BECOMING A MEMBER
WHY MEMBERSHIP MATTERS
We believe that God is gathering a people together for Himself. The Christians in the New Testament were not simply a loose association in their respective towns and cities. In each place, a plurality of elders were called to lead the church and give pastoral oversight to the people of God. But how were they to distinguish the people of God from others? Church membership has been the historic practice of identifying with Jesus Christ by faith and aligning oneself with a local church. The elders know then which sheep they are to tend...only the sheep who have committed themselves to their local church. At CPC, we follow the historic practice of church membership. Believers who want to join CPC ordinarily attend an Inquirer's Class to learn more about the church. They then meet with a group of our elders who hear their profession of faith in Christ. Then, assuming their credible profession of faith, they take the vows of membership and join the church. It's a way of planting a flag and saying: "of all the churches I could join (of which there are many), I am going to commit to these people in this place and submit myself to Jesus Christ and the elders which He has called to lead and shepherd here at this church."
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Do you acknowledge yourselves to be sinners in the sight of God, justly deserving His displeasure, and without hope save in His sovereign mercy?
This vow is about acknowledging that you are by nature a sinner who sins, that God is just, and that apart from His mercy, we would stand under His judgement forever.
VOWS OF CHURCH MEMBERSHIP
INQUIRERS CLASS
Several times per year, we offer an Inquirer's Class. In this class, we cover the history, government, theology, philosophy of ministry, ministries, and membership vows at Christ Presbyterian Church. This class is for anyone who desires to know more about CPC; membership is not an obligation of attendance. We do ask that anyone considering membership attend the class as a first step in the membership process. We usually meet on a Saturday morning. Questions and discuss are welcome at this class.
NEW COMMUNICANTS CLASS
In the Winter/Spring, we offer a New Communicants Class for all covenant children who desire to profess faith in Christ. We rely on parents to determine when their children are ready for this class. It meets over 4 weeks, and offers an in-depth explanation of the membership vows at CPC. Upon completion of the communicants class, covenant children who are ready to profess faith and becoming communing members (members who take communion) will meet with a few of the elders to make their profession of faith. Assuming a credible profession of faith, they are then welcomed to the Communion Table.