What We Ask of Members

Baptism comes first

Baptism is required for membership. If someone in the class has not been baptized as a believer, that is their next step, and membership follows it.

Communion is a separate question. Baptism is not required for communion. Communion is for believers only.

What we ask of every member

Beyond baptism, we ask every member to do three things:

• Be in a Crew. "Best you is found in a crew."
• Serve on a team. "From the parking lot to the pulpit, everyone serves. Every role is different but they are all important."
• Give. "We don't give out of obligation, but as an opportunity to invest in the Kingdom." "We don't give to a church, we give through a church."

That is the whole list. Short enough to remember, clear enough to say yes to.

When you write your own list:

• Say whether each one is a requirement or an expectation. People can tell when you blur them.
• If you cannot tell whether someone is doing it, do not make it a requirement.
• Say what you ask about giving in the class, out loud, so nobody is surprised later.

Our covenant

Members at our church sign a covenant. It is a short promise a person makes to God and to the church family when they become a member. It turns "I attend here" into "I belong here," and it puts what we ask in writing so everyone hears the same thing.

Ours is adapted from the membership covenant Saddleback Church has shared with pastors for years. Many churches use it. Use it, or let it shape your own.

1. I will protect the unity of our church

• By acting in love toward other members.
• By refusing to gossip.
• By following the leaders.

Romans 14:19 (opens the passage on Bible.com); Romans 15:5 (opens the passage on Bible.com); 1 Peter 1:22 (opens the passage on Bible.com); Ephesians 4:29 (opens the passage on Bible.com)

2. I will share the responsibility of our church

• By praying for its growth.
• By inviting the unchurched to attend.
• By warmly welcoming those who visit.

1 Thessalonians 1:1-2 (opens the passage on Bible.com); Luke 14:23 (opens the passage on Bible.com); Romans 15:7 (opens the passage on Bible.com)

3. I will serve the ministry of our church

• By discovering my gifts and talents.
• By being equipped to serve by my pastors.
• By developing a servant's heart.

1 Peter 4:10 (opens the passage on Bible.com); Ephesians 4:11-12 (opens the passage on Bible.com); Philippians 2:3-7 (opens the passage on Bible.com)

4. I will support the testimony of our church

• By attending church and a Crew faithfully.
• By living a godly life.
• By giving regularly.

Acts 2:42 (opens the passage on Bible.com); Hebrews 10:25 (opens the passage on Bible.com); Philippians 1:27 (opens the passage on Bible.com); 1 Corinthians 16:2 (opens the passage on Bible.com)

Read the covenant out loud in the class before anyone signs it. If a line needs explaining, explain it, or rewrite it for your church.

What members can expect from you

A commitment runs both ways. Write down what the church promises its members beside what you ask of them. For example: to teach the Bible, to pray for them, to care for them in a crisis, and to tell them the truth about the church's money and decisions.

Saying yes

Decide ahead of time:

• How a person becomes a member: signing the covenant, a conversation with a pastor, or both.
• Who confirms baptism, and how.
• Whether new members are welcomed in front of the church.
• What members can do that others cannot, such as lead, teach or vote. If the answer is nothing, ask what membership means in your church.

When someone is not ready

• Thank them for coming. Do not pressure them.
• Name the one step in front of them. Often it is baptism, or simply more time.
• Keep them in a Crew and on an easy entry team.
• Decide who checks back in with them, and when.