Membership – Apostles Methodist Church

1. Membership – Apostles Methodist Church Committee on Church Membership & Records

2. Background • Faithful membership is essential for personal growth & for increasing sensitivity to the will and grace of God • Membership to AMC required for • Holding offices (PC; Pastorate Conference; Standing & Special Committees) • Baptism, Marriages and Burials • Families worshipping and paying pledges at AMC for long time without becoming formal members • Students attend AMC worship for 3-5 years but move on • Definition and details in “The Book of Discipline” – MCI • Today’s presentation to encourage more church attending families/students to seek membership of AMC and participate actively in its activities

3. Meaning of Membership • Professes his/her faith in the official creeds of the Church • Confesses Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior and pledge his/her allegiance to His Kingdom • To receive and profess the Christian faith as contained in the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments • To promise to live a Christian life • Always remain a faithful member of Christ’s Holy Church • Be loyal to the MCI, abide by its discipline, and uphold it by prayers, presence, gifts & services

4. RESPONSIBILITY OF A MEMBER • Loyalty to MCI and to abide by its discipline • Regular attendance in Sunday Worship Service. • Active participation in Sunday Schools and Bible study groups arranged by the Church. • Positive and cheerful giving of time and tithe.

5. Privileges of a Member • The spiritual nurture by regularly attending church worship, Bible study, Sunday School, youth, Young adult, WSCS. • Baptism (Infant & Adult) • Confirmation • Marriage • Burials • Responsibilities of participating in PC & Past. Conference. • Announcement of their Birthdays & Wedding Anniversaries in the Apostles Bulletin. • Represent AMC in District/Regional level Conferences of MCI • Use of Church premises - authorized purposes at subsidized charges • Eligible for sponsorship through MCI for professional courses • Can represent AMC externally in any forum as authorized by the PC

6. Kinds of Membership • Preparatory Membership • Full Membership • Affiliate Membership • Non-resident Membership • Inactive Membership

7. Preparatory Membership • Baptized children after attaining the age of twelve years shall be counted as preparatory members. • Persons expressing a desire to lead a godly life and who are baptized

8. Full Membership Who is eligible: All those who have been baptized and seeking to be saved from their sin and sincerely desiring to be Christian in faith and in practice What is the process of getting full membership? • Should complete reasonable period of instruction and training • Should be confirmed as full members by the Bishop or an ordained Minister designated by the Bishop

9. Affiliate Membership Who is eligible: • Member of the MCI, having resided for at least six months in a city or community away from his home pastorate on the recommendation of his Pastor. • Member of another denomination may become an affiliate member who is away from his home pastorate on the recommendation of his Pastor. What is the process of getting full membership? • Request from self along with recommendation from the Pastorate in the prescribed application form Note: Affiliate and unconfirmed members shall not be eligible for election to any office of the Pastorate as its representative.

10. Non-resident Membership • When a member moves to a place where there is no Methodist Church and wishes to keep his membership in his home church • Eligible to all privileges of church membership except that he/she will not be eligible for any office in a pastorate

11. Inactive Membership • Person absenting himself continuously for six months from the regular worship services without adequate reason • Have failed to pay their contributions to the work of the Church regularly Note: Inactive members shall not have any privilege of Church Membership

12. Termination of Membership • Violating the vows and conditions of membership • Willfully causing dissensions in the church • Involving the church, its officers or organizations in litigation • Illegal occupation/sale/leaseof church property • Direct or indirect embezzlement of funds through neglect of duty • Illegal sale/lease of church property • Misappropriation of funds.

13. Cessation of Membership • On demise of the member • On transfer to another station • On specific request from the member

14. Membership in Good Standing • Regular attendance in Sunday worship service and Bible Study Groups. • Paying subscriptions and systematical giving, thanks giving and donations. • Willing to give time for church and church activity. • Not involved in moral turpitude and not creating dissension in the church

15. How Can You Become a Member • Either by confirmation or by transfer or by the action of the PC • Fill up application form for AMC Membership • Check what kind of membership you are eligible before filling the application form • The filled-in form and documents will be scrutinized by the Pastor and Membership Committee • Membership will be finally approved by the PC • Processing time will be one month

16. FAQs • Does attending AMC continuously for one year or more automatically confer rights of membership? Answer: No • Does payment of pledge/tithe regularly confer rights of membership? Answer: No • Is full membership in AMC compulsory to be a member of PC/standing committee/special committee ? Answer: Yes • Can a person be a member of two different Pastorates of different denominations simultaneously? Answer: No

17. FAQs (cont.) • Is there a provision for Temporary membership for students/visitors staying in Delhi for short durations? Answer: No • What actions are to be taken if a member gets married and acquires a family? Answer: Membership to be taken as separate family unit • How can we update membership records? Answer: Inform Pastor or Records Committee immediately if there is any change in your Tel no, residence, postal address, your marital status or addition/deletion in a family

18. FAQs (cont.) • Will I get a membership Certificate on acquiring AMC membership? Answer: No, as and when need arise the same can be provided • Can one take temporary membership for the purpose of marriage? Answer: No • Can a person become full member without taking confirmation? Answer: No • Can a member who is not in good standing hold any post in Church/PC/Pastorate Conference/Standing & Special committees? Answer: No

19. FAQs (cont.) • What is the status of a Member attending another church i.e. parents in one church; children in other church? Answer: It is advisable that the family should stay together and remain in one church.If children are full members, they can take the transfer certificate and join another church. • What is the status of a Member attending the other church i.e. wife in one church; husband in other church? Answer: It is encouraged that husband and wife are members of the same church. Both have to be full members to hold any official position (PC; Past. Conf) in AMC

20. For further details, contact Rev I.C Singh, Senior Pastor, Rev Anil Kumar, Associate Pastor Rev Bikas Vishwakarma and Mrs Nirmala Vincent, Chairperson, Membership & Records Committee