Membership

Any person may offer himself or herself as a candidate for membership in this church at the time of invitation during any worship service, unless the person is physically impaired from doing so. A candidate's name shall be placed on the membership roll of the church at any regular business meeting after submission in one of the following ways:

1. By Profession of Faith and for Baptism

By a profession of faith and for baptism according to the policies of this church. The church believes that an individual must accept Jesus Christ as personal Savior before following Him in Christian baptism.

2. By Letter

By transfer of letter from another Baptist church of like faith and order.

3. By Statement

A person who is not currently a member of another Baptist church but who is a baptized believer of Christ, upon examination and recommendation of the pastor, may present themselves for membership on the basis of their statement of previous experience. The statement of faith shall include a statement of prior conversion and believer's baptism by immersion in another church and in accordance with the teachings of the New Testament. Such a candidate will be asked to give affirmation to the following questions:

a. Do you believe in Jesus Christ as your Savior and Lord and have you publicly confessed your faith in Him before another body of believers?

b. Have you experienced believer's baptism by immersion following your confession of faith?

c. Do you believe your baptism was an act of obedience through which you confessed your faith and that the baptism itself had no saving power to wash away your sins?

4. By Baptism

A Christian who has expressed his or her discipleship through baptism of a different mode or meaning shall be baptized as a continuing reaffirmation of their faith, as a witness to the Baptist understanding of Christian initiation, and as an act of unity with our congregation and our faith and order.

5. By Associate Membership

A Christian who wishes to affiliate with the church and come under the watchcare of the church, but who does not desire regular membership. An associate member shall not be entitled to vote on any matters concerning the church and shall not serve as a member of any policy making committee of the church.

Taken from the Constitution and By-laws of Immanuel Baptist Church.