Many church implementers are afraid to apply an accession process so that the project is not inclusive. However, Mike McKinley suggests three advantages of establishing membership in a plantation church.
Some church establishment strategists teach that membership is a secondary aspect of the goal of church establishment. After all, planters should call people to participate in the life and mission of the church. This participation, they argue, is reflected in the best case in actions rather than formal accession agreements.
But establishing a formal membership has at least three advantages for a new church.
1. La membership asks regular customers to commit more firmly
First, establishing a church membership requires a stronger commitment to regular visitors.
When a planter starts a new job, several people are likely to start coming to see what is happening there, but it can be difficult to see if we can count on these people to participate in the life of the Church.
Establishing membership gives these people a moment of “take it or leave it. “This removes ambiguity about their relationship with the congregation and calls them to participate fully in the work of the church.
2. Membership reinforces mutual responsibility
Second, the establishment of a member of the church increases mutual responsibility between the congregation itself and between the congregation and leadership.
Membership requires commitment and clarifies, in biblical terms, what it means to be part of the church. When someone ceases to be a visitor and becomes a member, they commit to love, care for, and pray for others in the church. .
Membership also allows planters to know who to care for and who to supervise; and allows farmers to charge people for their commitments.
Membership allows the church to fulfill its biblical responsibilities
Third, the establishment of a church member allows the church to fulfill all of its biblical responsibilities.
Without belonging to a church, the Lord’s baptism and food lose an important part of its meaning (baptism as a means of entering the Covenant community and the Lord’s food as a sign of continued participation in that community). In addition, commandments such as Hebrews 13. 17 (?Obey your guides?) And 1 Corinthians 5. 13 (? Hunt down your villain?) Can it only be obeyed when?Your? The church is clearly defined.
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In the full article, Mike McKinley discusses the right time to apply for church membership on a plantation.
This article is part of the 9Marks Journal
Translation: Vin-cius Silva Pimentel. Review: Vin-cius Musselman Pimentel. © 2014 Faithful Ministérium. All rights reserved. Website: MinistryFiel. com. br. Original: How to implement membership in a settlement church ?.