OUR PRIVILEDGE - Membership

 

Discovery Church strives to be known as a safe place for seekers to hear the "dangerous" message of Jesus Christ. But proclaiming the gospel alone doesn't make us a church. What makes us a church - not just an evangelistic organization - is that we are a community. We have attenders and visitors, but we also have members. People can belong to our fellowship, and they can know they're connected.

 

How Do I Join Discovery Church?

Let's face it, every once in a while you catch yourself thinking, "I probably ought to join Discovery." But then the phone rings, the game starts, the microwave signals that your leftovers are ready, or something else equally significant captures your attention and off you go.

In spite of all the other exciting options in life, the time has come for many of you to seriously consider joining the church. We've developed this simple survey to help you determine whether or not you are ready to take the plunge.


 You know it is time to join Discovery when:

... you pause long enough to read at least one of Randy's articles in the newsletter.

... people ask you where you attend church and you answer, "Discovery!"

... you put a portion of your hard-earned money in the big white bucket on a regular basis.

... you can complete the following statement:

"Our mission is to work together to turn _________ and _________ people

into fully devoted followers of God."

... you have invited someone to attend Discovery with you.

... you find yourself gravitating toward the same seat every Sunday morning.

 

... you start to think of ways you can help out!

The Next Step

We realize that one reason more of you don't join Discovery is that the membership process requires a bit more time and effort than you have been willing to invest. Others of you are still trying to figure out what the process entails.

In either case, here's what you need to do next. 

First, read through the description of membership below.  If you agree with our definition of membership, then on any Sunday morning, go to the information table located in the main hallway and sign up for the next available Discovery Q&A. At the Q&A we will feed you, inform you and give you a membership application / study guide and a tape. 

Read and then complete the study guide, fill out your application and take it to an Area Fellowship or your small group. At one of these groups, a leader will sit down with you to review your application, sign it for you and answer any questions you have about the church.

Then you'll need to attend a "Getting Connected" seminar or class, a "Contagious Christian" seminar or class and a "Good Sense" seminar or class.  This takes about three months but it's worth it!!!!  

In the meantime, you need to do is mail or bring your application to the church office or to the information table. Once your application is in our hands and you've completed the necessary seminars or classes, we will send you a letter acknowledging your membership. Included in the letter will be your valet parking pass and a tithe reduction coupon good for 15 percent over the next 12 months...OK, maybe not...But we will send you a letter.

Finally, new participating members are presented at the New Community with their small groups present so that our whole community can rejoice together.

If you have any questions about church membership, please feel free to contact us at 111-111-1111 or membership@discoverychurchnj.com. We will be happy to assist you in the process. In the meantime, stop by our information table this Sunday and sign up for the next available Discovery Church Q&A.

 

How Do I Become A Member of Discovery Church - Five Stages:

 

The process of becoming a participating member of Discovery Church has five stages:

 

Investigation
The prospective member completes a Bible study exploring membership in general, the Five G's, and the distinctives of Discovery Church. Each person does the work at his or her own pace.  Members must also complete the CLASS series (101, 201, 301, 401).

Affirmation

The prospective member now responds to questions based on the study completed. This is a time of self-evaluation where each individual affirms whether the marks of participating membership are true in his or her life.  A membership application is completed as well.  Married couples need to complete two separate application forms.

Confirmation

The prospective member meets with a trained leader (usually a small group coach, area fellowship or division leader, or someone assigned by the membership department) to discuss the application, the affirmations made and to confirm participating membership. Any difficult issues are referred to a supervising staff member or elder.

Celebration 

New participating members are presented at the New Community with their small groups present so that our whole community can rejoice together.

Commitment

Members live up to their commitment to attend, faithfully support and get involved in ministry at Discovery on an annual basis.



WHAT IS CHURCH MEMBERSHIP?

 

People might assume that, because they profess Christ, there is no need for any further identification with a local church. Isn't it enough simply to call oneself a Christian and to attend services somewhere regularly? What is the point of formal membership?

 

Three Reasons:

 

We believe there are at least three reasons for having formal membership. First, we believe the concept of membership is biblical. While the term "church member" is never used, the concept is implicit throughout the New Testament. Believers clearly identified themselves with a specific local body and were challenged to become devoted participants.

 

Second, formal membership is valuable to the leaders of the church as they seek to fulfill their God-given task of shepherding. Discovery Church, by its very design, attracts the uncommitted - seekers, observers, guests. We hope that will always be the case. But at some point, it is important to identify those who truly comprise the "flock" at Discovery Church - the core that can be counted on to build and sustain the ministries of the church. These are also the committed "family members" who should receive priority in the allocation of finite church resources (as commanded in Gal. 6:10).

 

Finally, and perhaps most importantly, experience shows that membership benefits the individual. In a culture where commitment is no longer highly valued, recognizable membership is an important step that moves each of us out of the vague clouds of our good intentions and into the clear light of committed participation. It presents a challenge to "step out of the stands" and publicly affirm a commitment to Christ and to a specific local body. In this sense, membership can be a significant "defining moment" in one's lifelong discipleship journey.

 

Types of Membership - Positional And Participating:

 

But how exactly is a "member" defined? This is a legitimate question - one that needs some clarification, since the Bible actually describes two kinds of "membership." 

 

The first is a "positional member."  Scripture is full of references (I Cor. 12:12-13; Eph. 2:13-22; 4:3-6; Col. 1:13-22) to the once-and-for-all union with Christ and His body, which happens at the instant of conversion.  At that moment, you become a "positional member" in the universal Church of Jesus Christ, based solely on His merit and grace.  Positional membership is eternal and unchanging. 

 

But then the Bible also urges positional members to continue growing by becoming "participating members" in a specific local assembly (Rom. 12:4-8; 1 Cor. 12:25-31; 14:12, 26; Heb. 10:24-25; 1 Tim. 3:14-15).  As "participating members" you identify with, support, and become actively involved in the ministry of Discovery Church.

 

Obviously, a person may be a participating member of several different local bodies during the course of his or her lifetime while maintaining a permanent positional membership in Christ's universal Church. We cannot see the invisible bond of positional membership, but we can identify those who are the participating member here at Discovery Church.

 

Privileges Of Membership:

 

Just as the key word "participating" describes the responsibilities of members, that word also implies that there are benefits. 

 

Specifically, participating members have the right to influence the key decisions of the church, most importantly members have input in the selection of elder candidates. Participating members also receive priority for facility usage, benevolence and staff members' time (such as weddings, funerals, benevolence needs, personal support in ministry, etc.). 

 

From time to time, meetings or other functions are held that are for "members only." These events are usually called either to inform the core of the church of a major concern or to garner input from the body. Therefore, they are limited only to those who are participating at all levels of the Five G's. 

 

Finally, virtually all leadership positions in the church require participating membership as a prerequisite. The primary reason to become a participating member, however, is not to gain a personal advantage, but to identify ourselves with the characteristics, or marks, of biblical maturity.

 

 

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