Are these common practices?

[Mark Quayle]

I have been a member of multiple churches, but I have never had to sign any sort of contract. Classes are standard, Baptism for the un-baptized makes sense, maybe walking the aisle too (kind of weird, but not that odd). An interview with an elder or pastor makes a sort of sense (although I have not done it), and I have heard about that before...but it seems like that would be done before the other steps, or at least after the classes and before the contract, etc. The previous churches I have been a member of had the Pastor as the class "teacher", so an individual meeting would not really be necessary.

Are they re-baptizing people, or is that only for the un-baptized?

I agree, except for, to me, the importance of the interview, not only with AN elder, but with the board of elders. (Or, if the church is too large for that, with a selection of wise elders).

 

[aiki]

Please forgive me if this question is not in the correct place

In my search for a church to attend regularly. I have been researching churches in my area online and ran across a Baptist church that "requires" you to complete four tasks which they describe as the pathway to discipleship and membership in this particular church....

1. A 7 part connection class (I'm not sure what that entails)
2. Baptism
3. Walking the Aisle at the end of a service
4. Finally an interview and covenant with the church which is signing of church covenant and an interview with an elder ......

Perhaps the connection classes could be similar to a new believer course. I'm "older" and have never heard of actually signing a contract with a church to become a member.........the actual signing of a covenant with a church......is that common practice?

Life-long Baptist though I am, I would warn you away from a church with these sorts of...stipulations for attendance and participation in the community of believers. The stipulations have a distinctly controlling, cultish flavor that I don't see spelled out or instituted anywhere in the NT. I get that the Elders are trying to "guard the flock of God," as they are charged by God in Scripture to do. But the means by which they are attempting to do so is not God-centered and God-reliant but man-centered and rule-oriented. Believers are to be brought into community with one another on the basis of the Spirit within them and a love of Jesus Christ, not crowded and controlled into community by processes and man-made "covenants." I say this as an Elder of my own church.

1 Peter 5:2-3
2 shepherd the flock of God among you, exercising oversight not under compulsion, but voluntarily, according to the will of God; and not for sordid gain, but with eagerness;
3 nor yet as lording it over those allotted to your charge, but proving to be examples to the flock.

 

[GreekOrthodox]

The only thing that comes to mind for signing something in my experience is to be a "member in good standing", and then only for being able to vote in a church's general assembly or be a member of the church parish council.