How to Become a Member
Membership in Covenant Reformed Church is open to all who confess Christ as Savior and seek, by God’s grace, to live in obedience to His infallible Word. We encourage you to prayerfully consider making covenant Reformed Church your church home.
We provide an ‘Inquirer’s Class’ for those who are interested in learning about membership. We meet for a series of seven sessions. These times of instruction are followed by a time for questions and answers. Assigned reading is to be completed in preparation for the class.
Three ways to become a member
1. By Profession of Faith
If you have never publicly professed your faith, or if you are not a member of a Bible believing church, and you now know Jesus Christ as your Saviour and Lord, you may become a member of Covenant Church by profession of faith. This involves:
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Attending a New member Classes.
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An interview with the Elders—a time to get acquainted; a time to ask any questions about Covenant Reformed Church that you might still have; and a time to satisfy the men whom the Holy Spirit has appointed to oversee the church that you can honestly answer affirmatively the Membership Vows.
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Make a public profession of faith in a worship service by answering the following questions (i.e., the Membership Vows) in the affirmative (below).
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Baptism. If you have never been baptized, then you must receive this visible sign of union with Christ and His body, the church, at the time that you are received into church membership.
2. By reaffirmation of Faith
If you sincerely confessed your faith in a Bible-believing church you may become a member of Covenant Reformed Church by reaffirmation of faith as summarized in the confessions of this Church. This involves following steps (a), (b), and (c) above.
3. By Transfer of Membership
If you are a member in good and regular standing of a church with whom we have formal ecclesiastical fellowship, you should ask for a letter of transfer from your home congregation and your church will transfer your membership directly to this church. Your membership will be received by the Elders after a personal conference with the Pastor or an Elder. After that, you will be publicly welcomed at a worship service.
Membership Vows:
The following questions are asked in the public service when new members are received into the church. These same questions are asked by the elders when someone is interviewed for membership.
- Do you believe the Bible, consisting of the Old and New Testaments, to be the inerrant and infallible Word of God, and its doctrine, summarized in the confessions of this Church, to be the perfect and only true doctrine of salvation?
- Do you confess that because of your sinfulness you abhor and humble yourself before God, and that you trust for salvation not in yourself but in Jesus Christ alone?
- Do you acknowledge Jesus Christ as your sovereign Lord and do you promise, in reliance on the grace of God, to serve Him with all that is in you, to forsake the world, to mortify your old nature, and to lead a godly life?
- Do you agree to submit in the Lord to the government and discipline of this church, and in case you should be found delinquent in doctrine or life, to obey its discipline?
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