Why membership at Grace? 

The word “church” in the Bible has two meanings:

• Universal church. The universal church is the body of Christ composed of all true Christians around the world. If you are a believer in Jesus Christ, you are already a member of the universal church (For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—Jews or Greeks, slaves or free—and all were made to drink of one Spirit. (I Corinthians 12:13).

• Local church. Someone has defined the local church as “a local gathering of professing believers who have organized to do God’s will.” It is not a building or place, but a people.

Though our culture strongly values individualism, the Bible pictures the individual Christian as living out that life in a local community of believers. Membership in a local church can help you live out what it means to be part of the body of Christ around the world.

If you are beginning to consider Grace your church home, we strongly encourage you to take the steps to become a member.

Here are just a few among many reasons why local church membership is important:

• Membership reflects what the church is. Every Christian is a member of the body. Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it. (I Corinthians 12:27)

• Membership gives you an opportunity to publicly identify with and express support of the mission of the church.

• Membership helps us stay accountable to one another and to church leadership.

• Membership gives you an opportunity to make promises – to pray, give, serve, attend worship, accept the spiritual guidance of the church, obey its teachings, and seek the things that produce unity, purity, and peace.

• Membership lets you participate in decisions the church makes – especially in the selection of church leaders and other important matters.

How local churches view membership varies widely from church to church. Some have no formal membership at all, while others require annually renewable commitments with high levels of expectations.