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Believers Baptism

Baptism at Clarence Park Baptist Church

House Groups

Small groups meeting for fellowship and learning

Prayer triplets

Learning to pray together

Stepping Stones

Short courses to help people find faith, and become active in God's Church


Hope 2008

Baptist Union

Churches Together

Becoming a Church Member

Becoming part of our church family

Please click here to download our PDF leaflet on Church 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 of all, 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 get baptised?

No. In common with Baptist Union churches, we operate what’s 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 
Indicate your desire to join CPBC in membership by speaking to our minister or someone on the church leadership team (like deacon).

2. Information
Having shown your interest the minister or a church leader will want to go through a short course with you to help you understand deeper what membership is all about. We call this STEPPING UP (step 3) and it is part of our church ‘stepping stones’ programme. 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
Upon completion of the short course if you are wanting to continue with an application for membership then a deacon and 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.

4. 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.

5. 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 the Minister of our church using the contact page on thgis website.