We believe the church is best served by a healthy understanding of church membership. Sadly, church membership is often misunderstood. Belonging to a church is not like joining a health club or discount wholesale club for the personal benefits and desirable amenities. Church membership is submitting oneself to the Christian community and being responsible for a local Christian community in accord with the Scriptures.
We believe God intends the church and the individual Christian to find encouragement, protection, instruction, and healthy accountability through biblical church membership. This means healthy church membership extends beyond our Sunday morning gathering as we know and are known by one another as we live out our covenant commitments in the strength God provides.
Membership Process
We seek to carry out this vision for meaningful membership through an ordinarily four-step process by which to join Highlands Baptist Church.
Membership Application
The first step in becoming a member of this local church is to notify an elder. Every member candidate fills out a member questionnaire which includes writing out your confession of faith — telling us when you repented and placed your faith in Christ.
Membership Class
We ask all membership candidates to attend a “Membership Matters” class. In this class we discuss what the Scriptures teach about church membership and we review our church’s statement of faith and our membership covenant. This class offers member candidates opportunity to ask the pastors questions and grow in their understanding of our core values and ministry philosophy.
Elder Interview
It is our practice that membership candidates meet with a pastor to discuss their membership questionnaire, review their written testimony of salvation, and describe how God continues to mature their faith as they follow Jesus. These meetings are always an encouragement as we reflect on the great saving acts of God accomplished for us through Christ.
Congregational Affirmation
After receiving the recommendation of the elders the new member candidate will be officially received into the church family by a vote of the church membership.
Entering membership is a joyous occasion as your new church family celebrates our shared confession of faith and the evidence of God’s grace in our life as true confessors. Now begins the adventure of deeper service, love, study, and prayer as we live out our covenant commitment to help each other follow Jesus!