1. Sincerely profess personal faith in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior.
Acknowledge Him as God's unique Savior by the Cross and resurrection. Your faith causes you to be justified in His sight and eternally saved from the consequences of your sin. "You must be born from above!" Salvation is God's free gift to the believer who embraces Christ in simple faith.
2. Receive (if you have not already) the sacrament of Baptism.
If you have never been baptized before, we will ask you to be baptized now, as a sign of Christ's washing away of sin. However, we do acknowledge previous infant or adult baptism received in a trinitarian church. Re-baptism is not necessary.
3. Meet with members of the Session (the Pastors plus Ruling Elders) to briefly describe in your own words, how you came to trust in Christ.
We ask everyone to do this, regardless of whether you have been a member of other evangelical churches in the past. This is NOT a "theological test". You will find our elders relaxed and encouraging towards you. At the end of this time a motion is proposed to receive you as a member and it is the affirmative vote of the Session which formally makes you a member of a PCA church.
4. On a pre-appointed Sunday, stand along with others being received before the congregation to affirm the 5 membership vows.
5. Seek, by the Lord's assistance, to fulfill the vows you make.
You "gain" from church membership largely what you actively invest in it! Your attendance, your vote, your participation, your financial stewardship and sharing of your talents are vital to us. In return, the leaders of the church will seek to encourage and serve you. We have every hope of meeting spiritual needs that become known to us, to the utmost of our ability.
WHAT DID I SAY WHEN I JOINED THE CHURCH?You will be asked to affirm these five vows the day you are publicly received. The Pastor will address those making a profession in the following terms: (All of) you being here present to make a public profession of faith, are to assent to the following declarations and promises, by which you enter into a solemn covenant with God and His church.
1. Do you acknowledge yourselves to be sinners in the sight of God, justly deserving His displeasure, and without hope save in His sovereign mercy?
2. Do you believe in the Lord Jesus Christ as the Son of God, and Savior of sinners, and do you receive and rest upon Him alone for salvation as He is offered in the Gospel?
3. Do you now resolve and promise, in humble reliance upon the grace of the Holy Spirit, that you will endeavor to live as becomes a follower of Christ?
4. Do you promise to support the Church in its worship and work to the best of your ability?
5. Do you submit yourselves to the government and discipline of the Church, and promise to study its purity and peace?