Why We Do A Church Membership Covenant
Why We Membership Covenant?
Biblical Basis for a Church Membership Covenant
1. Our Membership Covenant is aligned with scripture regarding one’s sanctification
- Protecting Unity (Philippians 2:1-11)
- Acting In Love (Romans 12:9-13, 1 John 4:7-21)
- Refusing Gossip (2 Corinthians 12:20, 3 John 10)
- Following Leadership (1 Thessalonians 5:12, Hebrews 13:7, 17)
- Sharing Responsibility
- Pray for the church (Colossians 4:2-4)
- Inviting others (Matthew 28:19-20)
- Welcoming Others (Romans 16:16, 2 Corinthians 13:12)
- Serving Together
- Discover your gifts and talents (Romans 12:3-8, 1 Peter 4:10-11)
- Being equipped to serve by the leadership (Ephesians 4:11-13)
- Supporting each other
- Attending Faithfully (1 Timothy 4:13, Hebrews 10:24-25)
- Living a godly life (Galatians 5:22-26)
- Giving Regularly (Matthew 6:24, 1 Corinthians 9:3-15, 2 Corinthians 9:6-15)
Christ has created us by a covenant to be his people, not just individuals, but a people for himself. (Hebrews 8) To fulfill that covenant call we form groups called churches (the visible/local church). This local assembly makes a covenant together to be the body of Christ for each other, for the world, and for the glory of God. This is why the covenant must be in line with a biblical understanding of sanctification. We are, as a unified group, seeking to and committing to growing together into His likeness.
3. Our Membership Covenant helps the church to apply church leadership
This is an agreement to follow the leadership of the church and give them the power to encourage and equip those who are members (Ephesians 4:11-13). This also makes clear who it is that the leadership is leading (Hebrews 13:7, 14, 24).
A membership covenant would allow one to apply Matthew 18:15-17 in the best setting possible. It allows a clear application of each step. First, we can identify who is “your brother or sister.” Since we cannot know the heart of a person we must decide based on one’s sanctification who is an actual brother or sister. We would identify a member of the church by their commitment to the church and their willingness to allow themselves to be held accountable to others in this manner. Second, it allows us to know which one or two others we should take along to help to correct the believer. Finally, It will identify who the “church” is that we are to “tell it to.”
Non-Biblical/Practical Reasons For A Church Membership Covenant
Important: We cannot get unbiblical and non-biblical confused. For something to be unbiblical is to mean that it is contrary to scripture. However, non-biblical would be an application to our biblical understanding or using our experience and intuition to discern what would be the best decision in matters that are not clearly identified or spoken of in scripture.
1. Our Membership Covenant calls to commitment
The membership covenant creates a “line in the sand” for people to make a real commitment to this local congregation. Signing one’s name signifies the seriousness of this commitment.
2. Our Membership Covenant helps protect the church in matters of voting on key issues
It creates this protection in 2 important ways. The first is that people cannot vote and create changes to this church by simply saying they are baptized believers. The second way it protects the church in matters of voting is by setting a paradigm for membership attitude and behavior (Unity, Responsibility, Service, and Support).
3. Our Membership Covenant can provide a certain amount of protection in legal matters
There are many today who sue churches due to church discipline issues. By signing a membership covenant people are saying they have understood the issues and have submitted themselves to the church.
4. Our Membership Covenant provides a clear explanation of expectations and provides people the opportunity to agree to it or not.
By having a clear membership covenant we are communicating what the expectations are for those who are members in a clearly written form. For those who have read, understood, and signed the membership covenant there is no reason to doubt what the expectations of a member is.
5. Our Membership Covenant helps in the assimilation process
This creates another clear “next step” for people in the process of going from a visitor to a fully devoted member of the church.
Answers to possible objections to a Church Membership Covenant
1. Isn’t Church membership the same as salvation? (See esp. 1 Corinthians 12:13)
“The Bible already defined the membership of the church for the believers who expressed faith, confessed Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior, repented of their sins and were baptized in Christ”
Answer: No, this is not a salvation issue. It is about the sanctification of a believer. If someone truly wants to live out the Christian walk they must identify with a local congregation.
2. Are we not adding to the gospel? (see esp Galatians 1:8-9)
“By the proposed signing of the Membership Covenant, are we sending the message that what God proclaimed as the essentials for salvation is insufficient and that we have to rely on another man's idea/teaching for believers to become active participants in church life?…. one of the woes Jesus addressed the Pharisees was for tying a milstone around the believers' necks and throwing them into the sea.”
Answer: In Galatians Paul is identifying those who are adding to the requirements of justification. Specifically toward those who claim that you must be circumcised in order to be saved. Creating an unbiblical addition to the message of our salvation by grace through faith in baptism.
The idea of church membership is an issue regarding our sanctification not our justification. To become a member of a local church is to begin or continue the process of becoming more like Christ. This is the reason that the expectations of membership, as outlined in the covenant, are simply those things that are contingencies for anyone’s sanctification. (see note #1 under Biblical Basis)
All other attempts to claim that this is against scripture saying we are not to “add or take away” would be a misuse of the assumed scripture.
3. God’s superior covenant’s negate our need for individual covenants
“ I found four significant covenants made by God to the people He created: 1) God to Noah and his descendants, 2) God's covenant with Abraham and his descendants, 3) God's covenant with the people in the Old testament through Moses and 4) God's new covenant to people who will believe that Jesus Christ, His Son, came to save the people from their sin. The aforementioned covenants were from God (a superior God) to the people He created (inferior beings).”
Answer: This would negate all covenants between believers. This would include things like marriages. Rather His covenants and His faithfulness to those covenant’s help us to understand our own covenants toward each other and Him better.
4. Is the signing of the Membership Covenant a legal/binding contract?
“Are we considering the signing of a membership covenant a binding contract, a legal document?”
Answer: It depends in what sense. It gives us the right to properly administer church discipline legally. So it could be used in a legal sense (see above). But it is not intended to be a formal legal contract but a covenantal promise one makes toward others where both parties have obligations.
5. Does someone have to fulfill the commitment to membership as outlined in the membership covenant to retain membership?
“ What if the signatory fails to deliver in their commitment, will they be removed from membership?”
Answer: Yes. In order to retain membership to this local congregation one needs to be committed to their faith and their own sanctification. But it is important to understand that it is not instant removal but an opportunity for discussion. Since it is a covenant not a contract it is not about “you’ve broken it you’re out” it is more about “you are not living in line with this, you need to line up to it.” This stresses the fact that it is not a legal document as much as one person promising something to others.
6. Does a loss of membership here at our church cause someone to loose their membership in the universal body of Christ?
“Can a believer(s) who had been baptized at our church loose their membership in the body of Christ because he/she did not sign the membership covenant?”
Answer: No, this is reversing the order again. Being part of the universal body of Christ is a contingency for a local church membership. But a local church membership is not necessarily a contingency for universal church membership.
7. Is salvation only found in our membership?
“Will the lack of a signature "separate us from the love of God?”
Answer: No, this would be setting entrance into the local expression of the kingdom (i.e. local church) as a contingency for the universal church. This is the reversal of what we are encouraging with the signing of a membership covenant.
8. Does this not contradict the heart of Alexander and Thomas Campbell regarding the demands for communion?
Answer: No, this is the reason we will not limit the worship of God through communion to those who are local church members but anyone who is a follower of Christ. This is why we do not create guidelines for attendance, the taking of communion, and the hearing of the word. The guidelines are for those who have committed to this covenant community.
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