Church Affiliation

Article Three of Grace Fellowship Bylaws

 

Article Three - Church Affiliation

 

Grace Fellowship shall offer three levels of Church Affiliation:

a.                   Full Members

                                    Full privileges and responsibilities.

            b.         Associate Members

Same privileges as Full Members with the exception of voting and serving on Lay Leadership Council and Pastoral Staff (restriction may apply to other teams and committees as such restrictions are deemed necessary by council).  Responsibilities also limited as detailed in Associate Members Section.

b.                   Pre-Members

                        Privileges of relationship and fellowship.

                                               

3.1       Full Membership Covenant

 

Grace Fellowship consists of Christ Believers/Followers who, in the freedom of Christ and through personal choice, relationally covenant together with a commitment to all of the following:

           

            3.1.1    Regular worship attendance.  Grace Fellowship shall not define what ‘regular’ is, only that, as scripture requires, each individual is to make it his or her habit to regularly attend corporate worship.

 

            3.1.2    Regular financial contribution.  The choice to be a member is to choose to support Grace Fellowship financially.  The definition of ‘regular’ is as God prospers, which may mean weekly, monthly, etc.  Grace Fellowship shall not define how much or how often one gives but will allow this to be determined by each individual member.

 

            3.1.3    Agreement on the historic, orthodox confession of faith.  

                        Basic Truths (majors):

                        a.)        The inspiration of Scripture

                        b.)        The Trinity

                        c.)        The person (virgin birth), work (sacrificial

                                    death), and bodily return of Christ

                        d.)        Salvation by grace alone through faith alone

                        e.)        The depravity of man

                        f.)         The reality of Satan

                        g.)        The purpose of the church (1.2)

                       

                        As a fellowship, we hold to these basic truths (majors) that make us distinctively biblical.  But, as a fellowship we are made up of people who hold differing views or interpretations on certain Bible truths (minors) and certain habits of life (actions) and are free to do so.  However, in our major agreements or minor differences we are to maintain an attitude of love for each other.  In the majors there must be agreement — In the minors there must be freedom — In all things there must be love.

 

            3.1.4    Commitment to the moral and ethical standard of scripture.  Members of Grace Fellowship choose to be accountable to all other members in the commitment to “walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you (we) have been called.”

 

            3.1.5    Embracing, supporting, and advancing the mission and philosophy of Grace Fellowship.  Members choose to identify themselves with the corporate identity of Grace Fellowship being like minded and not divisive.

 

Other than these five covenantal points, each member is free to determine the extent of his or her specific responsibilities within the body life of Grace Fellowship.  Determination for such service may be based on giftedness, talents, desire, health (spiritual, emotional, and physical), or any number of other factors.

 

3.2       Attaining Full Membership Status

 

3.2.1    Membership Enrollment.  Grace Fellowship will accept individuals into full membership at anytime during the year.  Membership is finalized following New Member Orientation which will provide the opportunity for the new members to testify to and of their salvation experience.   Grace Fellowship shall accept letters of transfer from candidates when possible in addition to the Orientation and salvation testimony. 

 

            3.2.2    Membership Affirmation.  Every other year (the month of March on odd numbered years) each member will have the opportunity to reevaluate, refocus, and reaffirm their covenant agreement to all other members of Grace Fellowship.  If members choose to reaffirm their membership, it will be an affirmation that they want to continue in the responsibilities, privileges, and accountabilities of being “members one of another” as provided by Grace Fellowship.  If a member does not reaffirm his or her membership, it will be an affirmation that he or she does not want to continue in the responsibilities, privileges, and accountabilities that Grace Fellowship provides.  Although this individual will be removed from full membership status Grace Fellowship shall continue to display love toward him or her, engage in fellowship, provide acceptance, and consider him or her as a brother or sister in Christ.  Their decision will only be a recognition that they have chosen not to covenant with others in the responsibilities, privileges, and accountabilities that Grace Fellowship provides.  They are still welcome to be involved to the degree that they choose (within membership boundaries in regard to privileges).  If someone desires to reaffirm but has a personal problem that might keep them from reaffirming their membership, they are encouraged to speak with a member of the Lay Leadership Council for a possible resolution.

 

            3.2.3    Membership Registry.   The purpose of the membership registry will be to identify those who have chosen to enter into an intimate relationship with one another thus covenanting together to be corporately identified as Grace Fellowship.  The membership registry will be used to identify those who have chosen to involve themselves in the responsibilities, avail themselves to the privileges, and hold themselves accountable as members of Grace Fellowship. 

 

3.3       Associate Membership

 

An associate member is someone who desires to have a relationship with the people of Grace Fellowship.  An associate member is someone who makes a commitment to regularly attend the corporate worship times of Grace Fellowship and who is taking a step towards full membership but for one reason or another is not yet ready to make that covenant with Grace Fellowship.  He/She is free to be involved in activities and ministries but cannot vote on congregational matters nor serve on the Lay Leadership Council or Pastoral Staff (or other teams and committee restricted by Council or Pastoral Staff).  Associate members have all the options and opportunities provided by Grace Fellowship but are not bound by the covenant of responsibilities, privileges, and accountabilities of membership. An associate member may be removed from the Membership Registry at the discretion of the Pastors and/or Lay Leadership Council.  An Associate Member may be any one of the following:

 

            3.3.1    Someone in Need of Healing.  This is anyone who has experienced past hurts due to unhealthy church relationships who may need time to hear about and experience the grace of God and to allow God to bring spiritual, emotional, and relational healing and health.  While the need for healing does not exclude someone from membership at Grace Fellowship, an associate member status may allow for a time of healing and recovery.

 

3.3.2        Someone Inquiring into Grace Fellowship.  This is someone who is a Christ Believer/Follower and is determining his/her compatibility with Grace Fellowship and is investigating the theology, philosophy, covenant and everything else that makes up the “in workings” of Grace Fellowship.

 

3.4       Pre-Member

           

                        A Pre-Member is an individual who is an inquirer of Christ, who is investigating the claims of Christ on their life but for one reason or another, has not settled the question of their own relationship with Christ.  A Pre-Member is an individual desiring relationship and fellowship with the family of Grace Fellowship but unable to commit to either of the other types of membership due to personal place in relationship with Christ.  A Pre-Member’s privileges are limited to participation and assisting leadership when deemed appropriate.  A Pre-Member’s responsibilities are self determined.