Heaven is bigger than any of us or all of us put together. So why sign on the dotted line at a local church? Membership is an official tie with other people in the name of Christ. It is an agreement of cooperation and responsibility, your voluntary commitment to minister.

Just what is membership?

Like brothers and sisters in a home, members in a church are related. They have agreed to be united by common consent to some important biblical beliefs and goals.
Membership is the basis for church and pastoral care for you from the rest of the church. This official tie works both ways! While the church seeks to love the whole world, it has special responsibility for those who seek that care through membership.
Membership is a witness, a public work of your faith. In our church only openly committed believers in Christ may join. Membership in itself says you trust Him, and it provides opportunities to express that faith to some of the people of the church.
Membership qualifies you to help choose your church leaders, approve the financial ministry goals of the church, and help make other decisions. Only those who want to seek the mind of Christ and obey Him carefully should seek to be part of that voice.

The Bible does not have chapter and verse to say: “Thou shalt join the following local church….” It does furnish numbers though, indicating someone was counting to see how many people were becoming Christians. There were rolls. People knew who was in church and who was not. Membership is voluntary. You do not automatically become a member by attending, by being baptized, or by being involved in church ministries.

Steps to membership

• Confess that Jesus Christ is the Son of God and accept Him as personal Savior and Lord (Romans 10:9,10).
• Believe the Bible as the complete, final, and inspired revelation of the triune God to man.
• Complete the Considering Church Membership class. This class will help you understand our Statement of Faith as it relates to the local church. You will learn the history of the Brethren movement and this local church. Classes are held at regular intervals, and you must attend all sessions. Watch the bulletin for more information or call the church office (614-888-7733).
• Be baptized in water by trine immersion. Call the church (614-888-7733) for more information.
• Complete the application for church membership.

You will be notified by mail regarding your official acceptance into membership and will receive a membership certificate.

Should you choose to move your membership from the Grace Brethren Church of Columbus to another Grace Brethren Church, your request is reviewed by the elder board so they may approve your transfer as a member “with good standing.” Upon this approval the other Grace Brethren Church is contacted by mail to inform them of the transfer of membership.

Responsibilities of membership

• Voluntarily commit time, skills, and finances toward fulfilling the church’s ministry objectives
• Attend and participate in church meetings and congregational business matters (Ephesians 5:16; Romans 12:1,2; 2 Corinthians 9:6,7)
• Vote in all business meetings of the church (if age 18 or older)
• Approve the senior pastor, elders, and deacons and submit to their directives (Acts 6:1-7; Hebrews 13:17)

Is membership automatically for life?
Names may be removed from membership when a member fails to participate or attend the church for one full year (sickness, age, military service, and missions work excluded). Reasonable efforts will be made to determine if that person wishes to remain a member. When a member departs from the faith by advocating divisive teachings or those contrary to the Bible as defined in the Grace Brethren Statement of Faith, or engages in continuous unrepented sin damaging the testimony of the church, the individual may be disciplined and ultimately removed from the membership by the elders. Attempts will be made to restore the wayward member using the guidelines in Matthew 18:15-17.