Membership

Membership is the process of making a commitment to a particular local church. It is a way of saying “I believe that, for this season of my life, God has led me to be part of this church family so I can grow in my faith and serve with my gifts.”

Because our church has a congregational decision making structure (meaning that the major decisions of the church are made by the people of the church, rather than by a Bishop, a Pastor, or an Elder Board) it is necessary to have some process where people have a chance to commit themselves to the decision-making life of the church. The people who have publicly stated that they love Jesus, desire to serve Him through Columbia Grove and sincerely want to help this local church make the best decisions it can – that’s who we call “members.”

While membership isn’t something that makes you “more spiritual” than a Christian who does not happen to be a member, it isn’t something to be entered into lightly either. Those who choose to be members are stating not only their affiliation with a local church, but their desire to be accountable leaders within in that community. They are saying in effect, “This is my church, and I am committed to helping the people of this church thrive in their faith – and I am asking them to help me grow too.”

We look forward to walking with you as you discern your fit and seek to follow His calling.

Here’s the Process for Becoming a Member

Step 1

Attend  a Membership Class: These are presented about four times a year.  Each lasting about three hours.  Childcare is available with prior notice.  You will get an overview of 1) the history and theology of Columbia Grove and The Evangelical Covenant Church, 2) our ministry vision, and 3) organizational structure, with the bulk of the time devoted to answering your questions and helping you consider your call and fit in Columbia Grove.  Columbia Grove 101 is hosted by Pastor Andrew, various members of the Leadership Team, and the church staff.  Our next membership class is Sunday, September 15 from 1-4 pm.

If after hearing where we come from and what we’re about, you want to pursue membership, here’s what would happen next:

Step 2

Fill out a CGCC Membership Application. We want to hear about how you came to know Jesus, your gifts & talents for ministry, your hopes and dreams for the church, and how we can best support you in your walk with Christ.

Step 3

At the membership class you will have opportunity to share how you came to Christ, and what he means to you in your life today. We want to hear and celebrate your journey to faith. We also want you hear the stories of a few of the others you worship and serve with. This time of sharing is informal and happens in a small group setting. You will not be asked to do any public speaking.

Step 4

Your application will be reviewed by our Leadership Team. Finally, we formally welcome you into membership at a worship service in the following month. At this service you, will be asked to answer “I do” to the following four questions. At its most basic, these are the things we ask and expect from every member:

  1. Do you confess Jesus Christ as your Savior and promise to follow him as Lord?
  2. You have made public confession of your faith and have been baptized. Do you accept the Holy Scriptures, the Old and New Testaments, as the word of God and the only perfect rule for faith, doctrine and conduct?
  3. Do you intend to live among God’s faithful people, to hear God’s word and share in the Lord’s Supper, to proclaim the good new of Christ through word and deed, and to strive for justice and peace in all the earth?
  4. Do you also promise to support the ministries of this church, including the conference and denomination to which we belong?

We’d love to have you prayerfully consider this next step. Contact Pastor Andrew at 509-670-3265 for more information.

Here’s an overview of the videos about the Evangelical Covenant Church that you would be watching at the class: