Becoming a Member
If Christ is the cornerstone of our church, then membership in his body is the cement that holds us all together. Both Jesus and Paul pointed us toward membership for our encouragement, our protection, and our instruction. We take membership seriously. Committing yourself to a body of believers is a weighty matter. But it’s also wonderful. When Covenant Members join, they commit to a spiritual family that provides encouragement and support. They are called to a biblical degree of responsibility, service and sacrifice to their brothers and sisters. Our pastors and leaders also pledge to assist our Covenant Members with care, counsel, prayer and teaching. Membership at Capshaw is carried out through our three-step process:
STEP ONE - DISCOVERING MEMBERSHIP CLASS
Learn about Capshaw’s beliefs and mission in our Discovering Membership Class. As you think about making a decision to join the church, we offer a class that covers what it means to be a Covenant Member, as well as our mission, basic beliefs and theological distinctives. We want you to know exactly what it means to join and what is required before asking you to unite with us. We will serve lunch and childcare is provided.
All prospective members must attend our Discovering Membership class.
Register for a Discovering Membership
All prospective members must attend our Discovering Membership class.
Register for a Discovering Membership
STEP TWO - PASTOR INTERVIEW
In a 20-45 minute meeting, the prospective member meets with a pastor to provide basic biographical information and recount God’s converting work in his or her life. This interview also gives the pastors an opportunity to discuss baptism and whether or not this is something that needs to be pursued. The prospective member would then sign the membership covenant.
BAPTISM
Baptism is intended only for those who have professed faith in Jesus Christ and can give sufficient testimony to the basics of Christian beliefs. We baptize by immersion because it is not only the original significance of the word but also best symbolizes the reality to which baptism points—our death and resurrection in Christ. Biblically speaking, baptism is your public profession of faith.
If you have not been baptized following salvation, we ask you to take this step before becoming a Covenant Member.
BAPTISM
Baptism is intended only for those who have professed faith in Jesus Christ and can give sufficient testimony to the basics of Christian beliefs. We baptize by immersion because it is not only the original significance of the word but also best symbolizes the reality to which baptism points—our death and resurrection in Christ. Biblically speaking, baptism is your public profession of faith.
If you have not been baptized following salvation, we ask you to take this step before becoming a Covenant Member.
STEP THREE - CHURCH AFFIRMATION
Following participation in the Discovering Membership class and the pastoral interview, applicants are presented to the congregation during our quarterly Members Meetings. After the candidates are affirmed by the congregation, they are admitted into Covenant Membership.
Membership Covenant
As members of Capshaw Baptist Church, we affirm this covenant with one another by God’s grace, for our good, and ultimately for God’s glory. Having been brought by divine grace to repent and believe in the Lord Jesus Christ and to surrender our lives to Him, and having been baptized as Christians in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, we covenant together to glorify God by making disciples of all nations.
Together, we will draw near to God in worship. We will delight in the glory of God, depend on the presence of God, grow in the knowledge of God, and submit to the Word of God as the all‐sufficient authority in our lives and in His church.
Together, we will hold fast to the hope we profess. We will regularly participate in communion as we solemnly and joyfully remember the past work of Christ on the cross, celebrate the present work of Christ at the Father’s right hand, and anticipate the future work of Christ in His return for His bride.
Together, we will spur one another on to love and good deeds. We will meet with one another consistently, pray for one another regularly, and serve one another selflessly. We will share each other’s joys and bear each other’s burdens. We will edify one another with our speech and encourage one another with our example. We will humbly and gently confront one another and receive correction from one another in accordance with a New Testament understanding of church discipline and restoration. We will give cheerfully and generously to the support of the church, the relief of the poor, and the spread of the Gospel through all nations.
We will submit to the leadership of elders who have been entrusted by God to serve and care for this body by teaching the Word of Christ to us and modeling the character of Christ before us, and we will affirm deacons as leading servants in the church. If we move from this local body, we will as soon as possible unite with another local church where we can carry out the spirit of this covenant and the principles of God’s Word.
May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with us all.
Amen.
Together, we will draw near to God in worship. We will delight in the glory of God, depend on the presence of God, grow in the knowledge of God, and submit to the Word of God as the all‐sufficient authority in our lives and in His church.
Together, we will hold fast to the hope we profess. We will regularly participate in communion as we solemnly and joyfully remember the past work of Christ on the cross, celebrate the present work of Christ at the Father’s right hand, and anticipate the future work of Christ in His return for His bride.
Together, we will spur one another on to love and good deeds. We will meet with one another consistently, pray for one another regularly, and serve one another selflessly. We will share each other’s joys and bear each other’s burdens. We will edify one another with our speech and encourage one another with our example. We will humbly and gently confront one another and receive correction from one another in accordance with a New Testament understanding of church discipline and restoration. We will give cheerfully and generously to the support of the church, the relief of the poor, and the spread of the Gospel through all nations.
We will submit to the leadership of elders who have been entrusted by God to serve and care for this body by teaching the Word of Christ to us and modeling the character of Christ before us, and we will affirm deacons as leading servants in the church. If we move from this local body, we will as soon as possible unite with another local church where we can carry out the spirit of this covenant and the principles of God’s Word.
May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with us all.
Amen.