Membership

Romans 12:4,5
"For just as we have many members in one body and all the members do not have the same function, so we, who are many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another."

BECOMING A MEMBER! INFORMATION AND INSTRUCTIONS

COMMITMENT AND ACCOUNTABILITY

Membership provides a way for people to express their commitment to the local church. Every believer is a member of the universal church by virtue of his or her new birth in Christ; however, the bible primarily describes church life in the context of the local church. It points to the necessity of being committed to other believers as well as trusted leaders in a given locality.

Commitment provides a means for people to voluntarily be accountable to other Christians and spiritual leaders. Since accountability requires close fellowship and openness in order to be effective, it is best experienced in the local church atmosphere where it can be lived out naturally and regularly.

The question might be asked, "Can't a person be committed to a local church and necessarily be an official member?" This is no doubt technically possible, but in terms of making a clear public statement to the church itself as well as being an example for others to follow, it is not practical.

AUTHORITY

Commitment also provides for a person to make public identification with the authority of the church and its leadership. Submission to spiritual authority is a clear biblical principle that has no real practical expression in the universal church. It is to be lived out in the local church where spiritual authority is clearly given to the appointed Eldership. This spiritual authority is not given to promote control, but rather to allow for a sense of general order in conducting church business and ministry and to promote protection for the members involved. This particular area is so important because it allows a very practical way for a person to express a submissive spirit and willingness to co-operate with the vision of the church.

BODY MINISTRY

Commitment also provides a means for people to state that they are willing to be proven and supervised as they begin to minister among the people of the congregation. Since ministry is such a wonderful privilege as well as a strong means of influence, it is so important that people be known and accepted. Commitment provides a means for this to be done. Commitment also identifies for the church and its leadership those who want to be cared for and looked after since it is impossible to give adequate time and energy to anyone who happens along. With increasing demands on our time, priority must be given to those who really want to be responsible in their church commitments.

POINT OF ENTRY - RECOGNITION FOR THE CHURCH

Commitment provides a visible way for people to become part of the church. It allows for an official point of entry where those who are new can be introduced to the entire church, prayed over by the leadership and welcomed by all. When a person becomes a member of the church, it expresses to the whole church their desire to be part of the vision of the church and its ministries as well as their willingness to become involved in the lives of others.

THE BASICS OF CHURCH COMMITMENT

Commitment to the local church involves the following elements.

1. Regular Attendance. A faithful commitment to the Sunday Celebration service is a must as well as other meetings, which are scheduled periodically.

2. Financial Commitment. A basic tithe or tenth of one's income as prescribed in scripture.

3. Participation in the activities and ministry effort of the church. Involvement is a must.

4. Active participation and commitment to a small group, which is our cell ministry effort. It is critical for everyone to be connected to a group of people within the church for nurturing, discipleship, fellowship and outreach.

5. Commitment to the vision of the church. Understanding exactly what the church is all about and supporting its efforts is essential.

6. Personal commitment to integrity and godly living. Representing the Rock of Ages Christian Fellowship with personal Christ-like character is vital.

BENEFITS OF COMMITMENT

1. A means to tangibly express your commitment to the church and your willingness to get involved.

2. A means to establish accountability by volunteering to share your life with others and allow others to encourage you in your spiritual growth.

3. Spiritual protection among the other committed members by eliminating isolated living and providing for being under the watchful and loving eye of qualified spiritual leadership.

4. A place for a person to discover and exercise their spiritual gifts where there can be the proper balance of encouragement and correction.

5. A way for a person to express a serious commitment to Jesus Christ that is practical and visible and involves relating to other Christians openly.

6. A place you can call your own, a group of people you consider your spiritual family and a place to bring others that is measurable, tangible and real.

BECOMING A MEMBER!

The following steps are taken twice a year, usually in the spring and the fall, as demand requires.

1. Announcements will begin from the pulpit and in the bulletin, informing interested people to pick up information booklets.

2. This information is to be read before a scheduled information meeting, which also will be announced several weeks in advance to ensure people can attend this meeting.

3. The information meeting will normally be conducted following a Sunday morning service for about an hour. A brief presentation will be given covering the booklet, doctrinal statements, vision and actual process of becoming a member followed by a question and answer period.

4. Following this meeting those interested in becoming members will be instructed to 1) submit a written testimony of their salvation experience and 2) read and sign the Rock of Ages Christian Fellowship Covenant.

5. After the above mentioned items have been submitted to the church leadership, new members will be introduced to the congregation during a Sunday morning service, usually two weeks after the information meeting, if possible.

6. At the above mentioned Introduction Service, those who have submitted both covenant and written testimony will be introduced to the congregation at which time the Pastor and Eldership of the church will pray over the new members.

7. If interested parties are desirous of membership but are uncomfortable with the introduction process, special arrangements can be made ahead of time. Please inform those conducting the informational meeting if special arrangements need to be made.