Why Participating Membership Matters
In the first 5 years of our life as a local church God clarified, for the leadership of Calvary Wolfeboro, our foundational commitments: the vision/mission, core values, doctrines, and leadership structure. It is these foundational commitments that define Calvary Wolfeboro as a local body of Christ. It is also these commitments that determine the expectations we should have for each other as “members” of this church. “Member,” in this case, meaning “participating member.” This is someone who is not only a Christian and therefore a member of the worldwide body of Christ but who is also living a lifestyle that is surrendered to Christ and committed to Calvary Wolfeboro. It is these participating members who have understood and affirmed the expectations from the Lord and the leadership of Calvary Wolfeboro (foundational commitments). Furthermore, it is participating members who have made a covenant with God and the church to live out these expectations in authentic Christian community.
While we believe that "participating membership" in a local church should be the norm for a Christian, we also understand that not everyone is ready to commit in this way. All are welcome to worship with us at Calvary Wolfeboro, whether participating members or not. However, it is only those who are participating members - who have understood and agreed to our foundational commitments - that are officially “members” of Calvary. It is for these members that the leadership has been established as shepherds. It is these members who will serve in the ministries of the church. It is these who we will gather into Lifegroups. In other words, it is these who will be considered “the flock” of Calvary Wolfeboro.
4 reasons participating membership is important
1. Scripture calls us to obey our leaders. Which ones?
Hebrews 13:17 states that Christians are to “obey your leaders and submit to them, for they are keeping watch over your souls, as those who will have to give an account.” If there is no participating membership, who should Christians submit to? Do Christians have to submit to anyone with the title “elder” or “pastor" from any church? Participating membership provides the affirmation that local leadership is what Hebrews 13:17 is referring to.
2. Scripture commissions the elder of the church to shepherd the flock. What sheep does that flock include?
Acts 20:28 says to church elders, “Pay careful attention to yourselves and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to care for the church of God, which he obtained with his own blood.” If there is no participating membership, for whom will the elders give an account? Will the leaders of Calvary Wolfeboro be held accountable for all Christians in Wolfeboro, or for the members of churches that Calvary has theological differences with? Participating membership defines the scope of authority and accountability for local church leaders.
3. Scripture makes a clear distinction between those outside the church and those inside the church. How do we make that clear?
1 Corinthians 5:12-13 states that Christians are not to judge the morality of those outside the church, but rather are to judge those inside the church, and remove unrepentant immoral “members" from fellowship if needed. How is being outside or inside the church definable if there is no such thing as participating membership? How can you remove someone if they aren’t “in” to begin with? Participating membership provides a proper context for making moral assessments and decisions about members’ conduct and character.
4. Jesus established a process for dealing with unrepentant sin in the church. What constitutes "the church" that Jesus is referring to?
Matthew 18:15-17 states that when a brother sins against you and does not listen or respond even after multiple witnesses address his fault, you are to involve the church. Without participating membership, who constitutes “the church,” and who decides when someone is to be treated as an outsider (“a Gentile and a tax collector,” v. 17) and lovingly called back to repentance? Participating membership provides a clear process and path for care, correction, and restoration when a member is caught in sin.
So, who is Membership Track for? It’s for all who know that Calvary Wolfeboro is your church or who believe that it might be; who accept that the life of a follower of Christ is one of disciplined grace; who don’t take lightly the responsibility that Jesus has given His church to be righteous and set apart for the purpose of making disciples; who realize that this high calling is not possible to live out alone - without transparent, deep, and accountable Christian relationships. If that’s you then sign up for Membership Track and “let us run with endurance the race that is before us...” (Hebrews 12:1)
3 steps of the membership track
1. Read the Calvary Wolfeboro Core Identity document and decide if participating membership is something you want to pursue.
The CW Core identity is a summary of our beliefs, values, and practices. These establish our shared expectations as a local body.
2. Complete a Core Identity study with current members of Calvary.
The Core Identity study is a 3 to 5 week overview of our beliefs, values, and practices. By the end of this study prospective members should have a pretty clear picture of who we are as Calvary Wolfeboro.
3. Enter into fellowshing and ownership in your church.
Once the Core Identity Study is completed and a prospective member decides to proceed with participating membership, a meeting is set up with the elders in order to establsih membership. This final step also includes entering into a lifegroup and taking on some form of ministry responsibility within the church.
If you are interested in becoming a participating member at Calvary Wolfeboro, please click on the button below, tell us a little bit about you and your family. We will follow up with you and send you the Core Identity document. Thank you!