MEMBERSHIP
AT
PARMA
CHRISTIAN FELLOWSHIP CHURCH
1.
Introduction
1. A Membership
in a temporal local church as part of the visible body of Christ provides
certain privileges and carries
specific responsibilities. There are many similarities and some differences
between membership in a temporal local church and inclusion in the spiritual
body of Christ. Inclusion in the
spiritual body of Christ is a simple reality, and is based on faith in Jesus
Christ which restores a person to a right relationship with God. That kind of
faith must give true evidence in a transformed life, characterized primarily by
a devoted love for God and a pure love for mankind. Inclusion in the spiritual
body of Christ gives a person complete access to God the Father through the
indwelling Holy Spirit, and can only be truly known by God as the Judge of all
mankind's thoughts and intents of the heart.
1.B Membership
in a temporal local church is also primarily an extension of faith in Christ,
which brings a person into a living, right relationship with God the Father.
Rather than being purely an individual experience, membership in the temporal
local church is essentially a relationship with other believers who are engaged
in a common identity and a common purpose. Because of the nature of social,
legal and corporate issues that come into play in human organizations,
membership in the temporal local church must be regarded somewhat differently
than inclusion in the spiritual body of Christ. Where members of the spiritual
body of Christ do not debate and decide issues by motions and
votes, the members of the temporal local church must follow that very
process. Members of the spiritual body of Christ do not create legal commitments
which must be completed with integrity, but members of a temporal local church,
in fact and in real time, must do that very thing. Members in the spiritual body
of Christ cannot create any effective illusion or deception to God of what is
true about their faith and walk with God, but the temporal local church must be
able to guard itself, and especially its youngest and weakest members, from
those who would manipulate the organization or its opportunities for wrong
purposes.
1.C Accordingly,
membership in the temporal local church must be treated differently than
inclusion in the spiritual body of Christ. It must be recognized that what is
spiritual and eternal is of greater importance, and what is temporal and
temporary is of lesser importance. Nonetheless, it is still of great importance
how a local church establishes its boundaries for its membership, and specifies
what are the privileges and responsibilities of membership within it.
2.
Membership
Parma
Christian Fellowship Church provides for two distinct and yet related classes of
membership. The first is Fellowship Membership (identity and ministry) and the
second is Church Membership (voting and leadership.)
2.A
Fellowship Membership (Identity and Ministry)
2.A.1 Fellowship
Membership is open to any person who has made a personal decision to place their
faith in Jesus Christ for salvation, with the outward evidences of baptism and
testimony, and who wants to be included in the identity of Parma Christian
Fellowship Church. For children and youth under the age of 16, a parent,
guardian or other adult very familiar with the person must provide supportive
testimony as to the personal faith and spiritual awareness of the candidate. Any
person who is a member of another church or community of faith may request a
letter of transfer from that organization to Parma Christian Fellowship Church,
and join as a Fellowship Member. The requirements for Fellowship Membership are
as follows:
q
submission
of a completed Fellowship Membership Commitment to the President of the Church,
which will be reviewed by the Leadership Team in consultation with the pastor,
and submitted for approval to the Church
q
a
personal spoken or written testimony to a duly called meeting of the current
Church Members of Parma Christian Fellowship Church
q
a minimum
3/4 vote of approval by those Church Members present
q
public
affirmation of the Fellowship Membership Commitment.
2.A.2 Fellowship
Membership provides the privileges of identity with the temporal local church of
Parma Christian Fellowship Church, the privileges of regular and ongoing
ministry opportunities to others in the environment of the church, as well as
access to all services provided by the church to its members. Fellowship
Membership carries the responsibilities of regular attendance at worship, growth
and ministry opportunities. As responsible stewards who worship God
wholeheartedly, Fellowship Members honor God and support the ministries of the
church through giving freely of
their resources of time, effort and possessions, and maintaining a willing
involvement in the general life of the church.
2.A.3 A
Fellowship Member may request in writing at any time to terminate their
membership status. Whenever a Fellowship Member joins another local church or
community of faith, Fellowship Membership ceases. Fellowship Members may request
a letter of transfer to another church or community of faith, and their status
would be determined by that organization. In the event that any Fellowship
Member strays from the truth in Christ and from active involvement in the
church, every effort will be made by the members of the church and the pastor to
restore that person to active fellowship with Christ and His church. Fellowship
Membership may be revoked by a 3/4 vote of the Church Members at a duly called
meeting of Parma Christian Fellowship Church, for clear evidence of the person's
actions, character or attitudes that are in violation of the teachings of
Scripture and cause harm or disrepute to the name of Christ or to Parma
Christian Fellowship Church. Fellowship Members must participate in the annual
Celebration of Common Identity and Purpose in order to continue as members. Upon
death, Fellowship Membership in Parma Christian Fellowship Church ceases.
2.B
Church Membership (Voting and Leadership)
2.B.1 Church
Membership is open to any person who has been a Fellowship Member of Parma
Christian Fellowship Church for a minimum of 3 months, and who is 16 years old
or older. The requirements for
Church Membership are as follows:
q
Fellowship
Membership for at least 3 months
q
Age 16 or
older
q
submission
of a completed Church Membership Covenant to the President of the Church, which
will be reviewed by the Leadership Team in consultation with the pastor, and
submitted for approval to the Church
q
a
personal spoken or written testimony to a duly called meeting of the current
Church Members of Parma Christian Fellowship Church
q
a minimum
3/4 vote of approval by those Church Members present
q
public
affirmation of the Church Membership Covenant.
2.B.2 Church
Membership continues all the responsibilities and privileges of Fellowship
Membership. Church Membership also provides a voice and a vote at meetings of
the Church Membership, and the privileges and responsibilities of leadership in
any aspect of Parma Christian Fellowship Church. Church membership carries the
same responsibilities of Fellowship Membership, plus a clear and obvious
commitment to strive toward a complete and mature Christian life as described in
the Church Membership Covenant.
2.B.3 A
Church Member may request in writing at any time to terminate their membership
status. Whenever a Church Member joins another local church or community of
faith, Church Membership ceases. Church Members may request a letter of transfer
to another church or community of faith, and their status would be determined by
that organization. In the event that any Church Member strays from the truth in
Christ and from active involvement in the church, every effort will be made by
the members of the church and the pastor to restore that person to active
fellowship with Christ and His church. Church Membership may be revoked by a 3/4
vote of the Church Members at a duly called meeting of Parma Christian
Fellowship Church, for clear evidence of the person's actions, character or
attitudes that are in violation of the teachings of Scripture and cause harm or
disrepute to the name of Christ or to Parma Christian Fellowship Church. Church
Members must participate in the annual Celebration of Common Identity and
Purpose in order to continue as members. Upon death, Church Membership in Parma
Christian Fellowship Church ceases.
3.
Membership Reaffirmation
3.A Membership in Parma
Christian Fellowship Church is primarily a relationship between people who are
engaged in a common identity as a church and a common purpose: to glorify God
through Jesus Christ and to transform our communities for the cause of Christ.
Therefore, the reaffirmation of membership is an important part of celebrating
our common identity and common purpose.
3.B On
the first week of November, in connection with the Annual Meeting of the Parma
Christian Fellowship Church, a Celebration of Common Identity and Purpose will
be held. Prior to that Celebration, all current Fellowship and Church Members
must complete a Reaffirmation of Membership and return it to the Leadership
Team. Any member may change their class of membership if they so desire,
according to the procedures identified above. Any new members may complete a
Fellowship Membership Commitment at that time also. All persons reaffirming
3.C If a member is unable to
attend the Celebration of Common Identity and Purpose because of health or
distance, that person must complete a Reaffirmation of Membership, and
return
it with an adequate explanation of why they cannot attend, prior to the
Celebration. The explanation may also be communicated verbally with any member
of the Leadership Team, if a
written
form is not possible. The Leadership Team may grant permission for the member
not able to attend the Celebration to continue at his or her respective level of
membership for the new year.
3.D The membership of any person choosing not to participate in
this Celebration as identified above will cease. Any person whose membership has
lapsed may apply for Fellowship Membership as identified above at any time. A
complete and official list of all Fellowship Members (for identity and ministry
purposes) and all Church Members (for voting and leadership purposes) will be
maintained by the elected secretary of Parma Christian Fellowship Church.