Become a Member

The Three Steps in the Membership Process

 
Step One: Meet, Give and Get
The membership process begins by meeting a pastor at the end of a worship service at the front of the Sanctuary or Lee Fellowship Hall for Genesis. Please give us some information by filling out the New Member Information Sheet.

Step Two: Join & Introduction in Worship 
New members’ meeting – New members are welcomed in to membership by the Session (governing body of elders) on the first Sunday of each month. You and your family are invited to join a pastor and available elders in the Gathering and Resource Room located on the first floor of the Edington Ministry Center, just outside the side doors of the Sanctuary. This short ceremony will include a brief reflection on the meaning of membership in the Body of Christ by a pastor, a chance for you to share your journey with Christ in three minutes or less, and the time for you to affirm the membership questions as a group. Between now and then, we ask that you prayerfully consider the membership questions and how you will articulate your testimony. More resources information concerning the questions and ideas for sharing your journey with Christ can be found here.

After sharing your testimonies, you will be asked these basic questions:

• Is Jesus Christ your Lord and Savior?
• Do you trust in Him?
• Will you be His disciple, obeying His Word, and showing His love?
• Will you be a faithful member of this congregation, giving of yourself in every way, and will you seek the fellowship of the Church wherever you may be?

Introductions in worship - Following this event meeting, you and your family are escorted in to the 11:00 a.m. worship services to be introduced during the worship service. You are welcome to attend either the Traditional or Genesis worship services pending your preference.

Childcare – For the new members’ meeting: Nursery care is available for preschool children for those who would like to have their little ones watched in the Clayton Life Center. Elementary and older children need to attend with the family and then utilize the standard check-in time of 10:45 a.m. in the Allen-Yowell Hall lobby. For the worship services: During the Traditional Service, children 3rd grade and under may be escorted by you with those leaving for Children’s Worship. There is no opportunity for those children in Genesis to formally leave the service.


Step Three: The First Connections Seminar
First Connections is a five week seminar during the Sunday School hour (9:30 a.m.) which is designed to help you learn and experience life at FPCO. It’s a great way to make some friends, learn some basics about faith in a non-threatening atmosphere, and be exposed to the life changing ministries of FPCO. Purpose, mission, and relationships are foundational to FPCO and are the building blocks of First Connections. Topics include: Week 1 – Life with Jesus Christ; Week 2 – Christian Discipleship; Week 3 – Presbyterian: What Does that Mean? Week 4 – A Closer Look at FPCO; Week 5 – Life and Ministry at FPCO. You can read more at www.fpco.org/firstconnections.


The four methods for uniting with the congregation are as follows:

Profession of Faith & Baptism
“I am confessing faith in Jesus Christ for the first time and I need to be baptized in keeping with the historical practice of the Church.”

Profession of Faith
“Although I was baptized at an earlier stage of life, I am confessing faith in Jesus Christ for the first time.”

Reaffirmation of Faith
“I’ve been baptized, have previously confessed faith in Jesus Christ, but either I can’t remember where my church membership currently resides or wish not to inform them.”

Transfer of Letter
“I have been baptized and am currently a member of another church. I am simply moving my membership from another church to FPCO.”

For more information contact: Contact Dr. Case Thorp or call 407.423-3441

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