What Is Membership - University of Illinois Baptist Church

What Is Membership?

Growing in faith, fellowship, and commitment together.

Membership is more than having your name on a church roll. It is a commitment to Christ, His Church, and the local congregation where He has called you to serve.

Every baptized believer belongs to the universal Body of Christ.
The Body of Christ worships and serves through local congregations.
God calls believers into fellowship with a particular church.
Every Christian should join the local church to which God calls them.

Membership recognizes:

That every baptized believer automatically belongs to the universal Body of Christ
That the Body of Christ worships and serves in the fellowship of local congregations
That God calls believers to unite in fellowship with particular congregations
That therefore every Christian should join the local church to which God calls him/her

Membership in a Baptist church means:

That members covenant to love one another
That members worship regularly together
That members maintain a close personal relationship with Christ
That members pray and read scripture both alone and in small groups
That members exercise their spiritual gifts for ministry
That together members discern the Mind of Christ for church vision and policy
That members attend church meetings as the forum for such decisions
That members lead through service, supporting the churchís work
That members pray for the church
That members give the church their time and money as God so calls them

What’s the difference between a member and a regular attender?

Some might feel that UBC is their church home, and wonder why the formality of
membership is necessary. But we make this distinction because:

The membership process tries to discern if a potential member is in fact a believer
Only believers are spiritually able to fulfill the responsibilities listed in the prior section
Joining indicates that a regular attender is called and wants to commit to UBC’s people

It’s sort of like moving from engagement to marriage; saying, “I do” to God and the other members of the church.

There are two forms of membership:

Regular (where UBC is the only congregation to which you belong)
Affiliate (giving temporary membership with UBC for the time you’re on campus, while still maintaining membership in your home church)

The process begins by:

Examining the state of your personal relationship with God in Jesus Christ:

Asking God whether or not He wants you to join UBC
If so, letting Pastor Smith know at the end of worship, or by e-mail, phone, etc.
Scheduling an interview with Pastor Smith to confirm one’s candidacy for membership
If so, interviewing with the deacons regarding the validity of one’s Christian experience
If so, being welcomed into membership by the deacons
If so, introduced to the church and given the Right Hand of Fellowship during worship
Ratified by the members’ recognition and affirmation at the next church meeting

If this sounds like who you are, and you have been thinking about joining UBC, why not initiate the process? UBC’s deacons and other members would be glad to talk with you about it if you have questions. If you sense God’s call in this regard, affirm it by letting Pastor Smith know soon.