What Is Membership?:
“A communicant member is a person who has been baptised and has made a credible declaration of their faith in Jesus Christ as their Saviour. This … is marked out by a clear statement of trust in the Triune God, and a promise to serve the Lord in response to His grace.”
-(An Introduction to the Presbyterian Church of Australia, Code Committee of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church of Australia (2004))
Becoming a Member:
Interested in becoming a member? Here are the steps:
- Talk to an elder about your membership request
- You will undergo an interview in which you will be asked questions concerning basic aspects of theology
- You will take membership vows in front of the church as well as give a profession of faith that you will need to prepare
- Welcome into our church family!
The Membership Vows:
[The minister shall say:]
It is now time for [name] to become a member of this church. We welcome [him/her] via a Profession of Faith which [he/she] will make shortly. It is important for us all to understand that [he/she] is not becoming a member of the body of Christ today, [he/she] has already done that through faith alone in Christ Jesus.
Today [he/she] becomes a member of the visible church. The group of people who gather week in week out to worship our Lord God, Father, Son, and Spirit.
I’d like to invite [name] to share the profession [he/she] has prepared:
[The person seeking membership shares their prepared profession]
This is not strictly about [name], but also involves the congregation as well, so now I will ask them some questions, and then you a question.
[The minister shall then say to the candidate who shall stand:]
Who is your Lord and Saviour?
Response: Jesus Christ is my Lord and Saviour.
Do you trust in the righteousness of Christ alone for your salvation?
Response: I do.
Do you promise to obey him?
Response: I do.
Do you promise, by God’s grace, that you will seek to grow as a healthy disciple of Jesus?
Response: I do.
Do you promise to give due diligence to the word of God, the Bible?
Response: I do.
Do you promise to be faithful in your attendance at church?
Response: I do.
[Then the minister shall say:]
The Lord bless you and graciously enable you to keep these promises.
[Then, addressing the congregation, he shall say:]
Do you promise to support [name] in the promises [he/she] has made: and to pray for [him/her], to care for [him/her] in Christian community, to constantly remind [him/her] of the gospel of the Lord Jesus, and be a godly example for [him/her]?
If you accept this responsibility, please say: I will.
[The minister may then say,]
The Lord bless you and keep you. The Lord make His face to shine upon you and be gracious unto you. The Lord lift up His countenance upon you and give you peace. (Numbers 6:24-27)
[Thereafter addressing the congregation, the minister shall say:]
We receive [name] into the visible Church, that as a member of the covenant community, [he/she] may be nurtured and strengthened, and continue as Christ’s faithful servant to their life’s end.