WHY MEMBERSHIP?

 

MEMBERS ARE PART OF OUR CHRISTIAN COMMUNITY

Emmanuel is made up of adherents, members, deacons, staff, and pastors. All play an important role in making the church a vibrant community.

Members are unique from adherents in that they have signed a covenant to support the overall mission and vision of Emmanuel, are willing to provide leadership when called upon, and make decisions that affect the finances, policies and direction of the church. Becoming a member means becoming accountable to the whole church community in the way we talk, act, give, and represent Emmanuel in our neighbourhoods.

 

 Membership is important for the following reasons:

1. Government requirements. Emmanuel needs to have a membership in order to hold charitable status.

2. Effective church governance. Membership helps the church leadership know that you are willing and able to serve.

3. Christian accountability and a public commitment. By being a member, you are putting yourself in a place of accountability to the church community and its leaders, and willingly submit to biblical standards of church discipline. Membership is a public declaration of association with a local body of believers.

 

 

WHAT ARE THE PRIVILEGES OF MEMBERSHIP?

Members may serve on the church board, serve in leadership roles, vote on key policy changes, sit on committees, and elect new deacons and Lead Pastors.

WHO CAN BECOME A MEMBER?

In order to be a member, three things are required:

1. You have personally embraced Jesus as Lord and Saviour of your life.

2. You are regularly engaged in the community at Emmanuel.

3. You have reached the minimum age of 18. Those between the ages of 12 and 17 may apply to be a Junior Member.

 WHAT IS THE PROCESS OF BECOMING A MEMBER?

1. Fill out a membership application form. You may also attend a membership class if there is one scheduled. Classes usually take place twice a year in the Spring and Fall.

2. Have a meeting with a membership committee. This "get to know you" meeting includes one or two board members and other staff.

3. Board approval. After the application process takes place, the board votes to approve the application. Upon approval, new members will be contacted by the Secretary of the Board. New members are introduced at the Annual General Meeting that takes place in the Spring, where they will have the full privileges of membership.

FAITHFUL LIVING

Members are to commit to spiritual disciplines that help keep their faith vibrant and growing. To the best of their ability they are to seek a Jesus-shaped life according to the teachings of Jesus and evidenced by the fruit of the Spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, thankfulness, faithfulness and self-control. When members fall short of living faithfully, they seek to practice the disciplines of confession, seeking forgiveness, and pursuing reconciliation.

FAITHFUL PARTICIPATION

Members are expected to share in the mission of the church through active engagement in community life. This includes regular attendance in our services, weekly activities, life groups, and/or ministry programs. Members are responsible for the mission of the church, and so it is assumed that members will commit to pray for the church, have an attitude of care and compassion towards all people, and seek opportunities to share the good news of Jesus. Members are to serve the church by discovering their God-given gifts and talents and using them wherever and whenever possible to build up the body of Christ.

FAITHFUL GIVING

The church relies on the financial stewardship of its community. Members give generously of their time, their resources and their finances to the mission and ministry of the church. We encourage members to practice the spiritual discipline of tithing (giving 10% of your income towards the ministries of the church), support our missions partners through offerings and gifts, and participate in fundraising projects that come up from time to time.

 FAITHFUL WITNESS

Members of Emmanuel represent the church in the community. It is assumed that members commit to a high standard of Christian living, recognizing their behaviour speaks not only to their own character but to the character of the church. In this light, members are expected to protect and enhance the unity of the church, being supportive of church leadership and working to encourage and love those who are part of the church body. They also seek to live by example in peace and harmony with people outside of the Christian faith, particularly when it comes to public discourse, both in the marketplace and on social media. When difficulties arise, the biblical pattern for dealing with conflict and church discipline will be followed according to our constitution. Members make a commitment to communicate with church leadership when there are concerns, conflicts, or burdens in a grace-filled and humble manner, without gossip or slander.

Having read Emmanuel Church's membership application and being found in agreement with Emmanuel Church's purpose, strategy, structure and beliefs, and being found within the biblical standards for membership, I commit myself to:

Faithful Living

• Seeking to live a Godly life (Philippians 1:27; Matthew 5-7)
• Allowing the Holy Spirit to reveal himself through me (Galatians 5:22-23)

Faithful Participation

• Through regular attendance in services, programs, and ministries (Hebrews 10:25)
• By discovering my gifts and talents (1 Peter 4:10)
• By developing a servant's heart (Philippians 2:3-7)

Faithful Giving

• Through giving of my time and resources (1 Corinthians 16:2)
• Through praying for God's provision (John 15:7)

Being a Faithful Witness

• Refusing to gossip (Ephesians 4:29)
• By acting in love toward other members and non-members (1 Peter 1:22)
• By being a Christian example in the community (2 Corinthians 5:20)

 

Emmanuel Church's Constitution and Bylaws, as well as the Pentecostal Statement of Essential Truths are available for your perusal and can be found here:

Constitution

Bylaws

Pentecostal Statement of Essential Truths

It is understood that my membership automatically lapses when I have not attended church for three months without a valid reason (health or travel). In the spirit of Christian grace, membership can be restored to good standing upon providing reasons for not keeping commitments and re-applying for membership (the membership class and membership committee meeting would be waived). Membership can also be removed in matters of church discipline, according to the constitution and bylaw requirements of membership. It is understood, however, that the goal of church discipline is restoration and reconciliation back into full membership. Finally, it is understood that members in good standing can have their membership transferred to another Pentecostal Assemblies of Canada church should they move to another location and make request to do so.