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Church Membership
Members attend and participate. In the New Testament, the church met each week on the Lord's Day. Attending 75% of the time is a minimal level of participation expected by members. If a person attended only 75% of the time, it would be the equivilent of missing three months out of the year. Illness, being out of town, or necessary work are among the few legitimate reasons to not attend church. If a member's attendance drops below 75% for long enough to indicate that there is a problem, it is the responsibilitry of the elders to follow-up to see if there is a problem. Those whose membership continues below the 75% level will be challenged regarding their status as members. We require that those who apply for membership attend Grace faithfully for at least three month prior to being received into membership. 2. Participation in the ministry by serving (Romans 12:4-6; 1 Peter 4:10-11). Members are expected to serve in the local church in some way. Service may be in the children's ministry, building maintenance, ushering, or any other of the service ministries that keep a church going. As it is with attendance, the leaders of the church have an obligation to follow-up on any members who stop serving. We require that those who apply for membership serve in some capacity prior to being received into membership. 3. Participation in the ministry through biblical financial contribution. Biblical giving is to be regular, proportional, and offered in faith. A tithe (10% of one's income) is considered a biblical baseline. Members are expected to tithe, or give 10% or more of their income to the ministry of the church. The church does not check up on anyone's financial giving. This is an issue between the individual and the Lord. Those applying for membership, may not be giving 10% since for some who are new to the faith, giving 10% may be something they need to grow into. In such cases, we ask that those who are not tithing be able to agree with the concept and be committed to working in that direction. 4. Receiving the Lord's Supper regularly and frequently Regular and frequent are relative terms. It is suggested that every member receive the Lord's Supper no less than once each month as he is able. 5. Understanding of and commitment to the vision and distinctives of Grace Bible Church. (Philippians 2:1-2). Key distinctives of Grace Bible Church are described in the booklet entitled, "How We Do Ministry At Grace Bible Church." 6. Willingness to submit to the spiritual leadership of the elders of the church as they submit to God and the scriptures. (Hebrews 13:17; 1 Peter 5:1-5) 7. A desire to be held accountable by the church, including church discipline if necessary. (Proverbs 18:1; Matthew 18:15-20; If the leadership of the church, out of concern for a member, approaches a member about an issue in his life, the member needs to be reminded that this caring action was invited by applying for membership. The person should also realize that the elders do not take such action lightly, and have spent much time in prayer beforehand. D. Membership at Grace Bible Church is to be renewed annually from the date when received into membership. (2 Corinthians 13:5) (See Article IV, Sec. 4.) Please refer to notes on Article IV, Sec. 4. SECTION 2: Church Membership: Requirements and Procedures
No one is expected to be sinless. If however a person is living in a life-style of sin, that life-style must be addressed before being received into membership. An example of this would be if a person was living with a boyfriend or girlfriend without the benefit of marriage. 3. Demonstrate a commitment to the ministry of Grace Bible Church for a minimum of three months:
Please refer to comments on Section 1, C., 1-3. 4. Be 18 years of age. Official membership is limited to those who are of legal age since in issues that might call for a congregational vote, a measure of maturity is needed. 5. Be willing to submit to the government of this church. The members of the church are to submit to the God-ordained leadership of the church regarding issues of the church, as the leaders submit to the Lord. The church leaders have no desire or right to dictate personal issues not expressly addressed in scripture. Their responsibility is to point people to the Lord and to His Word. 6. Apply for membership by:
This booklet contains Article IV of the church's bylaws. b) Interviewing with two of the Elders of the church. This may be done in a personal interview or if there are more multiple applicants it may be done in a "Membership Class" setting. After the interview or class, interested parties will be given application forms to fill out. c) Completing an application for membership. Applications may be returned to the church office or directly to any of the elders. B. Once accepted as members, applicants will sign the church roll sheet and will be acknowledged as members in an appropriate manner. This is generally done by placing an announcement in the church bulletin welcoming new members into the fellowship. SECTION 3: Church Membership: Membership Rolls A list of members who are actively participating in church activities shall be maintained.
SECTION 4: Church Membership: Accountability The Elders of the church will hold members accountable to maintain their commitment to the Lord and to His Church. Annually, each member shall reconsider each of the commitments required of new members. People's level of involvement sometimes diminishes over time. For this reason, each year around the anniversary date of having been received into membership, the elders will meet with each member or member family to evaluate the present level of commitment. Attendance, serving, and giving will be discussed. This annual review will also provide members a chance to ask questions, express concerns, and seek counsel of the elders. A. If a member is continuing steadfastly in his commitments and wishes to renew his membership, he will be invited to do so. The renewal will be so noted in the membership roll book. B. If a member has become lax in any of the commitments required for new members and wishes to renew his membership, he will be given three months to demonstrate a renewed commitment to his membership. After three months, if the areas of concern have been rectified, the member will be invited to renew his membership, and the renewal shall be so noted in the membership roll book. If after three months the member has not satisfactorily rectified the areas of concern, the membership will be terminated. The member may reapply for membership whenever he is again ready to make and keep the necessary commitment. SECTION 4: Church Membership: Termination Membership shall be terminated in the following ways:
The leaders cannot shepherd the people if they are not given the opportunity to do so. B. Membership may be terminated at the time of the annual renewal if the member is no longer demonstrating the level of commitment required of members. (See Article IV, Sec. 4, B.) C. Membership may be terminated for non-participation after appropriate efforts to restore fellowship and participation have failed. The length of time of non-participation that warrants dismissal shall be determined by the discretion and good judgment of the elders. D. The elders may terminate a person's membership as an act of discipline. (See Article IV., Sec. 7.) E. Church membership shall be terminated upon the event of a member's death. SECTION 5: Church Membership: Voting Membership Each member shall be entitled to one vote in matters that call for a decision of the membership. (See Article V., Sec. 3., D. & F.) The membership of the church has an active role in voting to call and/or remove the Pastor of the church. These are the only issues that call for a vote of the congregation. SECTION 6: Church Membership: Discipline
Christ is committed to individual Christians but He is no less committed to His Church. When serious sin is allowed to remain in the church unchecked, the whole body suffers. The account of Achan in Joshua 7 is a sober reminder of this fact. 2. The spiritual welfare of individuals who are called to hold others accountable. We bring judgment on ourselves if we do not discipline those who should be disciplined. (Ezekiel 33:7-9) Those who are charged to lead God's people place themselves in line for judgment if they fail to discharge this duty when necessary. 3. The spiritual welfare of individuals who are in sin. Though difficult and painful, biblical discipline is one of God's appointed means of delivering a person from sin. (1 Corinthians 5:4-5, Hebrews 12:5-6, Proverbs 13:24) The church is only as healthy as its members. Church discipline has the spiritual health of its individual members in mind. C. The process of church discipline. The elders of the church will, through teaching and example, encourage the members of the church to discipline themselves and one another in the following ways:
Those who discipline themselves need not be disciplined, but those who will not discipline themselves invite discipline from others. 2. Overlooking, in love, the failings of one another. (1 Peter 4:8) We seek always to be charitable and understanding of one another, remembering that none of us is without sin. Love covers a multitude of sins. 3. Admonishing a brother or sister when necessary. (Matthew 18:15) Christ calls on us to deal with issues on a personal and confidential level first, avoiding "official actions" that may involve more people than necessary. 4. Taking one or two others as witnesses if the personal admonition is rejected. (Matthew 18:16) In cases of scandalous sin that may bring reproach on Christ and His Church, there is no requirement to attempt private resolution of the matter and it should be brought to the elders without delay. 5. Bringing the issue to the elders of the church who act as representatives of the church if the previous admonition is rejected. (Matthew 18:17) Only after personal attempts at resolving a problem have failed is there to be any "official action" taken. When the elders of the church are brought into an issue, they too seek to rectify the problem in a confidential manner without taking the issue to the next and most serious level. 6. Excommunicating the person under discipline, communicating the same to the membership of the church if the admonition of the elders is rejected. (Matthew 18:17, 1 Corinthians 5:4-5, 11-13) There are several issues regarding this most serious step that must be understood. (1) The action is biblical. (2) Excommunication is not condemnation or a pronouncement by the church concerning the person's salvation. The church has no such authority. (3) Excommunication is an exclusion from fellowship, with the goal in view that the person being excommunicated will repent and be restored to fellowship. (4) The body must be involved so the congregation will know how to relate to the person being disciplined so that his restoration may be hastened. This is a serious action and is taken only as a last resort. 7. Restoring the person under discipline when, in the opinion of the Elders, that person has been restored through repentance and rededication or conversion. The elders shall announce the end of the disciplinary action to the church. In the same way that the body must know in order to participate in the necessary act of discipline, the body must know when the person under discipline has repented and been restored to fellowship so that the body may rejoice in that restoration. D. The subjects of discipline.
If a person must be excluded from the fellowship of the church, the exclusion will only be as widely publicized as is necessary to protect the body from spiritual harm. 2. Members. The authority and responsibility of the church to discipline its members is invited by its members by applying for and being received into membership of the church. If a member who is subject to church discipline opts to terminate membership as a means of avoiding discipline, the rest of the church members will be informed of the circumstances of the discipline and termination of membership. 3. Leaders. Elders and deacons have greater responsibility and receive greater honor than other members of the church. (1 Timothy 5:17) Therefore they are judged by a higher standard than other members of the church. (James 3:1) Because their ministries are public and because their sin can bring greater reproach to Christ and His Church, based on the judgment of the Elders of the church, if an Elder is living in sin and will not repent, he is subject to public rebuke. If an Elder is repentant, but his sin is of a nature that requires him to step down from his position as an Elder, he will not be rebuked, but the membership of the church will be notified regarding the reason for the man's removal as an Elder. (1 Timothy 5:19-20) 4. Children of members. The elders will exercise disciplinary authority, with children of member households, if necessary, in the following ways:
This is not an act of discipline. It is a proactive act of love prompted by genuine concern for the person's soul. b) If a child of a member of the church has professed faith in the Lord and subsequently demonstrates a rebellious spirit, or repudiates his earlier profession of faith, the elders will offer pastoral help to the head of the household as appropriate. If the child persists in a state of rebellion, the elders may initiate the process of church discipline and the child may be excommunicated. The church has no desire to intrude into family affairs where the church is not welcome. This point is a proactive act of love, extending a hand to parents who are members of the church. The excommunication of a child or young person would only be considered if that child or young person poses a threat to the spiritual health of the church. c) If the rebellion of a child is of a scandalous nature, and the member parents refuse to cooperate with the church discipline, the elders may initiate the process of church discipline with the member parents. If a child or young person must be excluded from the fellowship of the church, and if the parents of that child or young person will not cooperate with the leadership of the church, those parents may need to be excluded if their refusal to cooperate poses a threat to the spiritual health of the church. E. Grace Bible Church will honor acts of church discipline carried out biblically in other Christian churches. The local church is but an expression of the Universal Church of Christ. As members of the Universal Church, the local church must honor the acts of church discipline that are carried out in a biblical manner in other local churches. When a person comes to Grace Bible Church from another church in the area, it is our practice to contact the leadership of the person's former church to be sure there is no unfinished business that needs attention.
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If you have questions regarding the issue of membership or our understanding of church discipline, please contact one of the elders of the church. Any one of them will be delighted to assist you.
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