Church Membership (and Letting the Devil Out)

This morning our small church will be presented, for approval or disapproval, with the nomination of me for church leader.

A while back I wrote about the restructuring of the church, about the two proposals for its ongoing leadership setup. My favored proposal, for the church to be a “house church with a building” without paid leadership and led by a team of five “go-to” people, was not chosen. Instead, the structure temporarily in place since our last minister left was affirmed as permanent: one or two paid ministers sharing a quarter-time position, one or two people sharing treasurer/secretary duties, and a church leader.

While I’m still discouraged that the more radical framework was rejected, I decided it wasn’t a walk-out-worthy disappointment, and now I may even become a player in a game board design I would have gladly abandoned.

That said, as I responded to the current church leader (who is also one of the pastors) who contacted me about the nomination, “I’m willing” to be the church leader. I tacked on to my response a question: What does church membership entail? His response was the church’s membership policy, which just maybe allows for enough wiggle room for my lack of conviction on certain matters, seeing as how the devil’s in the details:

1.Membership is open to all those who have accepted Jesus Christ as personal Lord and Savior (when I was very young I think I tried this a few times); who have been baptized upon confession of faith (I did this when I was, I think, 14); who commit to be disciples of Jesus Christ and follow his teachings in all aspects of life (I’m not sure I’m this confident in my commitment, but it’s a good goal);

2. who are willing to worship (a vague idea, interpretable in many ways, so okay), serve, give and receive counsel, and share in the ministries of the church (as long as I think the ministries are worthwhile, right?); and

3. who are in general (very general, perhaps?) agreement with the denomination’s confession of faith(made up of majestic statements, most of which I probably agree with, some I definitely don’t agree with, and the rest I don’t find relevant, worthwhile, or in my place to say, considering I’m just a cosmic peon).

4. Membership is gained through one of the following: believer’s baptism (did it once/haven’t renounced it), confession of faith for those previously baptized (Can I make up my own?), or a letter of church membership transfer (aha! a doable transfer of paperwork). Faithful attendance (at least three worship services per month) for a minimum of six months must be maintained prior to consideration for membership.  Acceptance for membership by the congregation is obtained after counseling with the pastor, and recommendation by the Church Leadership Team to the congregation at a regularly scheduled worship service (all fine and dandy).