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Featured Do you do Membership Classes?

Discussion in 'General Baptist Discussions' started by Tom Bryant, Nov 7, 2018.

  1. Tom Bryant

    Tom Bryant Well-Known Member

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    This is sort of a take off from the church membership question,

    How many of you or your church's do Membership Classes and what do they entail? Do you require those classes for membership?
     
  2. TCassidy

    TCassidy Late-Administator Emeritus
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    No. There are two requirements for membership in a Baptist church. A credible testimony of salvation followed by believers baptism.
     
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  3. Tom Bryant

    Tom Bryant Well-Known Member

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    Who determines how credible the testimony is? I am not arguing, just asking.
     
  4. TCassidy

    TCassidy Late-Administator Emeritus
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    The congregation. Which is another Baptist Distinctive - Congregational Government.
     
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  5. rlvaughn

    rlvaughn Well-Known Member
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    We do not have "Membership Classes" -- that is, neither classes required for membership nor classes required for new members. On the other hand, all our "classes" -- Bible study and preaching, is for all the members and anyone who happens to visit.
    No, we do not. As TCassidy above, we require a credible profession of faith, and, if that is accepted, immersion of that believer. This is at the discretion or vote of the church (congregation).
     
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  6. Jerome

    Jerome Well-Known Member
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    Pastor at former church did, taught it himself. Several of us sat in on the class and that's how we came to realize he was orchestrating a Reformed takeover of the church.

    It a 9Marksism thing, really pushed on their website.
     
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  7. Deacon

    Deacon Well-Known Member
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    Membership class, it’s a family thing.
    If you want to join our family you will certainly need to know some things about us.
    We have them every month.

    We introduce newcomers to our campus and its facilities.
    We introduce them to our staff.
    We go over our distinctives; those things that make us different from other churches around us.
    We tell newcomers the steps necessary to become a member,1) belief (interview by an elder), 2) baptism, 3) agreement with our statement of faith and constitution, 4) Attendance at a membership class (singular) is required.... there maybe some other stuff I forgot.

    Then we feed them, a Baptist tradition.

    Rob
     
    #7 Deacon, Nov 7, 2018
    Last edited: Nov 7, 2018
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  8. Salty

    Salty 20,000 Posts Club
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    After my salvation - I attended a 13 week new membership class - as I look back -
    that was an excellent ideal! We were taught in the basics of of church doctrine.

    Does the Bible require it - no -
    But there is no requirement to have a pulpit either.
     
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  9. Tom Bryant

    Tom Bryant Well-Known Member

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    That's about how we do it. Of course, we feed them first. :)

    We do ours on a Sunday after church. People can go thru the class and never become members. Or they can ask to join. We also use that time to talk about their responsibility to serve in the church by letting them know what ministries are available.

    Because I had retired as a pastor, some people asked the pastor if I had to go thru the class. He said that "He's a pastor, he'll understand and appreciate going thru the class" He was right and I did.
     
  10. Tom Bryant

    Tom Bryant Well-Known Member

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    Do the people give a testimony of their salvation in front of the church?
     
  11. TCassidy

    TCassidy Late-Administator Emeritus
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    It would be hard for them to determine credibility without hearing it, wouldn't it?

    Proverbs 18:13 He who gives an answer before he hears the matter, that is folly and shame to him.
     
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  12. Tom Bryant

    Tom Bryant Well-Known Member

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    Of course, it would. I am just asking. I am a congregationalist. I got voted on by the congregation also.
     
  13. rlvaughn

    rlvaughn Well-Known Member
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    Yes.

    On the other hand, I know a number of Baptist that don't require this. The new believer may just tell the pastor who acts as a proxy in telling the church, or perhaps they do it some other way.
     
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  14. rlvaughn

    rlvaughn Well-Known Member
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    Nor do we require a pulpit for church membership. :Biggrin
     
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  15. Yeshua1

    Yeshua1 Well-Known Member
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    Yes we do, as one can attend and not be a member, but to be able to vote and to hold "official" positions in the church, need to be a member.
    We have a 4 1 hour class, one for church statement of beliefs, one for the ordiances, one for membership duties etc!
     
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  16. HeDied4U

    HeDied4U Well-Known Member
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    The church I currently attend has a two week membership class four times a year. The first week is more of a "meet-n-greet" with church leaders and staff, plus prospective members are given the opportunity to share their testimony. The second week gets into what the church believes and how it operates.

    17 new members were welcomed into the family last weekend. :)
     
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  17. TCassidy

    TCassidy Late-Administator Emeritus
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    Before or after they completed the classes to the satisfaction of the church leadership.
     
  18. HeDied4U

    HeDied4U Well-Known Member
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    After.
     
  19. Yeshua1

    Yeshua1 Well-Known Member
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    Part of our confirmation process would be to have the person discuss with either one of the pastors/elders why they see themselves now as Christian, and what they see as being their gifts and how they can fit into the assembly!
     
  20. Jerome

    Jerome Well-Known Member
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    Confirmation?
    at a Baptist church?

    What?
     
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