Recently, in the lead up to our Annual General Meeting I invited a bunch of people to become formal members of our church. Many are new to our church since last AGM, others have been part of our church for ages but for whatever reason have never gone through that process. We were encouraged to see the Admin Team approve dozens of new members prior to the AGM this year.
In the past, despite my role as Membership pastor, I’ve tended to downplay our church’s formal membership process. I’ve seen it (and presented it to others) as basically just a formality tied to the fact that we’re a registered organisation. Whenever the AGM comes around, we review our list of members and invite our regulars who aren’t yet members to apply so they can vote.
Not that the AGM isn’t important. It’s essential that we as a church not only obey the law, but steward the resources that God has generously provided for us to use for his purposes. It’s a been a joy serving on the Admin Team for the past couple of years. I’ve loved theopportunity to see how some of the cogs and wheels work behind the scenes to help us keep functioning well.
But the thing I really care about, and am convinced that Jesus really cares about is not whether someone is a formal member of a physical church, but whether, through faith in Him, they are truly members of his body, the invisible church, the triumphant gathering of redeemed sinners, a great multitude from all tribes tongues and nations, assembled before the throne of the Lion of Judah like we see in Revelation 5.
As we’ll explore more in our upcoming series on the Church, we express our membership in Christ’s glorious Kingdom when we gathering together as a community of fellow believers. It’s a little taste of heaven as we gather with our local church each week. And so there’s something not quite right if someone is a member of that heavenly kingdom but does not belong to a local church.
Now, on the one hand your level of commitment to our church (or any other church) is between you and God. So if you’re a follower of Christ, and you call City on a Hill your church, then it’s right for us consider you a member of our church (all formalities aside!). But on the other hand, if people are making significant commitments to one another, it’s appropriate we express that commitment in some way.
So as I reflect on formal membership, I think there’s more to it than voting at the AGM. Becoming an official member of our church is a tangible and fitting expression of our commitment to one another as members of this precious little group of God’s people we call City on a Hill. So if you’re a formal member - embrace it. This is your church. Commit to playing whatever part God has given you to play in our vision to multiple and mature wholehearted followers of Jesus.
But if you’re committed to our church and there’s something holding you back from becoming a formal member, then let’s have a conversation about it. Perhaps there’s something you’re not sure about in our statement of faith. Perhaps you don’t think you can be as regular as the minimum requirement. We’re not going to pressure you to change your views or make a decision or treat anyone differently. We’d just love to find the best way to express our commitment to one another as members of Christ’s body.
I still don’t really care too much about formal membership. Everyone who gathers with our church is precious to God and worthy of our love and service regardless of their status as a member or not. But I’ve become convinced that it’s more than a box ticking exercise. Perhaps it can at least be the start of a conversation that will deepen our love for one and commitment to another, and ultimately our love for our great King Jesus.
Grace and Peace,
Andy Williams
(Membership Pastor)