What is church membership about?

As Baptists, we believe that, as the body of Christ, we seek the mind of God together. When it comes to important decisions in the life of the church, we bring those decisions before the whole church community to prayerfully discern together.

Church membership is one way we care for and protect that community. It helps ensure that those who are involved in making decisions within the church have made a genuine commitment to the life, mission, and wellbeing of the church family.

Membership is not about ownership, status, or control. Rather, it is a public declaration that you are a follower of Jesus Christ, that you desire to grow in your faith, and that you care deeply about what happens within the life of this church.

By becoming a member, you are saying:

• I belong to Christ and to His Church.
• I want to walk alongside this church family in worship, mission, and discipleship.
• I want to contribute to the discernment and direction of the church as we seek God together.

Membership is both a privilege and a responsibility. It is about commitment, participation, accountability, and shared mission as we follow Jesus together.

If you would like to become a church member, the first step is simply to let the church office know of your interest.
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There are a few criteria for membership:

• You must be over 18 years of age.
• You must have attended Taupo Baptist Church regularly for at least six months.

Once you have expressed your desire to become a member, one of the elders will meet with you to talk through the process, hear your story, and ensure that membership is something you prayerfully desire.
Following this, the elders will spend time praying and discerning together over those seeking membership before bringing recommendations to the church.

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Member’s Pledge

To live by moral values that align with God’s ways and nature.
To support the vision and beliefs of our church.
To be actively and diligently involved in the life and work of the church, regularly attending its services of worship as far as I am able, and being willing to help in whatever way I can.
To be faithful in prayer for the church and its witness in the community.
To contribute conscientiously to the funds of the church according to my means.
To share in the governance of the church by supporting and encouraging the leadership of the church and by attending church member’s meetings.
To do all in my power to deepen and enrich the spirit of fellowship in the church, always seeking to develop a spirit of love in this fellowship of Christ’s people.
To share by life and word in the supreme task of the church, namely by witnessing to the saving power of Jesus Christ our Lord.

By signing this application, I consent to the above information being stored within the church’s records system for the purposes of church communication and pastoral care. I understand that Taupo Baptist Church will not share my personal information with any other party without my permission, unless required to do so by law.