What is Church Membership?
Church membership is a life-sustaining, faith-strengthening, joy-preserving means of God’s mercy.
When you're saved, you become a member of the world-wide body of Christ. Because you are united to Christ and the other members of the body in this way, you are therefore qualified to become a member of a local expression of that body.
To become a member of a church is to simply commit oneself to an identifiable, local body of believers who have joined together for divinely ordained purposes. These purposes include receiving from God’s Word (1 Tim. 4:13; 2 Tim. 4:2), serving and edifying one another through the proper use of spiritual gifts (Rom. 12:3-8; 1 Cor. 12:4-31; 1 Pet. 4:10-11), participating in the sacraments (Luk. 22:19; Ac. 2:38-42), and proclaiming the gospel (Mk. 16:15). In addition, when you become a member of a church, you submit yourself to the care and the authority of the biblically qualified elders that God has placed in that assembly (Heb. 13:17).
Is Church Membership Biblical?
Although Scripture does not contain an explicit command to formally join a local church, the biblical foundation for local church membership permeates the New Testament.
This can be seen in three ways: (1) the example of the early church (Acts 2:41, 47; 5:14; 16:5; Acts 18:27; Rom. 16:1; Col. 4:10; 2 Cor. 3:1-2), (2) the existence of church government (1 Thess. 5:12; 1 Tim. 5:17; Acts 20:28; 1 Pet. 5:2), and (3) the exhortation to mutual edification (Heb. 10:24-25; Rom. 12:6-8; 1 Cor. 12:4-7; 1 Pet. 4:10-11). All three of these presuppose that believers have committed themselves to other believers in a specific local assembly.
Steps to Become a Member Here
- Believe. We hold to “regenerate church membership”, which means we only allow baptized believers to become members of GLC.
- Read. Read these two articles by pastor Dustin. #1: Law & Gospel. #2: Two Kinds of Righteousness.
- Step. Next Steps is a fun hour-long experience held immediately after the second service one Sunday per month. Click HERE to RSVP.
- Review. The doctrine of a church should never come as a surprise to its members. As you consider church membership, you should ensure that your beliefs are in alignment with ours. You can find an overview of what we believe HERE. Also, we ask that you review the Membership Agreement HERE. You will sign it as part of your induction into membership.
- Connect. Fill out the form below to schedule a time with one of our elders to share your story, ask questions, and let us get to know you. If you're good with everything at that meeting, you will sign the Membership Agreement at the end.
- Celebrate! At a Sunday service following your elder meeting, it will be announced to the church that you are a new member!