How to Become a Member of WEST ERIE BIBLE PCA 

 

For the body is not made of just one member but of many members. All of you together are the body of Christ, and each of you is a member of it. 

(1 Corinthians 12:14, 27)

 

There are no formal pre-membership classes at West Erie Bible PCA, but there will be a time when the pastor visits you at your home to talk about the church and about membership. During that visit he will talk with you about what West Erie Bible PCA believes and what the church’s mission is. Please feel free to raise any questions or concerns you may have about the church, about membership, etc.

                                                                                

 

 

When a person or family decides to join West Erie Bible PCA, there are five questions asked  of them.  All members must be able to affirm each question.  Those questions are:

 

     1.  Do you acknowledge yourself to be sinners in the sight of God, just deserving
          His displeasure, and without hope save in His sovereign mercy?
     2.  Do you believe in the Lord Jesus Christ as the Son of God, and Savior of
          sinners, and do you receive and rest upon Him alone for salvation as He is
          offered in the Gospel?
     3.  Do you now resolve and promise, in humble reliance upon the grace of the
          Holy Spirit, that you will endeavor to live as becomes the followers of Christ?
     4.  Do you promise to support the church in its worship and work to the best of
          your ability?
     5.  Do you submit yourself to the government and discipline of the church, and
          promise to study its purity and peace?
 

When the pastor visits, he will go over these questions in more detail.

 

                                                                                 

If you decide that membership is something you want to do, then all the elders of the church will meet with you.  Because membership in the church is only for Christians (followers of Jesus Christ, together with their children), it is the responsibility of the elders to determine if you are indeed a Christian.  They will ask you the same five questions and your understanding of them.  After your meeting with the elders, the pastor will notify you of their decision. Finally, you will be brought into membership during a Sunday worship service.  During that service you will make a public profession of faith and, again, asked the five questions in the presence of the congregation.

                                                                    

If you are a new believer in Jesus Christ, or if you have been never been baptized in a Christian church, you will also be baptized at that service.  The pastor will explain the details. 

 

If you are presently a member of a Christian church and are interested in transferring your membership to West Erie Bible PCA, then your previous church will be contacted and informed of your intentions.

 

Although all of this may seem a bit overwhelming, membership in Christ’s church is a great joy.  Not only does membership with West Erie Bible PCA mean you commit yourself to us, it also means that we will commit ourselves to you and to your well being as a brother or sister in Christ.

 

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