Membership Handbook

Section 1 – Qualifications for Membership

Those seeking membership must, through their actions, words, lifestyle and affiliations, evidence a genuine experience of regeneration through faith in and reception of the Lord Jesus Christ as personal Savior. They must renounce sin and endeavor to live a consecrated life wholly unto the Lord. Candidates for membership will be required to review and accept the Church Constitution and Bylaws and the expectations of members outlined in this handbook. After candidates for membership meet with a Church Elder to give their profession of faith in Jesus Christ, they must affirm that they fully subscribe to the Statement of Faith, they will be recommended for church membership. After such recommendation, membership will be granted upon a majority vote of the members present at any church service or meeting, and upon compliance with any one of the following conditions:

• By baptism (immersion) at this local church following a profession of faith as a believer in Christ Jesus as personal Savior;
• By letter of transfer from another Bible-believing church of like faith and practice, or other written statement of good standing from the prior church if the applicant has been baptized by immersion subsequent to a profession of faith;
• By testimony of faith, having been baptized by immersion in another Bible-believing church of like faith and practice; or
• By restoration, if having been removed from membership, upon majority vote of the congregation after confession is made publicly before the church membership of the sin or sins involved, and satisfactorily evidencing repentance to the church elders.

Section 2 – Duties of a Member

On becoming a member of this church, in addition to the covenant contained in Section 1.08, each member further covenants to love, honor, and esteem the church eldership; to pray for them; to recognize their authority in the spiritual and day-to-day affairs of the church; to cherish a brotherly love for all members of the church; to support the church in prayer, offerings and with other financial support as the Lord enables; and in accordance with Biblical commands, to support through a lifestyle walk affirming the beliefs and practices of the church.

Section 3 – Privileges of Membership

• Only members at least eighteen years of age who are physically present at a duly called meeting of the church shall be entitled to vote. There shall be no proxy or absentee voting. The eligible membership of the church may only exercise voting privileges in those areas that are defined and limited by these bylaws. Members may not vote to initiate any church action, rather the vote of a member is to confirm and ratify the direction of the church as determined by church eldership.
• Members may vote to confirm and ratify any decision put forth by the church eldership under the condition that they have attended at least one worship service in the six weeks prior to the voting occurrence. Voting privileges for any member who has not attended a worship service in six weeks are suspended. In such a situation, voting privileges may be granted because of extenuation circumstances (sickness, health, vocation…). This decision is left to the prayerful consideration of the church eldership.
• This congregation functions not as a pure democracy, but as a body under the headship of the Lord Jesus Christ and the direction of the church elders as under-shepherds. Determinations of the internal affairs of this church are ecclesiastical matters and shall be determined exclusively by the church’s own rules and procedures. The church elders shall oversee and/or conduct all aspects of this church.
• Membership in this church does not afford the members with any property, contractual, or civil rights based on principles of democratic government. Although the general public is invited to all of the church’s worship services, the church property remains private property. The church elders (or in their absence, an individual designated by the elders of the church) have the authority to suspend or revoke the right of any person, including a member, to enter or remain on church property. If after being notified of such a suspension or revocation, the person enters or remains on church property, the person may, in the discretion of the church elders, (or in their absence, an individual designated by the elders of the church), be treated as a trespasser.
• A member may inspect or copy the prepared financial statements of the church and the minutes of the proceedings of church and committee meetings, provided he shall have made a written request upon the church and the church has received the written request at least five business days before the requested inspection date. Minutes from church elder meetings are exempt from this provision and are not subject to inspection or copy.
  • A member may not, under any circumstances, inspect or copy any record relating to individual contributions to the church, the list of names and addresses of the church members, or the accounting books and financial records of the church.
  • The church may impose a reasonable charge, covering the costs of labor and material, for copies of any documents provided to the member before releasing the copies to the member.

Section 4 – Discipline of a Member

• There shall be a discipline committee consisting of the elders of the church. These men shall have sole authority in determining heretical deviations from the Statement of Faith and violations of the church covenant. If a church elder, including the senior pastor, is the subject of a disciplinary matter, he shall not sit as a member of the discipline committee. The elders of the church (which includes the senior pastor) shall be entitled to the same steps as other church members and be subject to the same discipline.
• Members are expected to demonstrate special loyalty and concern for one another. When a member becomes aware of an offense of such magnitude that it hinders the spiritual growth and testimony of an individual in the local church or the body as a whole, he is to go alone to the offending party and seek to restore his brother. Before he goes, he should first examine himself. When he goes, he should go with a spirit of humility and have the goal of restoration.
• If reconciliation is not reached, a second witness (a church elder) is to accompany the one seeking to resolve the matter. This second step should also be preceded by self-examination and exercised in a spirit of humility with the goal of restoration.
• If the matter is still unresolved after the steps outlined in subsections (B) and (C) have been taken, the church eldership, Biblically responsible for putting down murmuring, shall hear the matter. If the matter is not resolved during the hearing before the church elders, the committee shall recommend to the members of the church that they, after self-examination, make an effort personally to go to the offending member and seek that member’s restoration.
• If the matter is still unresolved after the steps outlined in subsections (B), (C), and (D) have been taken, such members who refuse to repent and be restored are to be removed from the membership of the church.
• No matter may be heard by the church elders or by the church unless the steps outlined in subsections (B) and (C) have been taken, except in the case of a public offense.
• If an unrepentant offending party is removed from the church membership, members of the church should have no social contact with him, and any contact from that point forward (except by family members) must be for the sake of restoration. Persons placed under church discipline must immediately return any property belonging to the church.
• The procedures provided in this section are based on Matthew 18:15-20; Romans 16:17-18; 1 Corinthians 5:1-13; 2 Corinthians 2:1-11; Galatians 6:1; 1 Thessalonians 5:14; 2 Thessalonians 3:6, 10-15; 1 Timothy 5:19-20; and Titus 3:10-11.

Section 5 – Transfer of Membership

Members not under the disciplinary process of Section 3.04 may request that letters of transfer be sent to another church.

Section 6 – Automatic Termination of Membership

• The membership of any individual member shall automatically terminate without notice if the member in question has not attended a regular worship service of the church in the preceding twelve months. Upon good cause being shown to the pastor, this provision for termination may be waived in the case of any individual member at the discretion of the church elders.
• No member of this church may hold membership in another church. The membership of any individual member shall automatically terminate without notice if the member unites in membership with another church.
• The membership of an individual will automatically terminate upon his or her death.
• The membership of any individual member shall automatically terminate without notice if the church elders become aware of a member’s open and unrepentant involvement in any sexual misconduct or if a member files a lawsuit against another Christian.
• The membership of any individual member shall automatically terminate without notice if the member openly and unashamedly disagrees with any provision found in the Statement of Faith.
• The membership of any individual member shall automatically terminate without notice if the member in a spirit of dissension actively engages in secretive discussions and/or intentionally organized, secretive meetings in a concerted effort to overthrow the church eldership or present church leadership.
• Provisions A, B, and C contained in this section shall not be subject to or governed by the procedures regarding discipline of members set forth in Section 1.04. Provisions D, E, and F are subject to and governed by the procedures regarding discipline of members set forth in Section 1.04.
• A member may resign at any time, but no letter of transfer or written statement of good standing will be issued upon such resignation, except at the discretion of the church elders.

Section 7 – Associated Membership

Students and others temporarily residing locally who are members of a like body of believers may apply for associate membership. Qualifications are identical to those for full membership as set out above, except that home church membership must be retained. A letter of commendation will be sought from the applicant’s home church. Duties and privileges of associate members are the same as for other members except that:

1. When absent from the area for extended periods of time they are released from the responsibility to attend our church services;
2. While they will be encouraged to participate in members’ meetings they will not be eligible to stand for any office or to vote.

Termination of associate membership as a disciplinary measure will be as it is for other members, except that the elders shall notify the pastor or elders of the home church of that termination. Associate membership will normally terminate immediately upon the ending of the period of temporary residence in the area.

Section 8 – Church Covenant

Having, as we trust, been brought by divine grace to repent and believe in the Lord Jesus Christ and to give up ourselves to him, and having been baptized upon our profession of faith in the name of the Father and of the Son and the Holy Spirit, we do now, relying on His gracious aid, solemnly and joyfully renew our covenant with each other.

We will work and pray for the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.

We will walk together in brotherly love as becomes the members of a Christian church, exercise an affectionate care and watchfulness over each other and faithfully admonish and entreat one another as occasion may require.

We will not forsake the assembling of ourselves together, nor neglect to pray for ourselves and others.

We will endeavor to bring up such as may at any time be under our care in the nurture and admonition of the Lord, and by a pure and loving example to seek the salvation of our family and friends.

We will rejoice at each other’s happiness and endeavor with tenderness and sympathy to bear each other’s burdens and sorrows.

We will seek, by divine aid, to live carefully in the world, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, remembering that we have been buried with Christ in baptism and raised to walk in the newness of life.

We will work together for the continuance of a faithful evangelical ministry in this church, as we sustain its worship, ordinances, discipline, and doctrines. We will contribute cheerfully and regularly to the support of the ministry, the expenses of the church, the relief of the poor, and the spread of the gospel to all nations.

We will, when we move from this place, as soon as possible, unite with some other church where we can carry out the spirit of this covenant and the principles of God’s Word.

We will be bound by this church’s covenant, constitution, and statement of faith in all matters pertaining to membership and discipline.

May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with us all. Amen.