Everyone who seeks membership in a local church must first be baptized as a profession of faith. Membership in a local church is always an expression of membership in the universal Church which every Christian is initiated into through baptism. Baptism says we belong to the Church, and membership says we belong to this church. Baptism first. Membership second.

Membership can feel exclusionary or cultish to some, and maybe just a little weird or unnecessary to others. We get it. But there is a biblical logic to it! While Christians all belong to the one people of God (“universal Church”), the New Testament also expects participation in real communities (“local churches”). Local churches are where the descriptors “family of believers” (1 Pet. 2:17), “God’s household” (1 Pet. 4:17), “holy temple in the Lord” (Eph. 2:21), “the pillar and foundation of the truth” (1 Tim. 3:15), and “the body of Christ” (1 Cor. 12:27) come into contact with real, ordinary people. The Bible never gives protocols for joining the church, but it’s clear that church leaders were responsible for particular churches (Heb. 13:17; 1 Peter 5:1–3), and churches had to have boundaries between who was “in” and who was “out” (1 Cor. 14:23–25; 1 Cor. 5). So, membership is biblical in the sense that in the emerging New Testament churches every baptized follower of Jesus was expected to belong to a local community where they submitted to the leadership and were in fellowship with other believers.

The bible doesn’t mandate a class or any process for formalizing someone’s belonging to a specific local church, but a process that does this is helpful. It’s mutually beneficial to leaders and congregants to turn the informal and implicit belonging that people seek in churches into formal and explicit commitments to one another. Having an organized process for membership defines the relationship, clarifies expectations, and encourages devotion (Rom. 12:9–13). It’s a way of making visible what is often unseen to our individualistic and consumeristic culture, but that was instinctive in the early church: following Jesus means committing to His people. Taking a class may feel perfunctory, but so might a big marriage ceremony (you could just sign a piece of paper and go back to watching TV right?). However, the act of committing oneself to a people helps us guard against the transient church hopping and shopping mentality as we put down roots with a real and imperfect community, taking seriously the bible’s “one another” commands (2 Cor. 13:11; Gal. 5:13; Eph. 4:2; Col. 3:16; Heb. 10:24–25; 1 Pet. 5:1–5; 1 Jn. 3:23).

Any baptized follower of Jesus who wants to be an active participant in our community can become a member. People under the age of 18 automatically become members when we baptize them, but for all adults, completing the membership class is necessary. If a minor was baptized elsewhere and then joins our church, they won’t automatically become a member just because they start attending, but they can take the membership class. Minors who are members are non-voting members until they turn 18.

The class is offered quarterly and takes place during the 11am service. You don’t have to make any speeches or commit to anything. It’s mostly a time to meet some other people, ask questions, and hear from a pastor about what belonging to Cherry Hills is all about. You’ll be given some handouts and some food. Just sign up, come as you are, and consider the invitation.

Jesus says to the church at Laodicea, “Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest and repent.” (Rev. 3:19) Hebrews 12:4–11 makes clear that discipline is something every true follower of Jesus experiences, and that healthy discipline is motivated by love, even if it seems unpleasant at the time. Discipline doesn’t mean kicking people to the curb, it means having the courage to go to one another with humility and gentleness to help each other “stand firm in Christ.” (1 Cor. 15:58; Phil. 4:1; 2 Thess. 2:15) Discipline is first and foremost something congregants practice with one another before church leadership gets involved (Matt. 18:15–17). The intent is always to restore. Church leadership becoming involved in formal disciplinary measures is rare, but like any healthy community, it is sometimes necessary (1 Cor. 5:1–13).

Take the membership class. We don’t require a letter of reference to transfer membership. If you’ve been baptized, taken the class, and are approved by the elders, you’re a member at Cherry Hills.

Many people serve, give, and share in community before formally completing membership. In that case, your life in the church may feel unchanged after membership. For others, membership is a significant event marking a new resolve to commit to this community and feels momentous. Regardless, members are expected to discern (paying wise attention to their gifts, personality, season of life, stage of discipleship, etc.) how best to devote themselves to the church body. We expect members to serve, to give, to attend gatherings, to be in relationships, and do all the other “ordinary” things that are part of the Christian life. We also expect members to come to the annual church meeting in December to participate in appointing elders and any other church work that requires the congregation to give their voice.