Newsletter Article for June

Church Membership

            I want to write this month about church membership and more specifically what does it mean to be a member of a church. I think there could be a lack of clarity regarding what it means to be a church member.

            Some view membership in a church as a family tradition. Some wish to retain membership because their grandparents or great grandparents were members, as were their parents, and thus some may feel to not retain membership would somehow dishonor their memory. Others retain membership because they were raised in the church and have fond memories of Sunday School, Vacation Bible School (VBS), and youth events. They may still have family members who attend the church. If these are your reasons to retain your membership at the First Presbyterian Church of Battle Creek then I would ask you to consider what the Presbyterian Church U.SA.  (PCUSA)says about membership and what Scripture says.

            The Book of Order of the PCUSA provides the following statement on Church Membership: Membership in the Church of Jesus Christ is a joy and a privilege. It is also a commitment to participate in Christ’s mission. A faithful member bears witness to God’s love and grace and promises to be involved responsibly in the ministry of Christ’s Church. Such involvement includes: taking part in the common life and worship of a congregation, lifting one another up in prayer, mutual concern, and active support, supporting the ministry of the church through the giving of money, time, and talents, demonstrating a new quality of life within and through the church, and reviewing and evaluating regularly the integrity of one’s membership, and considering ways in which one’s participation in the worship and service of the church may be increased and made more meaningful. Being a member means “taking part in the common life and worship of a congregation.” This means that membership involves entering into relationship with others in the church and being involved in worship services and other ministries of the church. (I am not referring to those unable to participate due to illness.) 

            I would now like to take a quick look at what Scripture has to say regarding the local church to which Paul refers as the “body of Christ.” In 1^st Corinthians 12, Paul writes: 7 Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good….12 Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one body, so it is with Christ. 13 For we were all baptized by one Spirit so as to form one body….27 Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it.  So what does this mean and what does it have to do with church membership? A couple of things stand out, first, every church member if indeed they claim Jesus Christ as Lord has been given a gift by the Spirit to be used for the common good. Each of you has something to offer to the church. If every part of the body does not utilize their gift then the body doesn’t function properly. It can suffer paralysis and will be ineffective. Members, I urge you to use your gifts in the various ministries of the church. Next fall we are hoping to expand our Sunday School classes and will need additional teachers for children, youth and adults. We need people to work with our committees and in our Youth Groups. We will need help in June with VBS and currently need volunteers to mow the church lawn.

            I am trying to understand our current church membership. Over the past few months our average attendance is in the 70s. Our membership rolls show we have around 290 members. That is a pretty huge disconnect. In order to better understand who we have as members of the congregation who are actually able to participate in the life of the church, we need to clean our rolls. To that end, if you are a member yet are geographically distant (not counting snowbirds), please consider transferring your membership to a local congregation where you can use your gifts and participate in the life of a church. If you are local, yet are attending another church, may God bless you and your ministry with that church, and again I would ask that you transfer your membership. If you are local and are not attending anywhere, know that you are always welcome here at First Pres and we would love it if you came and participated in the life of our church. If however, we are unable to meet your needs, seek out a church that can. Church membership should not be a historical document, or considered as a membership to a social club. Church membership is a commitment to serve Jesus Christ within the context of the local church. I am not asking anyone to resign their membership, but per the Book of Order, I would urge all “members to review and evaluate the integrity of one’s membership, and consider ways in which one’s participation in the worship and service of the church may be increased and made more meaningful.”  

                                                                        In Christ,

                                                                        Pastor Jim