MEMBERSHIP

What is Church Membership?

Becoming a part of a church family is a crucial decision. Some people say that there is no such thing as church membership in the Bible! Superficially that may be true. But at another level it is obvious that each church knew those who belonged to their own fellowship of gathered believers. It is not difficult then to imagine that someone, somewhere, had a list of those who were part of the local fellowship and it is there that you have the real essence of church membership. 

Church membership is about belonging to a local Christian community and being involved in its life, work and witness. These things are common themes in the letters of the New Testament.

What is expected of a Church Member?

There are two main things:

  • First, a member needs to be someone with a personal Christian faith, which may have come through a specific experience or as part of a gradual process.
  • Secondly, a member is someone who is committed to the local church and who is involved in its life, its work and its worship. A member is someone who recognises that a particular fellowship is their spiritual home, where through faith they belong.

Do Members have to be baptised?

No. In common with Baptist Union churches, we operate what is called “open membership” - membership open both to those baptised as believers and to other Christians. Whilst as a Baptist Church, we believe that baptism should be as we find it in the Bible, that is, as an expression of faith, we also welcome people into membership who come from non-Baptist backgrounds “on profession of faith” - faith in Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour. 

What is the process of becoming a Church Member?

  1. Contact Let us know of your desire to join UBC in membership by speaking to one of our ministers or someone on the church leadership team (deacon).
  2. Information Having shown your interest, the minister or a church leader will meet with you to help you understand deeper what membership is all about. This will involve looking at Church doctrine and belief, and the roles and responsibilities of the church to members but also members to the church.
  3. Application If you are wanting to continue with an application for membership, then another church member will come to visit you for an informal chat and interview. This is to allow them the time to get to know you and for you to get to know them. The time spent together will also include looking at how you can best get involved in service within our church.
  1. Approval All new members are approved by the church meeting. Those who visit you will bring a short account of the interview and a recommendation to the church. Depending on where you have come from in your Christian life, your approval may be based on Christian experience, a letter of transfer from a previous church, or pending baptism.
  2. Welcome We welcome new members into our church fellowship during a communion service. This is traditionally where you will be extended the "right hand of fellowship", illustrating the special bond of fellowship that believers share and will give us the opportunity to pray with you as you begin the next chapter of your spiritual life in membership with us.

What do I need to do next?

If you have already decided to ask for church membership, or if you would like to talk about it further, please contact a Minister:

Rev. Mark Davison mark.davison@upminsterbaptists.org 

Rev. Richard Shorter richard.shorter@upminsterbaptists.org