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What We Believe About Church Membership

Why Church Membership?

I.                  A Biblical Reason  

The New Testament places a major emphasis on the need for Christians to be accountable to each other for spiritual growth, encouragement and to minister to one another. 
 

II.                A Cultural Reason  

We live in an age where very few want to be committed to anything... a job...their marriage… or even their children.  

This attitude has produced a generation of “church shoppers and hoppers”.  Church membership swims against the current of America’s “consumer driven religion.”  It should be an unselfish decision.  

III.          A Practical Reason  

 It defines who can be counted on.   Just as every team must have a roster.  Every school must have an enrollment.  Every business has a payroll.  Every army has an enlistment.  Even our country takes a census and requires voter registration.  Membership identifies our family.

            IV.            A Personal Reason 

We believe that commitment builds Christ-like character in a believer.   You cannot be accountable when you’re not committed to any specific church family.

 In short, the difference between “attenders” and “members” can be summed up in one word:     

                          COMMITTMENT.

Jesus said, "A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another." Jn. 13:34 & 35     

Becoming a Member

Here at Oakland , we have three specific requirements for membership: 
 

1. You must be a born again believer in Jesus Christ. 
 

This means that you have accepted the free gift of salvation from the penalty of your sin through faith in the death, burial and resurrection of God’s Son, Jesus and confess that He is Lord of your life. 

2. You have been identified with Christ through baptism by immersion.

3. You have attended the Oakland 101 Class on Membership. 

This class will give you an opportunity to discover Oakland Baptist Churches’ goals, vision and strategy.   We have a great team of leaders who will share with you what membership in a purpose driven church is all about. We offer the class on Sunday mornings on a quarterly basis.

A Serious Commitment

Here at Oakland we are very passionate about the commitment that we make to Christ and to each other when we become members, so we ask those seeking membership to sign the Membership Covenant at the conclusion of the 101 class. 

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The Oakland  

Membership Covenant 

“Having received Christ as my Lord and Savior and been baptized, and being in agreement with Oakland ’s statements, strategy and structure, I now feel led by the Holy Spirit to unite with the Oakland church family.  In doing so, I commit myself to God and to the other members to do the following: 

I. I WILL PROTECT THE UNITY OF MY CHURCH  

...By acting in love toward other members  

...By refusing to gossip 

...By cooperating with the leaders 

II. I WILL SHARE THE RESPONSIBILITY OF MY CHURCH 
...By praying for its growth 

...By inviting the unchurched to attend  

...By warmly welcoming those who visit 
 

III. I WILL SERVE THE MINISTRY OF MY CHURCH   

...By discovering my gifts and talents 

...By being equipped to serve by my pastors  

...By developing a servant’s heart 

IV. I WILL SUPPORT THE TESTIMONY OF MY CHURCH  

...By attending faithfully 

...By living a godly life  

...By giving regularly 
 

If you would like to become a member of Oakland , just contact the church office at 663-2546 to register for the next 101 class.