Does Your Church Have Formal Membership?

[AreYouReady?]

If people want to take vows, claim a man as their pastor and local church assembly, support through finances and attendance...I suppose that there's no harm in it.


I also realize and respect that as a non-member, I would not be allowed to vote in church matters. It does not necessarily mean that I would not be providing financial assistance to the church I attend because I take no vows of membership. The church or pastor will never know my contributions.

[HRea]

Originally Posted by Bro. Robbins

I've noticed since coming to the Apostolic movement, very few Apostolic churches have "membership". It's pretty much if you attend there, that's your church. Very different, since I'm so used to church's having formal membership.

So, does your church have formal membership, or not? Any reason why one way or the other?

Yes, our church has a formal membership and we have informal membership. Both are considered equal as for as pastoral care, participation in service (including singing special, ministering, communion, etc), but only formal members can vote during business meeting. We don't make a fuss over this except at any business meeting.

[RandyWayne]

Originally Posted by AreYouReady?

If people want to take vows, claim a man as their pastor and local church assembly, support through finances and attendance...I suppose that there's no harm in it.


I also realize and respect that as a non-member, I would not be allowed to vote in church matters. It does not necessarily mean that I would not be providing financial assistance to the church I attend because I take no vows of membership. The church or pastor will never know my contributions.

Member or not, I've never written my givings on a donation envelope. Quite honestly I don't want the pastor (or anyone else) to know if I've given 10, 50, 100 or 1000 (or more) on any given week/month/year.

[Bro. Robbins]

Originally Posted by RandyWayne

Member or not, I've never written my givings on a donation envelope. Quite honestly I don't want the pastor (or anyone else) to know if I've given 10, 50, 100 or 1000 (or more) on any given week/month/year.

My parents give cash and never record their giving in anyway, therefore the church has no record as well. However, they both know as well they can't vote in business sessions, and can't serve in any church office, like SS Teacher, Deacon, etc since there is no record to show they support that local church with their finances.

[acerrak]

Originally Posted by Bro. Robbins

My parents give cash and never record their giving in anyway, therefore the church has no record as well. However, they both know as well they can't vote in business sessions, and can't serve in any church office, like SS Teacher, Deacon, etc since there is no record to show they support that local church with their finances.

and this is a good example of why, and Im not picking at you but this is a really good reason why it shouldnt be a factor of such things. cause your parents have been segregated because of the lack of record because of tithes.

[AreYouReady?]

Originally Posted by Bro. Robbins

My parents give cash and never record their giving in anyway, therefore the church has no record as well. However, they both know as well they can't vote in business sessions, and can't serve in any church office, like SS Teacher, Deacon, etc since there is no record to show they support that local church with their finances.

So...I guess the Apostles would not be able to take part in the building's business. Sometimes God uses the poorest of the poor to deliver his Word to others.
Then Peter said, Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk.

(Acts 3:6)


The best teachings would go elsewhere.

[Bro. Robbins]

Originally Posted by AreYouReady?

So...I guess the Apostles would not be able to take part in the building's business. Sometimes God uses the poorest of the poor to deliver his Word to others.
Then Peter said, Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk.

(Acts 3:6)


The best teachings would go elsewhere.

So because someone is poor they don't have anything to give? Even when I was broke... I had something to give... even if it's a penny......

It sounds like your debate is about giving... and that's not what I started this thread about... so if you want to discuss giving, etc... would be glad to but will need another thread started. This thread is about does your church have formal membership, and if it does or doesn't....why or why not.

[RandyWayne]

Originally Posted by Bro. Robbins

So because someone is poor they don't have anything to give? Even when I was broke... I had something to give... even if it's a penny......

It sounds like your debate is about giving... and that's not what I started this thread about... so if you want to discuss giving, etc... would be glad to but will need another thread started. This thread is about does your church have formal membership, and if it does or doesn't....why or why not.

I've always been of the strong belief that time given is also the equivalent of money when it comes to tithes and offerings. The value of which can become pretty nebulous but then again only if your one to count every seed and divide every penny.

When it comes to giving we all need to be more like four men at a restaurant, not four women.

Four women go out to eat and the bill comes to 38.78. One inevitably grabs a calculator and starts figuring out what each person owes along with the proper tip.

Four guys go out to eat and the bill comes to 38.78. All four throw in a $20 bill and consider the excess a tip. All walk out happy.

(Granted I do not believe in the tithe as a still-existing law, but I do believe in giving.)

[AreYouReady?]

Originally Posted by Bro. Robbins

So because someone is poor they don't have anything to give? Even when I was broke... I had something to give... even if it's a penny......

It sounds like your debate is about giving... and that's not what I started this thread about... so if you want to discuss giving, etc... would be glad to but will need another thread started. This thread is about does your church have formal membership, and if it does or doesn't....why or why not.

Let me remind you that when you started this thread, you said this:

Originally Posted by Bro. Robbins

Well, I have to say that I liked it.... especially from an administration viewpoint.

I like that people make a public profession saying, this is my local fellowship, this is my pastor, and this is my local church family. I plan to support it with my finances, attendance, and unity.... and I plan to be active in it's mission. We also made sure that only members in good standing (supporting the church financially and in attendance) could vote on major issues before the congregation... only folks with skin in the game could be part of the decision process as to where we were headed.

I myself, like the differentiation between someone who is a member of that local church, and just someone who attends there from time to time. Back in the day, when you joined a Church of God, we used to take vows before the congregation.... to enter in unity and convenant with one another.

So with what you posted in mind and me knowing that all members with the above rules would not really be a member in good standing without the "financial support" you made giving an issue.


Furthermore, if it was a "giving" debate with me, as you just posted, then I would not have posted this:

Originally Posted by AreYouReady?

If people want to take vows, claim a man as their pastor and local church assembly, support through finances and attendance...I suppose that there's no harm in it.


I also realize and respect that as a non-member, I would not be allowed to vote in church matters. It does not necessarily mean that I would not be providing financial assistance to the church I attend because I take no vows of membership. The church or pastor will never know my contributions.

Your quote:

Originally Posted by Bro. Robbins

My parents give cash and never record their giving in anyway, therefore the church has no record as well. However, they both know as well they can't vote in business sessions, and can't serve in any church office, like SS Teacher, Deacon, etc since there is no record to show they support that local church with their finances.

But because you posted that your own parents follow their convictions about giving cash and that they would never be allowed to participate in church ministry because there is no record to show that they support their local church with their finances....I would say that this thread about church membership includes finances. You, yourself would say that a person who does not give of their finances would not be a member in good standing.
So...yes...church membership includes giving and how it is spent.

Even though I was at one time a member of good standing, I still had no vote in how the monies given were spent. The pastor told it and that was the way it was.

[Sam]

Originally Posted by Bro. Robbins

So because someone is poor they don't have anything to give? Even when I was broke... I had something to give... even if it's a penny...... .

let's not take this thread off into the tithing controversy.

Christians don't agree on tithing.
Some think it is no longer in effect for us under the New Covenant.
Some think it is a principle which goes beyond law and grace.
Some think it is a way to get more money back from God like "let's make a deal."
Some think it is salvational.

Jesus knows what we all have and what we all give. He speaks about that in Mark 12:41-44. The amount given is not important but the attitude of the heart of the giver is supremely important.