What does it mean to become a member of the church?
A person who becomes a member of a local church is simply saying “I am a follower of Christ and I identify myself as a part of this church family.”
The Bible speaks of the church as a family, or the household of God. Church membership is not like joining the gym or buying a membership to the video store, it is about joining an organic family.
The Bible also speaks of the church as the Body of Christ. Just as you wouldn’t casually amputate a finger, if the finger is hurting the whole body goes to its aid. This metaphor shows the commitment, the accountability, and the interdependence of the church.
Our relationship with God becomes the model of relationship with one another. God’s people commit themselves to one another in a covenant relationship:
We make it known that we are responsible to the church by identifying ourselves with Grace Vancouver Church. We let the leaders and other members know that we intend to be committed in corporate worship, personal devotion, intentional fellowship, meaningful service and sacrificial giving. We increase others’ expectations of us in these areas.
The church states its responsibility to us. As we assure the church of our commitment to Christ in serving with them, we call for Grace Vancouver’s commitment to serve us in love and to encourage us in their spiritual growth and discipleship.
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Why is church membership so important?
God desires to use “his own people” to witness to the world. The church as a community of people is critical to God’s plan in human history. All of the biblical story shows that God has chosen to work with people in community.
Peter writes, “You are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation…” (1 Peter 2:9-10) Peter emphasizes that the church is a community of people who owe their existence and uniqueness to one fundamental fact – the call of God. God has called his people into existence and his purpose is to use them to bring the good news of salvation to the world.
We need a family in which to grow. We are reminded in the book of Acts that it is in the community of faith where we are nurtured into maturity in Christ. We see the importance of community life with the use of terms like body, family and fellowship in the New Testament. In this setting our relationship with God becomes vital, habits of the Christian life are developed, spiritual gifts are discovered and spiritual maturity developed.
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How do I become a member of Grace Vancouver?
The first step in the membership process is to complete the Introduction to Grace Vancouver course (register for the next Membership Seminar here). There is no charge to attend this seminar. Please note that the classes are open to anyone interested in learning more about Grace Vancouver and do not oblige you to join. For additional information send us an e-mail.
After you have completed the class and have expressed an interest in joining, you will be scheduled for a membership interview with an elder and a deacon or deaconess.
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What is Introduction to Grace Vancouver?
Introduction to Grace Vancouver is an interactive seminar designed to help you find out more about Grace Vancouver, our vision and values, and explore the role of church in a person’s life. It's a great place to ask questions and begin discovering if Grace Van is a good fit for you.
Most commonly Intro to Grace Vancouver is offered in a day long single session format, but you may also be able to meet with someone to go through the seminar content in a different time frame if the scheduled dates do not work for you.
What if I am transferring from another Church?
If you are currently a member of another church, you must take the Introduction to Grace Vancouver course and be interviewed.
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