Membership

Our church family

why church membership?

The word membership is complicated. In today’s usage, it brings to mind a subscription service, a gym membership or a self-indulgent club. While the church is a collection of people called to be set apart (Matthew 5:13-16; 1 Peter 2:9-10), we use the term “membership” because it is the term the bible uses when discussing people committed to God within a church.

See these examples:
For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ. For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—Jews or Greeks, slaves or free—and all were made to drink of one Spirit. For the body does not consist of one member but of many.
- 1 Corinthians 12:12-14 -

For as in one body we have many members, and the members do not all have the same function, so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another. Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, in proportion to our faith; if service, in our serving; the one who teaches, in his teaching; the one who exhorts, in his exhortation; the one who contributes, in generosity; the one who leads, with zeal; the one who does acts of mercy, with cheerfulness.
- Romans 12:4-8 -
Not every church practices formal church membership, but we are convinced that, while imperfect, it is the best way for all of us, including our leadership, to be held accountable to God, to the Scriptures, and to one another. We want to be a body that reflects the joy, beauty, and power of God himself; our membership is extended and upheld to this very end. Our desire is to build one another up in truth and love and to reflect the goodness of Jesus as we do so (Ephesians 4:11-16).

do I need to become a member to attend?

No, certainly not. We invite anyone and everyone to become a part of our community and to grow in the grace of God. We have never and will never bar anyone from fellowship in gatherings or community with the people of God based on membership. We make a distinction between members and guests. Being a guest is an important season: like the name suggests, it's a time where we welcome you into our home and we get to know each other.  However, without eventually making a commitment to a local church through membership, guests remain in part separated from the maturity, protection, accountability, and care that comes with being an active part of the church.

how do i become a member?

FIRST STEP: Getting to know one another

If you haven't already, take some time to get to know our church and the people here. We encourage you to join us on Sunday mornings, connect with us, explore our site, and take a look at some of the membership content below to learn what we are like as a church. 

Second STEP: pursuing membership

If you've spent some time with our community and are interested in membership, let us know! We have a short questionnaire below that will initiate the membership process.

THIRD STEP: REVIEWing OUR COVENANT

Upon completion of the questionnaire, a copy of our membership covenant will be sent to your email. Take a look through it, pray through it, and bring any questions you may have to the next step.

fourth STEP: Meeting with a pastor

A pastor of Anthem Church will be in touch after completion of the questionnaire. The pastor will coordinate a meeting where any questions can be addressed and the covenant can be signed. Welcome to the Anthem family!

Family Matters

our teachings on church membership

Additional Resources

Further learning about church membership

By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.
Jesus Christ -