Membership is useful for helping local church attenders understand the expectations of them as well as the benefits that result from being a committed member. Renew has been through a lot of transition in the past few years, and now that the pandemic is behind us, the timing seems good for us to bring this added clarity. We are a team, and people on a team want to know that everyone on the team is committed to the same expectations. We believe that introducing membership at this time will allow us to address expectations head-on which in turn will help people regain an appreciation of the benefits of being a committed member.

When it comes to membership, people tend to focus on the benefits to the organization, but the truth is that there are just as many, if not more, benefits to the individual. Membership helps people know who “we” refers to when we use that word at Renew. It clarifies expectations for people who call Renew their church family, rather than leaving them guessing. It also helps people know who is committed to them, and to serving them. Membership gives those who are committed a voice in church affairs (through venues like periodic members’ meetings or a copy of the annual report). Membership creates a sense of team and gives people a healthy sense of ownership of their local ministry. Members can know that they have access to the elders of their church in times of need and that fellow members will pray for them and care for them like family. In a day and age when identity is so important, we believe that membership creates a stronger identity with the body of Christ. (And speaking of identity, everyone who comes into membership during the Membership Launch will receive a Renew T-shirt and toque that can be worn during church outreaches or anytime. Talk about benefits!)

Membership tends to help people feel committed and makes the commitment they are agreeing to clearer. This is important in the low-commitment culture in which we live. It also creates higher levels of consistency due to accountability in serving, giving, and in attendance at church or Renew Group gatherings. Membership creates clearer expectations regarding our doctrine and accountability to the church’s leadership, and it makes it clear to whom the staff and elders are accountable. Membership also tends to raise important questions when people are considering joining the church, such as whether or not someone has made a clear decision to follow Jesus and whether they have been baptized. It also helps the church see clearly who the committed people are who could be entrusted for future leadership in the church. As you can see, there are many specific benefits to Renew.

Yes, your decision to accept Jesus as your Saviour by faith makes you a member of the universal Church. But that does not make you an active member of a local church.

While there is no specific verse telling us to be members of our local church, the concept is thoroughly biblical. In the early church, coming to Christ was coming to the church. Consider the example of the early church; the idea of experiencing salvation without belonging to a local church is foreign to the New Testament. When individuals repented and believed in Christ, they were baptized and added to the church (Acts 2:41, 47; 5:14; 16:5).

There is also evidence in the New Testament that just as there was a list of widows eligible for financial support (1 Tim. 5:9), there may also have been a list of members that grew as people were saved (Acts 2:41, 47; 5:14; 16:5). In fact, when a believer moved to another city, his church often wrote a letter of commendation to his new church (Acts 18:27; Rom. 16:1; Col. 4:10; cf. 2 Cor. 3:1-2).

In the book of Acts, much of the terminology fits only with the concept of formal church membership. Phrases such as “the whole congregation” (6:5), “the church in Jerusalem” (8:1), “the disciples” in Jerusalem (9:26), “in every church” (14:23), “the whole church” (15:17), and “the elders of the church” in Ephesus (20:17), all suggest recognizable church membership with well-defined boundaries (also see 1 Cor. 5:4; 14:23; and Heb. 10:25).

The existence of church government in the New Testament also assumes a form of local church membership. The consistent pattern throughout the New Testament is that a plurality of elders is to oversee each local body of believers. The specific duties given to these elders presuppose a clearly defined group of church members who are under their care.

Among other things, these godly men are responsible to shepherd God’s people (Acts 20:28; 1 Pet. 5:2), to labor diligently among them (1 Thess. 5:12), to have charge over them (1 Thess. 5:12; 1 Tim. 5:17), and to keep watch over their souls (Heb. 13:17). Scripture teaches that the elders will give an account to God for the individuals allotted to their charge (Heb. 13:17; 1 Pet. 5:3).

While the elders of a church seek to care for everyone who attends a church, they are primarily responsible for shepherding those who have submitted themselves to the care and authority of the church and its elders—and this is done through church membership.

The exercise of church discipline according to Matthew 18 and other passages (1 Cor. 5:1-13; 1 Tim. 5:20; Titus 3:10-11) presupposes that the elders of a church know who their members are. It assumes church membership.

The New Testament teaches that the church is the body of Christ, and that God has called every member to a life devoted to the growth of the body. In other words, we have an exhortation to mutual edification. Scripture exhorts all believers to edify the other members by practicing the “one-anothers” of the New Testament (Heb. 10:24-25) and exercising their spiritual gifts (Rom. 12:6-8; 1 Cor. 12:4-7; 1 Pet. 4:10-11). Mutual edification can only take place in the context of the corporate body of Christ. Exhortations to this kind of ministry presuppose that believers have committed themselves to other believers in a specific local assembly. Church membership is simply the formal way to make that commitment.

We have 5 pre-requisites before someone can be considered for membership:

1. You must have accepted Christ as your Saviour.
2. You must have been baptized as a believer.
3. You must agree to live harmoniously under our doctrinal statement.
4. You must respect the authority of the Renew elders.
5. You must support the vision of Renew Church.

There are many different ways (or “modes”) of being baptized based on various church traditions. At Renew, we strive to follow most accurately what we see in Scripture, and so we baptize by full immersion, dunking someone three times—in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. But for those who come to us from a different background, we do not restrict someone from membership based on the mode of their baptism. All we require is that someone be baptized as a believer.

It means that you were baptized out of your own choosing after coming to your own decision to follow Christ. It was not done as a baby or imposed upon you by someone else, such as your parents. If you need further clarity, please speak with Pastor Bartley or one of the elders.

While every church has a doctrinal statement it adheres to (usually coming from their fellowship or denomination), no church expects for all of its members to agree in every detail with all of its doctrine. To “live harmoniously under” basically means,

1. that anyone in a teaching role be committed to teaching in line with the church’s doctrine, and
2. for everyone who is a member not to create dissension, privately or publicly, by promoting doctrinal positions that are contrary to the church’s positions.

This approach creates unity and harmony. Anyone who isn’t clear on a specific doctrinal issue is welcome to speak with a pastor or elder for clarification.

The ongoing expectations for members at Renew are as follows:

1. Attend services, in-person or online. (worship).
2. Participate in a Renew Group (fellowship).
3. Grow through classes and other opportunities (discipleship).
4. Serve in the church and contribute financially (ministry).
5. Help connect people to Jesus (outreach).

Please note that these general expectations are all clearly outlined in the New Testament. Renew has simply provided forms to help accomplish them. Also note that our desire for those who attend online is to move toward in-person engagement as they are able.

No. Giving and serving are disciplines that Christians grow in, and the church will encourage growth in these disciplines along with every other discipline the New Testament recommends, but minimum amounts are not specified. Members understand that this is our ministry, so we need to participate in the work and support it financially. Consistency in these disciplines allows the church to fulfill its mission by funding and staffing our various ministries and programs. It also helps us as individuals to develop a more generous and giving heart and to grow in our relationship with God. (Prov. 3:9-10; Matt. 6:21, 23:23; Mark 12:41-44; 2 Cor. 9:6-15)

Please understand that all of these expectations are “as the Lord enables you”. Sometimes there are circumstances that inhibit us from fulfilling these all of the time, and the church understands that. When people are committed to the expectations, it is apparent. For example, if an activity precludes a committed member from attending a Renew Group on a certain night, that person would naturally try to find another night that works—their spirit is one of determination, not avoidance. In a case where a member stops fulfilling an expectation for an extended period of time, that member should expect for another member (such as a Renew Group leader, an elder or a pastor) to lovingly check in with them and inquire as to the reason. Check-ups like this can be very helpful for understanding deeper needs which the church may need to help with. That’s one of the benefits of being a member!

If you have been attending Renew as your home church, we certainly hope that you will choose to become a member. It’s a great way of showing your commitment to your church family. But if for whatever reason you choose not to at this time, we sincerely hope that you will continue to attend and participate in the life of the church. We want you here! Understandably, some privileges will only be available to members, such as serving in certain leadership positions or attending member meetings to have a voice on church decisions. (See question on benefits of membership, above.) If there is anything you feel inhibits you from becoming a member, we hope that you will take the time to discuss that with a pastor or an elder.

Many of the people who currently call Renew their church family started at Grace or at the Village, where there were formal membership processes. We have been blessed by the commitment of these members over many years and still benefit from the fruit of their labour at Renew. Others at our church started after we came together in 2015 as Renew, but Renew has never had a formal membership process, only an orientation class called Connection Point.

Basically, at this stage in the life of our church, we’d like to give everyone the chance to be on the same page and clearly committed to the same things. So, for those who became members at Grace or the Village, this will merely be a transfer of membership. For those who came to us since becoming Renew, many of whom rightfully see themselves as members, this will also be a transfer of sorts, but with added clarity to what they are committing to as members.

The Membership Questionnaire will give everyone the chance to designate if they had been a member previously at Grace or the Village. It will also allow those who started after Renew incorporated in 2015 to designate that. By having everyone fill out the questionnaire we will be able to bring everything up to date, including some data that needs to be made current. We appreciate everyone’s cooperation in this.

If you still have any hesitations or questions, we would strongly recommend one or both of the following:

1. Attending one of our 3 scheduled Membership Forums. (Pastor Bartley will be present at all 3 meetings and can answer any questions you might have.)
   • Sunday, April 23 at 2:00 pm at the Church Office (31-6535 Millcreek Drive, Mississauga)
   • Monday, May 1 at 7:00 pm over Zoom
   • Saturday, May 6 at 10:00 am at the Church Office (31-6535 Millcreek Drive, Mississauga)
2. Setting up a meeting with Pastor Bartley or one of the elders. Email barb@renewchurch.ca to set up an appointment.