Secure Online Giving
Becoming a Member
|
Open to All: Membership in The United Methodist Church is open to all who profess belief in God through Jesus Christ. Many of our members come from different church backgrounds as well as faith backgrounds. We encourage everyone to take advantage of opportunities to grow in the faith and in ministry. The Meaning of Church Membership: The best way to live out what it means to be part of the Body of Christ is to take the step of church membership. It means that you are serious about your faith and that you want to be part of God’s work in and through the church. You can’t do that by watching like a spectator from the sidelines! God is doing some exciting work in the hearts and lives of the people of Hinshaw Church. We feel confident that once you have met the friendly people and experienced some of the programs and ministries here that you will want to call Hinshaw Church your church home too. Is God leading you to this decision? Pastor Donna will be happy to talk or visit with you about this important and exciting step in your spiritual life. |
"For in the one Spirit we were all baptized into one body - Jews or Greeks, slaves or free - and we were all made to drink of one Spirit." I Corinthians. 12:13 |
Let Us Know You are Interested:
- Simply mark the appropriate box(es) on the registration pad to make your desire to join known and ask for Pastor Donna to contact you regarding a joining date.
- Come to the altar at the closing hymn to make your decision known to Pastor Donna and the church.
- Contact Pastor Donna and let her know of your decision and determine a future date to join.
Ways to Join:
-
Transfer of Membership from any other United Methodist Church or another denomination:
You will be asked to take the following membership vow: “Will you be loyal to The United Methodist Church and support this congregation by your prayers, your presence, your gifts, your service and your witness?” Baptism recognizes God’s love and acceptance of you as God’s own child. If you have been baptized in any other Christian denomination, that baptism is recognized and affirmed by The United Methodist Church. -
Profession of Christian Faith:
If you have never been confirmed or joined a Christian Church, then you are invited to profess your Christian faith. A person who begins the Christian life does so through baptism, which is a symbol of God's grace through Jesus Christ. If you have never joined any church as an adult or as a youth through a confirmation program, you profess your faith for the first time by proclaiming Christ as your personal savior and choosing to join the family of God. -
Prepatory Membership:
Prepapatory membership is for children who have been baptized but not yet made their own confession of faith in Jesus Christ. Confirmation classes are offered to children to help them understand the meaning of salvation so that they may make an informed decision about their own Christian faith. When parents transfer their full membership to our church, their baptized children are automatically enrolled in our church as preparatory members.
Baptism:
Baptism initiates a covenant of relationship between God and the baptized person and between the church and the person. When you are baptized or affirm your baptism, the congregation enacts God's grace toward you and welcomes you into the community of faith. As a response to God's gracious initiative, you will be asked to pledge your loyalty to the life and ministries of The United Methodist Church and to promise to uphold Hinshaw Church with your prayers, presence, gifts and service. As a baptized Christian, you will be part of the universal church and part of the Hinshaw Church community of Christians where you are known and watched over in love.
A Common Profession of Belief:
All who join the church affirm a common profession of belief made either for you by those who love you, in your name, or stated by you at your baptism. Simply stated, that common belief is "I believe God loves me." In coming forward to join the church, you profess your faith that:
- Renounces anything that comes between you and God
- Accepts Jesus Christ as your Lord
- Acknowledges the Bible as authoritative, informative and inspiring to your Christian Faith
- Commits to the Church as the fellowship of believers in Jesus Christ
For more information about joining you may contact Pastor Donna Smith at 336-299-6330 or email Pastor Donna.
