Church Membership

The Bible uses several different metaphors for God’s Church—including family, body of Christ, temple of God. All these points to the fact that everyone who is a follower of Christ is part of something bigger than themselves! We are all members of something larger that God is building in and through His Church. Membership is part of God’s plan for discipleship!

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Why membership?

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Here are some key reasons in the Bible for membership.

 

1. Membership is God’s plan for us.
   “So now you Gentiles are no longer strangers and foreigners. You are citizens along with all of God’s holy people. You are members of God’s family. Together, we are his house, built on the foundation of the apostles and the prophets. And the cornerstone is Christ Jesus himself. We are carefully joined together in him, becoming a holy temple for the Lord.” (Ephesians 2:19-21, NLT)
    

2. Membership brings God praise.
   “They worshiped together at the Temple each day, met in homes for the Lord’s Supper, and shared their meals with great joy and generosity—all the while praising God and enjoying the goodwill of all the people. And each day the Lord added to their fellowship those who were being saved.” (Acts 2:46-47, NLT)
    

3. Membership builds me up.
   “Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.” (1 Thessalonians 5:11, NIV)
    

4. Membership offers us spiritual protection.
   “Obey your spiritual leaders, and do what they say. Their work is to watch over your souls, and they are accountable to God…” (Hebrews 13:17, NLT)

 

As a local expression of God’s Church, FCC encourages everyone to consider membership as their faithful next step in following Christ.

 

What does membership in FCC look like?

In FCC, there are two expressions of membership—spiritual and constitutional.

 

1. Spiritual Membership: This reflects a person’s commitment to the spiritual family here in FCC. This involves becoming a member of a Connect Group in the church. We often say that you are not going to feel like you belong to FCC until you belong to a Connect Group. For it is through being part of a Connect Group that a person participates in discipleship within community and receives pastoral care.
    

2. Registered (Constitutional) Membership: This reflects a deeper expression of commitment. It recognises a person not only as part of the spiritual family of FCC, but also a legal member of FCC with the responsibility of voting rights during the church’s Annual and Extraordinary General Meetings.

 

Because registered membership carries shared responsibility and accountability, we approach this process with care, clarity and prayerful discernment. To join the registered membership of the church, you would need to be at least 18 years of age and fulfil the following:

 

1. Water Baptism

2. Regularly attending a Connect Group (CG) for at least 6 months prior to applying

3. Completion of FCC online membership course

 

These steps are important in helping you better understand FCC as you take your next step with the church.

 

How do I join a Connect Group in FCC?

If you haven’t been plugged into a Connect Group, we would love to guide you into finding the right spiritual community. Simply fill out the Join a Connect Group form and one of our Connect Team members will contact you.

 

Becoming a Registered Member in FCC

 

If you have already been baptised and have been regularly attending a CG for the last 6 months, we invite you to submit this Expression of Interest form.

 

I look forward to welcoming you as a member of FCC real soon!

 

Blessings,

Dan Yan

Senior Pastor