At Shoreline we encourage our congregation to participate in church membership. This is an important step in the walk of faith as it joins you to a spiritual family and involves you in the governance of the church. Here’s a brief introduction to membership:
What is Church Membership?
The Body of Christ: Church membership is an expression of what God has made us when he bound his Church together in Christ:
“Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it.”
1 Cor 12:27
Church membership is a declaration that we belong both to Christ and to one another in his Church.
A Community of Care: Receiving someone into membership is a commitment both from the member and from the congregation. A member commits to building up the church and, correspondingly, can expect the church to build them up in Christ. Members can expect to receive pastoral care and counseling from the elders as well as receive the ministry of other members as they live side by side in the household of faith.
Congregational Governance: Church membership is how individuals participate in congregational governance. We believe the Bible teaches that the congregation is responsible for the major decisions of church life. This includes selecting leaders, approving budgets, church discipline, and similar matters. Church members voting in congregational meetings is the way we honor this principle.
Membership at Shoreline
When you apply for membership at Shoreline an elder will schedule a time to meet and discuss:
The Gospel: We believe that all members of the church should be born again. An elder will ask you to explain the gospel and profess that you have repented of sin and believed in Christ as your Lord and Savior.
Biblical Doctrine: Shoreline lives and teaches according to our Statement of Faith, which we believe to be an accurate reflection of the teachings of Scripture. Don’t worry, you will not grilled on each section of this document! Instead, we’ll explain some of our distinctives and ask you if you have questions about our faith commitments.
Committed Membership: Since entering membership involves making a commitment, we outline what that commitment entails in our Membership Affirmation. An elder will ask you if you understand and commit to the responsibilities entailed there. And we’ll ask you if you have any questions about our Bylaws, which outline how our church runs our congregational governance.
After you’ve discussed all those items with an elder, we’ll be excited to recommend you to the congregation to be affirmed as new members.
How to Get Started
Have questions, or interested in getting started? Talk to an elder, submit a connection card on Sunday, or contact us online to get started!