We believe that every Christian should be a baptized member of a gospel-preaching local church, following in the example set by Christ, Paul, and the early church. We seek to follow this instruction in the way we organize our membership process.
Step 1: Walking Together: Membership at Grace Fellowship Church
Anyone who desires to become a member here starts by attending this course made up of five 1-hour classes.
Class 1: The Gospel, our History, and the Elders’ Vision
Class 2: Baptism
Class 3: Doctrine
Class 4: Membership
Class 5: Your Role as a Member
This course is offered every couple of months throughout the year, either on a Sunday morning at 8:45AM, or a Wednesday night at 7:00PM.
Attending a course does not mean you have to pursue membership here. In fact, you may find that our church is not the best fit for you after attending! That is perfectly fine and we would love to help you find another gospel-preaching local church where you are able to join into membership.
Step 2: Membership Application
Prospective members send in their testimony along with some personal demographics and information about previous church memberships.
Step 3: Elder Interview
Each prospective member meets with an elder and member to recount God’s saving grace in their life and provide clarity on their application.
The elders may request more clarity from the applicant or connect them with a member for a book study at this point.
Step 4: Members' Meeting
Before one of our regularly scheduled Members’ Meetings, the prospective member's testimony is sent to the current membership. At the meeting, an elder will briefly summarize their story of God's grace in their life and recommend them to the membership. After discussion, the members will vote, and if a majority is secured, the prospective member is welcomed into the meeting to take the Membership Covenant.
If the prospective member has not been baptized, their membership will be approved “pending baptism”. A baptism date will be scheduled shortly after the meeting.