Procedure for Membership at Calvary Fellowship Church

Where God would have us participate as an active member is a very important matter. There is certain, necessary information that a person should know prior to making the decision to join a local church. Ultimately, we want to do all we can to encourage you in your relationship with Jesus Christ and critical to that relationship is finding your place of participation and service within the body, the church.

It is the desire of CFC to freely extend its fellowship to all individuals. At the same time, CFC desires to uphold the principles of commitment to Christ that Scripture teaches must accompany true membership in the body of Christ.

All individuals who have personally trusted Christ as their Savior and who desire to be committed to CFC as their local body of believers may become members through the following process.

• Completion of 6 months of regular involvement in Sunday Worship Services.
  
• Faithful attendance at Membership Class (7 weeks, offered on Sunday mornings).
  
• Completed application with your signed Statement of Commitment. (This includes your written personal faith story which will be used as an instrument to affirm your desire for membership and serve as a formal record of membership.)
  
• Personal Interview. (Upon completion of the class, individuals desiring membership shall meet an Elder and/or appointed CFC Leader to verbalize your personal faith story and determine the integrity of your faith and your desire to be committed to CFC as your local church.)
  
• Public Affirmation of New Members before the congregation in a regular church service on a designated "Membership Sunday".
  

It is our desire that you develop a biblical, enthusiastic conviction about the importance of active involvement in the local church where you can worship God, grow in your relationship with Him, and serve in ways that glorify Him. If that church proves to be CFC, then it will be our joy to serve and partner with you in support of Great Commandment living and Great Commission priorities.

Why Should I join a Local Church?

Does it really matter if I actually join a church? Am I not already a member of the “universal church”? Isn’t my personal relationship with Jesus what really matters? Such questions are common, and not altogether surprising given our individualistic culture and natural tendency toward independence. However, such questions also reveal a misunderstanding about the church and God’s purpose in and through the church. Scripture makes it clear: God’s specific purposes for his people are accomplished as individuals join themselves to and participate in local churches.

• Local church membership is biblical.

The primary New Testament metaphors for the church – body (1 Corinthians 12:27), temple (Ephesians 2:21), household (1 Timothy 3:15), and flock (acts 20:28) – have as a key characteristic the idea of separate individuals joined together into a single entity. While genuine believers are members of the universal body of Christ, they are to express this tangibly through membership in a specific local church.

• Local church membership is vital to our spiritual health and growth.

Without being join together with other believers, we will lack the strength and nourishment that each member, including ourselves, is to supply (Ephesians 4:15-16)

• Local church membership is sharing life together.

Far from so many of our modern misconceptions, the biblical picture of the church can best be described as community: a group of people, joined by a common life, united by common values and a common purpose, devoted to living out this life together within the larger society. This is the type of church life to which God calls us, a life that shines as a testimony to his work in us. His intention for our lives is more than simply attending the same Sunday meetings and believing the same doctrines.  (Acts 2:42-47)

Along these lines, we have developed a list of 5 reasons to join a local church … Why joining a church makes biblical sense.  (1 Corinthians 12:12,18, 27)

1. Membership says, I belong.
    God says that believers belong together (Hebrews 10:23-25).

You sense that God wants you here with the people of CFC at this time in your walk with Christ and you want to make a public declaration that you are committed to God’s work through church.

2. Membership says, I affirm, believe and support the teaching of this church.

    God says that the believers had all things in common including devotion to the Apostles’ teaching (Acts 2:42-47).

You associate with people of like mind and conviction and embrace the authority of God’s Word in your life and the life of the church.

3. Membership says, I share the same ministry goals.

    God says that believers are to be committed to one another for the sake of spiritual growth toward maturity (Ephesians 4:11-16).

You believe that Jesus has a work to do in Chester County and around the world, and you are willing to join with others who have the same vision.

4. Membership says, I accept responsibility for my fellow believers in the family of God.

    God says that we should carry each other’s burdens fulfilling the law of Christ. (Galatians 6:1-2, 10).

You want to be part of a caring community, sharing one another’s joys and sorrows, and helping one another grow through worship, study and application of the Word and fellowship.

5. Membership says, I am accountable to mature brothers and sisters in Christ for my walk with God.

    God warns against spiritual autonomy (Hebrews 13:17, Matthew 18:15-20).

You want to receive the guidance, equipping and assistance necessary to remain on target and you do not want to go it alone in standing for Jesus Christ.

When is the next CFC Membership Course?
Sunday, September 14 through October 26, 8:10AM in room 114.

What are the advantages of becoming a member of CFC?

• You will be an active, participating member using your spiritual gifts for the building up and maturing of this local body.
• You will be placed in an Elder Shepherd Group.
• You will be able to vote at CFC business meetings.
• You will be able to serve in CFC teaching positions.
• You will receive membership mailings/communications.
• You will receive special consideration from our CFC Prayer and Care Ministry.
• You make a commitment to CFC and the CFC church leaders and pastors make a commitment to you.

"Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another - and all the more as you see the day approaching!" ~ Hebrews 10:25. You can be a part of helping to obey this command!

If you have questions about Membership at Calvary Fellowship Church, please contact Spiritual Formation Pastor, Mike Edelman at medelman@calvary-fellowship.org.