The foundation of church membership is baptism. Because the purpose of membership is to help persons uphold the covenant to God made in their baptism, one needs to be baptized before they become a member. To learn more about how the United Methodist Church understands baptism click here.

The purpose of membership is to help the Christian believer grow as a disciple of Jesus Christ in covenant relationship with the local church. The baptismal covenant that an individual has made with God through Jesus Christ is upheld and lived concretely through the spiritual encouragement, community, and ministry opportunities membership provides.

Discipleship and therefore active membership takes place in community. Membership vows are taken during gathered worship, with the community present. Parts of the vows of membership actually include the gathered church on the day that persons join the church. Every time a person becomes a member, the other members present renew their own vows.

Do you renounce the spiritual forces of wickedness, reject the evil powers of the world, and repent of your sin?

Do you accept the freedom and power God gives you to resist evil, injustice, and oppression?

Do you confess Jesus Christ as Savior, put your whole trust in his grace, and promise to serve him as your Lord?

Will you remain faithful members of Christ’s holy church and serve as Christ’s representatives in the world?

Do you receive and profess the Christian faith as contained in the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments?

Will you be loyal to The United Methodist Church and do all in your power to strengthen its ministries?

Will you faithfully participate in the ministries of this church by your prayers, your presence, your gifts, your service, and your witness?

When you are ready to become a member please contact the pastor of the service in which you would like to join. You may simply come forward after the weekly invitation, but it is helpful to meet with a pastor before you join. There are three ways to become a member of a United Methodist local church.

1. Professing faith in Jesus Christ in a community of faith for the first time.
2. Transferring membership from another Christian community.
3. Transferring membership from another United Methodist Church.

While there are no required membership classes, there are opportunities to learn more about what it means to be a member and a United Methodist. “Faith and Facts at First” meets several times during the year as does a Membership class led by Pastor Ray Altman. One of the two classes will be meeting between 9:30 and 10:45 on Sunday mornings in education building room 208.