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2. PHILOSOPHY
OF MEMBERSHIP
PREAMBLE
A/351. In harmony with our mission statement that we "...invite
into membership and equip for ministry all who respond in faith"
the New Testament model of repentance, faith and baptism shall constitute
the primary requirements for membership. This makes membership in
the Free Methodist Church as nearly as possible synonymous with
entering into the Body of Christ. We are open to all whom God has
awakened and support them with the healing and equipping power of
the Holy Spirit in His church. The principles of Christian conduct
as expressed in Paragraphs A/315-342 are to be the maturing life
goals of all who are invited into membership.
a. Holiness: The Great Commandment of
Our Community
A/352.
- 1. The church pursues holiness in its most comprehensive meaning
of loving God with all our hearts, souls, minds and strength,
and our neighbors as ourselves. John Wesley rightly identified
happiness as the fruit of holiness; freedom, the result of surrender
to God; and peace, as the child of forgiveness. We call on God
for a renewed and clear vision of holiness that brings the presence
of God near to the people of our time. This call to holiness not
only reaffirms our historical values, but heightens our responsibility
to openly confront contemporary sin, be it addiction, selfishness,
evil speaking, or anything else that dishonors the name of God.
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b. Disciple-making: The Great Commission
of Our Community
- 2. The church earnestly engages in evangelization and disciple-making.
We are not casual about pointing out the way of life and holiness.
We are concerned for the spiritual growth of all those in our
charge, whether pre-Christians, new Christians or long-time Christians.
c. Christian Conduct: The Lifestyle of
Our Community
- 3. The church presents our vision of the Christian life described
in Chapter III of the Book of Discipline as the conduct descriptive
of our maturing Christian lives.
d. Entry Requirements of Our Community:Repentance,
Faith and Baptism
- 4. The entry level for membership in our church focuses on repentance,
faith and baptism as the primary requirements. We strive to follow
the New Testament model, thus making entry into membership of
the Free Methodist Church, as nearly as possible, synonymous with
entering into the Body of Christ.
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3. ADMISSION INTO
MEMBERSHIP
A/353.
- 1. The conditions for membership in the Free Methodist Church
are:
--- a. awakening to God, a desire to seek God (Par. A/301);
--- b. assent to participate in the maturing opportunities offered
by the church, such as classes, Bible studies and small groups
(Par.A/307);
--- c. evidence of genuine conversion (Par.A/302);
--- d. receiving the catechism of baptism and the sacrament of
baptism, or, if baptized in infancy, giving public assent to the
baptismal covenant (Par.A/124);
--- e. completing the approved course of instruction for prospective
members, which clearly teaches the history, theological distinctives
and mission of the Free Methodist Church;
--- f. acceptance of the Articles of Religion, the Covenant, the
goals for Christian conduct, and matters of church government
as written in the Book of Discipline;
--- g. interview by the pastor and/or membership care committee,
who will verify the person's conversion, baptism and willingness
to commit to a holy Christian life (Pars.A/306-307);
--- h. approval by the church's local board of administration
upon recommendation of the membership care committee (Par.A/404.4,
Sec.4); and
--- i. giving affirmative answers to the
questions for membership before a public meeting of the church
(Par.A/353.1)
- 2. The numbering of the above steps for membership is the normative
order. The sequence of some steps may vary according to individual
need. The purpose is to allow new believers or transfers to:
--- a. identify life issues and receive assistance;
--- b. identify theological/doctrinal questions and attain answers;
and
--- c. learn the mission of the church and express commitment
to it.
A local church or annual conference may designate steps 1:a-c
as requirements for preparatory membership. The ritual
for reception into preparatory membership (Par.A/360) may
be used.
A/354.
- 1. The person meeting the requirements of Paragraph
A/353 shall be admitted to all the privileges of membership.
- 2. Any person in good standing in any evangelical church may
be received into membership upon meeting the requirements of Paragraph
A/353.
A/355. When two or more societies vote to merge, individual membership
is automatically transferred to the united society.
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A/356.
- 1. Members who withdraw from the church with no complaints against
them at the time, may by action of the local board of administration
be reinstated into membership if the following conditions are
met:
--- a. evidence of present faith in Christ;
--- b. reaffirmation of the Membership Covenant.
- 2. Members living at a great distance from the society in which
membership is held and unable to attend, shall send to the pastor
a written testimony at least once a year. Distant members who
do not write or support their home church financially may, after
one year, have their names removed from the active membership
by action of the local board of administration.
- 3. When members do not keep the Covenant and habitually violate
their vows, it is the responsibility of the pastor(s) and the
membership care committee to seek in love to restore them. If
such members refuse the ministry of restoration, they must be
dealt with according to the due process of the church (Pars. A/404.5;
A/740).
- 4. Members whose membership is terminated by any cause except
death or transfer to another church shall have their names placed
on an inactive list. This list shall be held by both the pastor
and the Christian growth group (class) leader in the hope of restoration
to active membership and fellowship in the church. Membership
for persons on the inactive membership list may be restored according
to the provisions of Paragraph A/356, Section 1. Inactive members
shall not be reported in the Yearbook or any other official membership
data.
- 5. Members whose membership is terminated by death or transfer
to another church shall have their names placed on a separate
list to be kept as a record of former members.
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A/361. Preparatory members shall
not be continued longer than two years on the membership roll in
that relation without a two-thirds vote of the local board of administration
that circumstances warrant a continuation for a longer period.
A/364. All members under sixteen years of age shall be known as
youth members. They shall not be counted
in the allocation of financial goals by the annual or general conference.
Their number shall be kept in a separate column in the statistical
report. They are not eligible to vote in business meetings.
The names of youth members shall be reviewed by the local board
of administration at least once each year, with a view to character
cultivation and Christian nurture, but in no case shall any change
in their membership status be made until they reach their sixteenth
birthday, other than the provisions in Paragraph A/153.
Upon reaching the sixteenth birthday, youth members shall be approved
by the local board of administration either for adult membership
or for entrance into the membership process at the appropriate stage.
To be admitted to voting membership, they must answer satisfactorily
the questions for adult membership before a public meeting of the
church.
Youth members shall be reported in a separate column in the Yearbook.
6. ASSOCIATE MEMBERSHIP
A/365. Free Methodist students and servicemen and women, and their
families, living at a distance from their home and church, may be
granted associate membership in any other Free Methodist church.
All rights and privileges except the right to vote shall be granted.
Associate members shall be recorded on a separate list.
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7. TRANSFER OF MEMBERSHIP
A/366.
- 1. Only members desiring to move to another society or to unite
with another evangelical church are entitled to a letter of transfer,
and if in good standing, shall receive it upon request.
- 2. Members wishing to transfer to another society must have
a letter of transfer from the pastor (see Par. B/1026, Sec. 1).
When giving such a letter of transfer, the pastor shall at once
give notice of the fact to the pastor of the society to which
the letter is addressed. The letter of transfer is valid for one
year.
Members holding such letter shall remain members of, and be amenable
to, the society by which the letter was given until it is presented
to another society, which shall receive them into membership.
After that they shall be responsible to the new society for their
conduct including that during the time the letter was held.
It shall be the duty of the pastor receiving the letter to notify
the pastor who gave it (see Par. B/1026, Sec. 2).
- 3. Letters of transfer may be given to members of our church
who wish to unite with other evangelical denominations (see Par.
B/1026, Sec. 3).
- 4. Youth members may be transferred to another society by the
pastor giving a letter of transfer (see Par. B/1026, Sec. 4).
- 5. The conference superintendent must give consent for the issuing
of a letter of transfer for a supply pastor in charge of a society.
A/367. Reception of Members by Transfer
(Those who are to be received into membership by transfer shall
be called forward by name, and the pastor, addressing the congregation,
shall say:)
The Free Methodist Church is a welcoming fellowship which provides
a home for those committed to the advancement of Christ's Kingdom.
We count it a privilege to receive these members into our fellowship
by transfer. Their letters of transfer read:
(The pastor will read only the first letter in each category
of membership in its entirety. The others can be named along with
the name of the church from which they are transferring.)
Let us pray.
(The pastor shall lead in an extemporaneous prayer.)
(Name) I welcome you into the fellowship of the ________________church.
(The pastor will give a handshake of welcome to each new member.)
(Members transferring from another evangelical denomination must
previously have met the requirements of Pars. A/353
and A/354.)
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