Church membership means life in a community, and is both a vastly rewarding experience as well as a commitment. LMPC membership offers you the care of our Session, the privilege to vote in church elections, and the opportunity to serve the church in many different ways.
There are THREE steps in the process of becoming a member at LMPC:
- the Intro to LMPC or Communicant class
- an interview time with the elders of the church
- taking public membership vows before the congregation
THE CLASS
The Intro to LMPC class is required for adults who wish to become members, even if you are transferring from another PCA church. If you take the class and don’t choose to join at that time, you have three years to complete the membership process without retaking the class. Children may not take the adult class for credit. This class is typically offered in August and January each year. The next Intro to LMPC class is scheduled to be held on Saturday, August 19 from 8:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m., with an additional session on Sunday morning, August 20 from 11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
If you are a college student or residing temporarily in our church area, we encourage “associate” membership, which means you hold your primary membership at your home church, and a secondary membership at LMPC. You would have the benefits of membership, but you would not be able to vote in congregational meetings or become an officer. When you leave Lookout Mountain, your membership at LMPC will be removed and if you join another church, you would transfer your membership from your primary church, not from LMPC.
Children, or anyone who hasn’t yet graduated high school, are offered the Communicant Class in order to join the church. This class is typically held in January and February during the Sunday school hours.
THE INTERVIEW
Following one of these classes, new member candidates will be scheduled for an interview with two elders (Membership Sunday). Don’t worry, this is not an exam; generally speaking the elders briefly share their testimonies and ask you about your testimony, and you’ll discuss the five membership vows that you learned about in your class. Two elders interview two candidates at a time and married couples interview together. Children interview separately from their parents. Interviews usually last 30 minutes.
During Membership Sunday we will take your picture for our database and for posting on our new member wall in the hallway. While no childcare is provided, we invite you to bring your children or submit a picture of your family so that we have pictures of them as well.
THE VOWS
The week after your membership interview, you publicly affirm your membership vows as a group in one of the five morning worship services. Right before the sermon, the pastor will call all of the new members forward and will ask if you agree with the five membership vows, then pray over you. Family members are welcome to stand with you even if they are not joining.
VOWS FOR NEW MEMBERS
- Do you acknowledge yourselves to be sinners in the sight of God, justly deserving his displeasure, and without hope save in his sovereign mercy?
- Do you believe in the Lord Jesus Christ as the Son of God and Savior of sinners, and do you receive and rest upon him alone for salvation as he is offered in the Gospel?
- Do you now resolve and promise, in humble reliance upon the grace of the Holy Spirit, that you will endeavor to live as becomes the followers of Christ?
- Do you promise to support the church in its worship and work to the best of your ability?
- Do you submit yourselves to the government and discipline of the church, and promise to further its purity and peace?