture of the church? A philosophical or theological matter? Is it expedient, to avoid having to take stands on controversial issues? Or like Oscarr says, just based on numbers?

I am curious as to how leadership structure impacts membership structure and wondering what lessons might be learned from looking at the different ways. At first look it doesn't appear that the Barna Group has any stats relating to this, but it seems a topic ripe for further study.

 

[Paidiske]

My church would require baptism (infant or adult are both fine, provided they're done validly) and regular worship with us as a bare minimum. That didn't really fit in the poll.

The fact that we're part of a global communion does affect this. The local congregation can't set their own requirements but are part of something bigger than ourselves.

 

[Tigger45]

To be an official voting member one needs to be baptized infant or adult, attend new members class and maintain a certain level of attendance.

 

[bbbbbbb]

1. How do decisions get made at your congregation? The elders are responsible for matters of a spiritual nature and deacons for matters related to the physical operations. There is broad input from the men and, indirectly, from the women.

2. Does your pastor always decide? No. We don't have a pastor.

3. Is there another leadership body that does this? Yes. Elders and deacons.

4. Do they work together to any extent, or each have their own domain? They complement each other.

5. Are there certain kinds of decisions that members get to have a say in? Yes. Members can choose to fund specific things (or, in worst cases, not to fund them). Most do not designate their gifts, leaving the decision to the elders and deacons.

6. What about lay leadership? That is what it is with us.

7. Is this purposeful, a decision for an informal, welcoming culture of the church? Yes

9. A philosophical or theological matter? For the elders.

10. Is it expedient, to avoid having to take stands on controversial issues? Controversy is generally avoided and there is broad-based agreement on virtually everything.

11. Or like Oscarr says, just based on numbers? No

 

[KingdomLeast]

I belong to a home Church that is international in scope, but each congregation is autonomous. The members elect their own Elders and Deacons based on the qualifications found in 1 Timothy 3, as well as secretary and treasurer.

While we have a belief system, it should be noted that all that is required of anyone is a full consecration to the Lord and His cause, having accepted Him as their Lord and Savior, repenting of past sins and moving forward. Baptism is simply a symbol of ones consecration.

 

[bbbbbbb]

I belong to a home Church that is international in scope, but each congregation is autonomous. The members elect their own Elders and Deacons based on the qualifications found in 1 Timothy 3, as well as secretary and treasurer.

While we have a belief system, it should be noted that all that is required of anyone is a full consecration to the Lord and His cause, having accepted Him as their Lord and Savior, repenting of past sins and moving forward. Baptism is simply a symbol of ones consecration.

What would you say are the differences between your church and those of the Plymouth Brethren?

 

[KingdomLeast]

What would you say are the differences between your church and those of the Plymouth Brethren?

Differences in organization or doctrines?

 

[bbbbbbb]

Differences in organization or doctrines?

Both, please.

 

[IdontknowhatImdoing]

I've been to a couple types of churches, and here's what I know of their practices regarding membership:
Baptist (non SBC): had to be baptized in the church. I was a member, but my little sister could not attain membership because she was baptized in a different protestant denomination (Church of Christ). My family left that church for that reason, they couldn't swallow my sis getting baptized twice.

Eastern Orthodox: I attend this one on my own, and am not currently a member (hence my profile still saying Baptist) but the parish priest laid out the process as: educate yourself on the doctrine of the church and decide if you wish to proceed, attend adult class (this goes deeper into specific theology and is to make sure you don't join, then run into surprise doctrines), then once it's decided you are ready to enter the Orthodox Church you either 1. are chrismated (if you've been baptized in the name of Father, Son, and Holy Spirit already at another christian church) or 2. baptized by the priest then chrismated.

 

[bbbbbbb]

I've been to a couple types of churches, and here's what I know of their practices regarding membership:
Baptist (non SBC): had to be baptized in the church. I was a member, but my little sister could not attain membership because she was baptized in a different protestant denomination (Church of Christ). My family left that church for that reason, they couldn't swallow my sis getting baptized twice.

Eastern Orthodox: I attend this one on my own, and am not currently a member (hence my profile still saying Baptist) but the parish priest laid out the process as: educate yourself on the doctrine of the church and decide if you wish to proceed, attend adult class (this goes deeper into specific theology and is to make sure you don't join, then run into surprise doctrines), then once it's decided you are ready to enter the Orthodox Church you either 1. are chrismated (if you've been baptized in the name of Father, Son, and Holy Spirit already at another christian church) or 2. baptized by the priest then chrismated.

I am vaguely aware of chrismation. Please tell me its history and its purpose. Thank you.

 

[IdontknowhatImdoing]

I am vaguely aware of chrismation. Please tell me its history and its purpose. Thank you.

I'm paraphrasing here from the OCA website https://oca.org/orthodoxy/the-orthodox-faith/worship/the-sacraments/chrismation but it's like Catholic Confirmation. A person is anointed with oil prepared by a bishop, to signify that the gift of the spirit was given to men through the apostles who's successors are bishops, and in such they receive the Holy Spirit. Essentially it's explained like this: Baptism is the death and resurrection on Pascha (Easter), and Chrismation is the receiving of the Holy Spirit on Pentecost. Sorry if I explained it poorly, I have not been Chrismated yet so my actual experience is limited.

 

[bbbbbbb]

I'm paraphrasing here from the OCA website https://oca.org/orthodoxy/the-orthodox-faith/worship/the-sacraments/chrismation but it's like Catholic Confirmation. A person is anointed with oil prepared by a bishop, to signify that the gift of the spirit was given to men through the apostles who's successors are bishops, and in such they receive the Holy Spirit. Essentially it's explained like this: Baptism is the death and resurrection on Pascha (Easter), and Chrismation is the receiving of the Holy Spirit on Pentecost. Sorry if I explained it poorly, I have not been Chrismated yet so my actual experience is limited.

Thank you for the prompt reply. Is this symbolic of having received the Holy Spirit through faith or is it meant that the Holy Spirit actually comes to the new member through chrismation?

 

[IdontknowhatImdoing]

Thank you for the prompt reply. Is this symbolic of having received the Holy Spirit through faith or is it meant that the Holy Spirit actually comes to the new member through chrismation?

not exactly sure, I'd ask over at The Ancient Way, but from my experience almost nothing is purely symbolic about Orthodox sacraments. It's believed that God acts through the Sacraments (though it's God ultimately doing it, not the physical Sacrament alone, they aren't magicians). So with that in mind, I'd likely say that yes, it's believed the Holy Spirit actually comes upon the new member upon Chrismation.

 

[bbbbbbb]

not exactly sure, I'd ask over at The Ancient Way, but from my experience almost nothing is purely symbolic about Orthodox sacraments. It's believed that God acts through the Sacraments (though it's God ultimately doing it, not the physical Sacrament alone, they aren't magicians). So with that in mind, I'd likely say that yes, it's believed the Holy Spirit actually comes upon the new member upon Chrismation.

Thanks. That's what I was thinking, as well. Although I respectfully disagree, I appreciate your help. I may go over to TAW. I really like the folks I have met there.

 

[Major1]

How is your congregation structured? What is required to be a member of your congregation? Do you find the topics of baptism or membership to be controversial in their own rite? What issues have you seen come up related to baptism and/or membership, and how have they been resolved? Any standards or best practices emerging?


STAFF NOTE: This thread was moved from the Messianic Judaism forum and most of it's posts as they were not in line with the OP or the SOP of that forum. All may post their answers accordingly here in this thread.

This OP has been amended to open it to all denominations.

Romans 10:9.………
"That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the LORD Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation."

We believe that that only born again believers in the Lord Jesus Christ can be part of the assembly.

We do that because there is only salvation in Jesus Christ and nothing in what we do or try to do and Christian churches should only be for Christians.

 

[abysmul]

I'm curious as to the scriptural support for "memberships"...