Membership at Willamette Christian Church
Being a member means. . .
I belong to Jesus. I acknowledge the saving work of Jesus who died in my place for my sin to satisfy my eternal debt to an infinite and holy God. This perfect and loving God rescued me through His Son and by giving me faith to trust in Him. As a result, I have been adopted into His family of no merit of my own.
I belong to the global and universal family of believers who have existed throughout all time.
I belong to a specific family of believers (local church) in order to build one another up and help others grow up into Jesus together. As a member I am called and equipped to be a minister to my church family and a missionary to anyone who does not yet know God.
Belonging to WCC as my church family means. . .
I have been baptized by immersion (Matt. 3:13-17; Matt. 28:19; Acts 2:37-38,41; Acts 8:12; Acts 10:45-48) to give testimony of my identification with Jesus and His finished work on the cross, burial, and resurrection (Rom. 6:3-4). I also identify with those whose have gone before me who have placed their faith in Jesus.
I gladly submit to the authority of God’s Word as the final arbiter on all things (Ps. 119:2; Tim. 3:16-17) because I trust the One who wrote it more than I do the philosophies and opinions of the world or even myself. I have read and understood the WCC doctrinal statement and agree to not be divisive to its teaching and content.
I will foster a close relationship with Jesus through regular Bible reading, prayer, fellowship, and spiritual disciplines (Ps. 119:97,105; Acts 2:42-47; Heb. 10:23-25). My relationship with my Savior will be evident through my participation in worship services, communion, community group, serving opportunities, and a general life that seeks to treasure Jesus above all things.
I will make every effort to preserve the unity and peace of WCC (Eph. 4:1-3; Php. 2:1-4; Prov. 16:28; Prov. 26:20).
I endeavor not only to submit to but to pray for (Heb. 13:18) and support WCC’s leaders as they are the ones who must give an account before God (Heb. 13:7,17; 1 Thess. 5:12; Jam. 3:1). I understand that WCC’s leaders commit to consistently pray for, humbly serve, lovingly correct and discipline, diligently protect and shepherd, and intentionally equip the body (Jam. 5:14; Acts 20:28-31; Eph. 4:11-13; Mt. 18:15-17).
I agree to exercise my spiritual gifts to lovingly edify the church body, primarily through encouragement, service, hospitality, biblical exhortation, and acts of mercy (Rom. 12:3-10; 1 Cor. 12:14-27; Eph. 4:11-13; 1 Pet. 4:10-11).
I will steward God’s resources that He has entrusted to me (my body, time, talents, finances, possessions) in a way that will demonstrate that my life belongs to Him (Rom. 12:1-2; Gal. 5:22-26; Eph. 5:15-17), that I find great joy in building His family, and that He unquestionably comes first in my life (Ex. 20:3). My participation in giving will be voluntary, consistent, cheerful, and sacrificial in nature (Acts 2:44-47; Acts 4:32-35; 2 Cor. 8:1-5,7; 2 Cor. 9:2,6-7,12-14; Prov. 3:9-10; 1 Tim. 6:17-19) because this is the right response to a God who has been gracious to me.
I understand that while God will eventually complete the wonderful work that He has started in me (Php. 1:6) that I am a work in progress…and so is everyone else. Therefore, I will extend grace both to others as well as myself where we fall short. In the event that I can no longer keep this commitment of membership, or if I have any questions, comments, or concerns regarding WCC, I will share this with WCC leadership and seek their counsel and help.
