Membership
At Community Church, membership is a formal covenant between an individual and the church leadership and family, establishing a commitment and providing additional privileges and responsibilities. You should be able to find the answers to your questions about membership at Community Church below, but if not, please fill out the form at the bottom of this page and we will be in touch shortly.
Becoming a member is a pledge to this church family (1 Timothy 3:13). Membership is a pledge to become an active, consistent, contributing person in the church. It is a pledge to embrace the vision, mission, values, and strategies of this church. It is a covenant to pray fervently for the church; to attend consistently, to give faithfully, and to serve diligently. It is a promise to submit to its leaders, to handle conflict and disagreement in God-glorifying manner (Matthew 18:15-17), and to protect the unity of the church through love (1 Corinthians 13:4-7). Becoming a member is a commitment to be an active player, and not just an interested spectator, in the ministry of Community Church.
Formal membership at Community Church is a relationship between you and the other members of the church in which you covenant with each other to gather as family to worship and exalt God, to strengthen and encourage one another, to pursue together the vision that God has given the church, and to hold each other accountable to live in a manner pleasing to the Lord. And at Community Church, we take this membership covenant very seriously. And we want members to take seriously their relationship with the Lord and one another.
It is no designed to elevate the prominence and social status of its members. Rather it is a gathering of sinners, redeemed by the shed blood of her Lord, Jesus Christ, empowered by the Holy Spirit, and resolutely committed to carrying out the directives of our Lord. And membership in the Church is not to be perceived as a glorified pecking order. Membership is a relationship and a declaration that you can be counted on as an active, consistent, and contributing member of this family.
There are 4 steps to becoming a member!
You will need to attend our Membership Class. This class is offered 3 times a year, and is held on a Sunday afternoon from 4-6:30m (dinner will be provided). Check the events page for updates on when our next membership class is.
Please watch the bulletin for the class announcement, then register for the class by either calling the office at (920) 922-1477 or simply filling out the form at the bottom of this page.
If you have not been baptized by immersion as a believer, then you will need to attend our Baptism Class, which is offered 3 times a year,and then follow the subsequent process towards baptism. Please check the events page for updates as to when our next baptism class is, or email info@ccfdl.org.
You will meet with two members of our Church Council for a membership interview. Here you will discuss more about membership, your own personal journey with Christ and whether or not you wish to continue at this time towards membership.
Be voted into membership at our next business meeting upon the Council’s recommendation.
What is expected of members?
- By acting in love toward other members (John 13:35)
- By refusing to gossip (Romans 1:29-32)
- By responding to hurt and conflict God’s way (Matthew 18:15-17)
- By forgiving one another repeatedly (Ephesians 4:32; Matthew 18:21-22)
- By cooperating with leaders (Hebrews 13:7; Romans 13:1-2)
- By praying for it (Ephesians 6:18)
- By inviting our neighbors, friends, and family to attend (Matthew 28:19-20)
- By warmly welcoming those who visit (Romans 16:16)
- By being intentional about my own spiritual growth (1Timothy 4:7; 1 Peter 2:2)
- By discovering my gifts and talents and using them (1 Peter 4:10)
- By becoming equipped to serve (Ephesians 4:12)
- By developing a servant’s heart (Galatians 5:13; Matthew 20:26-28)
- By participating in a small group (Acts 2:46)
- By attending faithfully (Hebrews 10:25)
- By living a godly life (Colossians 1:10; Ephesians 4:1)
- By giving regularly and generously (1 Corinthians 16:2; 2 Corinthians 9:6-11)
What can be expected from the church?
- That our teaching will be true to God’s Word, the Bible, and free from manipulation and shame.
- That our leaders will be servants and equippers who lead primarily by example.
- That our environment will be one where sin, weaknesses, and shortcomings can be discussed openly without shame.
- That our attitude will be one of acceptance, regardless of a person’s past.
- That we will encourage people without apology to grow in Christ-likeness in all facets of life.
- That we will respond to disappointment, conflict, and sin in a manner consistent with the Bible.
- That we will be fiscally responsible and accountable.
- That our financial books will be open for examination (donor information remains confidential).
- That we will proclaim the good news of Jesus Christ without apology in our services and through our ministries.
- That we will pursue ministry methods that are relevant in our culture and effective at reaching people.
Membership identifies you with a local church body. As you take your place in God’s family through salvation, it is His intention that you also commit yourself to a local church and become a committed contributor in that church family. The reason for this is simple. Accepting Jesus is a personal, private decision that you make on your own. But living out your faith is a corporate, public endeavor. Our faith is not to be lived in isolation. In addition to that, the local church is meant to be the recipient of the gifts and resources that God has entrusted to your stewardship. And finally, membership provides voting rights and decision-making influence as this local church seeks to fulfill the mission that God has given it.
More on Membership.
In 1 Corinthians 12, the apostle Paul tells us that the Body of Christ, though it is one unit, it is made up of many parts and no part is disposable or unnecessary (v 12-27). You are a member of Christ’s body, the Church, and you are a necessary part. At the same time, you have a responsibility to the others because you are one among many. Membership formally signifies that you recognize and accept this responsibility.
It is a pledge to discover and use your spiritual gift(s) (1 Peter 4:10), to fulfill the “one another” commands (ex. Romans 13:8), and to follow the leaders of the church (Hebrews 13:7). Beyond this, God will lead various churches to pursue ministry in a variety of ways. And membership is a promise to participate in ministry as God leads Community Church to pursue it. Specifically, this means that small groups, CLD’s, and other such ministries should be given priority.
Often people walk into the church with an individual agenda that is revealed in comments like: “I hope I get something out of it today.” — “I am looking for a church that I really enjoy and feel comfortable in.” — “I didn’t really care for the worship at that church.” — “That church is always talking about missions, and I’m not really into that.”
These kinds of comments reveal a me-centered mindset that needs to be replaced with a God-centered and others-oriented perspective. Members move in that direction because they come to understand that it is not primarily about them or their preferences. It is fundamentally about God and His mission for this local church.
Each of us brings a unique set of expectations to the church. Disappointment, hurt, tension, and sometimes division are created when personal expectations aren’t met. Membership creates a platform upon which “mutual” expectations are expressed, explained, and accepted. Together we come to understand what is expected of me towards you and you towards me.
1 Peter 5:8 tells us the devil is like a prowling lion looking for someone to devour. And like a lion, he will often stalk the weak, tired, or isolated prey. This is why we are told to “be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might” (Ephesians 6:10), to “never grow weary of doing what is right” (Galatians 6:9), and to “not be absent when the church gathers” (Hebrews 10:25). Membership provides a measure of protection against the Enemy simply because active, contributing members are not weak, tired, or isolated.