Why church membership?

If you search the Bible you won’t find the word "membership" anywhere that I know of, but you certainly will find the word "church." What then, is a church and what’s the deal with "church membership?"

Simply put, a church is a gathering of God’s people with common beliefs and a common mission. The Greek word ecclesia literally means "assembly." So the first question is how to identify those people who share a common faith and mission. At CCC, our process of church membership is designed to do just that.

The first step is a six-session class that discusses a relationship with Jesus, basic Christian doctrines and the mission of the church.

The second step is a written "application." This form is very simple and asks a person to share about their relationship with Christ and to read our church documents that outline what we believe and why we exist.

The third step is an interview with the church elders. This conversation focuses on three main things: A personal testimony of faith in Christ, agreement with the EFCA statement of faith, and agreement with the mission of the church. (surprise!)

The final step is a congregational "vote" which is really a public welcome into the church family.

Whether we call people "attenders and members" or "guppies and sharks", the end result is the same. The church must have a way to identify those who are qualified to lead and teach. It is easy to understand the importance of knowing who is in that classroom teaching our children or even caring for them in the nursery. What is sometimes missed is that the same concerns apply to those leading and teaching adults and representing the church in other places.

The Bible is clear that leaders and teachers must be held to higher standards. (James 3:1; I Timothy 3: 2-7; Titus 1: 6-9). If we learn anything from church history, it is that you can’t just allow anyone with a Bible to begin teaching!

Because church membership has been misunderstood and misused in the church, there are those who feel that this practice is not biblical or desirable. For these folks, there are at least three things to consider.

1. Many important and useful (and even biblical) practices have been abused throughout church history. It would be a shame to discard these things because others have misunderstood them.
2. After writing a lengthy and passionate letter warning the Galatians about the dangers of circumcision (Gal 5:1-6), Paul goes on and circumcises Timothy! (Acts 16:3) It is a biblical principle to sacrifice non-essentials for the sake of the mission. (Matt 12:2-5, etc.)
3. For those who feel deeply about this issue, there is a clause that allows the elders to make exceptions (see principle 2 above). In this case, a person would still be asked to complete the first three steps outlined above. Upon the elders’ approval, this person would be given the opportunity to teach and lead without the membership label.