Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church
and gave himself up for her, that he might sanctify her,
having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word.
Ephesians 5:25-26 (ESV)
If the Bible is the cornerstone of our local church, then membership is the cement that holds us all together. Both Christ and Paul pointed believers toward membership for our encouragement, protection, and instruction. Grace Baptist Church seeks to carry out this vision through our four-step process for membership. This process applies to the person who needs to be baptized as well as to the person who has already been baptized.
1. Attend our Membership Immersion Class - All prospective members must attend our 6½ hour series course. Each of the sessions is taught by one of our elders. The curriculum covers the doctrine of the church (including worship, ordinances, and discipline); the organization of GBC (our constitution, structure, policies, etc.); our Confession and what it is to be Reformed and Baptist; the life of GBC with all the ministries of the church; and how we are engaged in fulfilling the Great Commission.
2. Participate in a Membership Interview - In a 40-45 minute meeting the prospective member meets with two of our elders to provide basic biographical information and recount God’s converting work in his or her life. After filling out an application for membership with a general statement of agreement, the prospective member’s application may move to the next step in membership: elder recommendation. The application reads like this: “It is my desire to be received into the membership of Grace Baptist Church of Taylors, South Carolina. In assuming this membership I agree to be loyal to the interests of this church, to seek its purity and prosperity, to do some definite Christian work, to contribute to its support, and to be subject to the doctrine and discipline of this church as embodied in the Confession, Constitution and By-Laws of this church.
If at any time I find myself out of harmony with the Articles of Faith, Constitution or By-Laws of this church, or if my conduct or belief is called in question, I agree to submit the differences or charges to the Board of Elders for action, and if it is found that I am unwilling to settle the differences on Scriptural grounds (Matthew 18:15-17), I understand that I will be excluded from the church membership.”
3. Eldership Recommendation - At a regularly scheduled elders’ meeting, the two interviewing elders will review the applicant’s testimony with the other elders. Upon receiving their collective approval, the candidate’s application proceeds to the next step: congregational affirmation.
4. Congregational Affirmation – As soon as possible, the prospective member is asked to publicly share his or her testimony of salvation and commitment to follow Jesus as a faithful disciple during one of our worship services. Following that a congregational vote is taken, and with a majority secured, candidates are admitted into membership.