The Beauty of Belonging as a Member
Being a member of the church family, at Reforming Presbyterian Church
Being a member of a church is a way to delight in Christ, by participating in the very people who are precious to him – whom he purchased by his blood.
God’s intention for his creation and His creatures was for them to be gathered to Him, yet our sin broke the whole thing. Ever since then, God has been fulfilling his rescue plan, which has ultimate fulfillment in Jesus Christ.
It happens throughout history again and again: sin scatters, God gathers. So that when Jesus looks at the church, and shows it to the world in His Word, he says: “That’s my handiwork” (Ephesians 2:10).
God’s intention is for people to find their true identity in Jesus, and therefore find themselves saved and gathered in Christ’s body, the church.
The Bible speaks of membership in the sense that we are members of one another (Romans 12:4–5), and this is a beautiful picture to behold of the bride of Christ on earth.
What does it mean that Reforming is a Presbyterian Church?
First, what does it mean that we are presbyterian? The word, ‘Presbyterian’ is a word from the Bible points to what we believe and how we work.
In the New Testament the original Greek word, πρεσβύτερος (presbuteros), is the word used for ‘elder’. Jesus has designed his church to be cared for by elders. So, a Presbyterian church isn’t just headed up by one personality, but is cared for by a team. As Presbyterians we believe in team-based ministry of elders and in the way churches relate.
God’s Word has authority over the elders, and all of us. We share this common understanding across Presbyterian churches. Our common understanding that we share is the Westminster Confession of Faith, which is our subordinate standard - as the Bible is our supreme standard. We are Reformed in theology, gospel-centred and complementarian in ministry practice. Complementarians believe that men and women are equal in dignity and yet different in roles in the church.
You can see from the diagram how different official groups of the church work in connection to one another.
What all this means for us is that we value connectedness to other courts and bodies in our church, and we value transparency and accountability. These are things that so important for churches, because we are to be above reproach in our leadership and church-wide culture.
The Privileges and Responsibilities of Members of Reforming Church
The Presbyterian Church of Victoria Code Book says of communicant members:
2 2.8 Communicant member
2.8.1 A communicant member of a congregation (generally referred to in these rules as a ‘communicant’) enjoys the privileges of sharing in the Lord’s Supper and of wider fellowship with other believers throughout the Presbyterian Church of Australia.
2.8.2 A communicant, unless under a process of discipline, aged at least 16 years, has the right to:
a) vote and take full part in the business of any meeting of the congregation;
b) add his or her name to a call on a separate sheet provided for this purpose;
c) nominate and vote in an eldership or board election;
d) approach the appropriate court by petition;
e) be appointed as an office-bearer of a congregational organisation.
2.8.3 A communicant aged at least 18 years is eligible to be elected to a board.
2.10 Duties of communicants and adherents
A communicant or adherent of a congregation is under a duty to:
a) give faithful attendance to its public worship;
b) give the minister due respect, encouragement and obedience in the Lord;
c) submit to the session* as over him or her in the Lord;
d) maintain an earnest desire to live a Christian life consistent with his or her profession of faith;
e) take a lively interest in the welfare of the wider work of the church;
f) contribute heartily, both financially and in other ways, as the Lord shall enable him or her, for the maintenance of the Christian ministry and the furtherance of the gospel at home and abroad.
[*Session comes from the Latin word ‘sessio’, which means ‘to sit and meet’. A session is established by the presbytery to exercise oversight over every aspect of the life of a congregation or of linked congregations (Code Rule 2.6). A session ordinarily consists of the minister of a charge and two or more elders (Code Rule 3.1)]
The process of becoming a member of Reforming Presbyterian Church
1. Read the Membership Booklet.
2. Come to a Newish Supper and ask all your questions.
3. Submit a brief written testimony to the Elders (approximately 300 words).
4. Have a chat with an Elder and arrange a date of becoming a Member at gathered worship.
5. Give a public testimony/profession of faith and declaration of membership vows.
Church membership means we get to make meaningful promises
In our Presbyterian system it is the responsibility of the Elders to give admission to new members. We see this outlined in our Code Book. When you become a church member, you make promises before God and before his people. This is not a burden, but a response to the beauty of the grace-shaped church. We are saved and shaped by the grace of the gospel in the Lord Jesus Christ and not our promises, so making them can only ever be about the opportunity to invite others to encourage you in accountability. This is for your benefit, through the love of Jesus and his church.
The promises we make are threefold and are as follows:
1. By God’s grace, do you confess your faith in God as your Heavenly Father; in Jesus Christ as your Lord and Saviour; and in the Holy Spirit as your Sanctifier?
This first vow is all about our personal faith in God. It’s about being a Christian.
2. By God’s grace, do you promise, in dependence upon God's grace, to serve the Lord and walk in his ways all the days of your life?
This second vow is concerned with the personal life of a Christian. We believe in Jesus and become more like Him.
3. By God’s grace, do you promise to be a faithful member of the church, serving others as part of the body of Christ, submitting yourself to the leadership and guidance of the church* and giving of your time, talents and treasure for the work of His Kingdom, as he enables you?
This third vow speaks of the Christian’s loyalty to Jesus and His people as we serve the church and therefore serve the world. Knowing how much Jesus gave for us, we give of ourselves for the building of the body of Christ and the growth of God’s kingdom. This means we give our time in gathering with God’s people. We also give by using our God-given gifts in ministry with one another. And naturally because all we have is from God’s grace, we give of our God-given money for the work of the gospel in and through our church [2 Corinthians 8:9].
Answering these questions enables someone to publicly affirm their commitment to Christ and to our church family.
(*This includes submitting to the Session, and as members to the Presbyterian form of church governance where godly authority exists in the Presbytery and General Assemblies of Victoria and Australia.)
You can see our local leaders of Reforming Presbyterian Church, by clicking here.
