Constitution Chapter 1 - Members and Electors

1. Membership in the community of our church will be normally reckoned by household. A household will be eligible when the head of that household meets the following criteria. He or she:
   

   a. Has been lawfully baptized in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit (Matt. 28:19) and professes faith in the Lord Jesus Christ (Rom. 10:9-10); b. Does not contradict his or her baptism and profession through his or her manner of life (Matt. 7:22-23); c. Considers his or her permanent residence to be in our geographical region (Eph. 1:1); d. Submits to the government of this church (Philemon 2; Heb. 13:7,17).

2. The elders in Session may admit eligible households into membership in Christ Church based upon the positive testimony of two or more elders who have personally spoken with the head of the household or the individual(s) seeking membership in Christ Church, and who have heard their profession of faith and ascertained that they have been lawfully baptized. Those seeking membership who make a profession of faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, but who have not been baptized in a Christian church may be considered for membership after being baptized. Letters of transfer from another Christian church will be accepted, but will not mitigate the above requirements.All membership in the congregational covenant will be by household, meaning that all members of a household that are not explicitly excluded are included as individuals in covenant with the congregation. Non-baptized individuals of member households are not included as individuals in covenant with the congregation. When a member becomes a head of household through marriage, the new household will be considered a member household.
3. The elders will maintain a membership list, with the members of each household listed in a clear manner, including names, dates of birth and baptism. This membership list will be maintained by the elders and updated annually, and is not to be confused with the church directory of addresses and phone numbers.
4. Individuals who satisfy the criteria listed above will be received as a member household with a single member in the following circumstances:a.         He or she has no family;b.         Members of his or her family choose to join another church;c.         Members of his or her family are non-believers.If through marriage or adoption the individual joins another household that is not a member household of Christ Church, his or her church membership must be transferred.Unmarried members who are independent of their parents may request to form their own household (e.g., a young man who becomes self-supporting and lives apart from his parents). The elders will review such requests on a case by case basis.
5. Water baptism is required of those seeking membership. No one will be admitted into membership in the church until baptized. When baptisms are administered by the elders of our church, the mode used (whether by pouring, immersion, or sprinkling) will be determined through arrangement with the person being baptized, or with his parents.When a baptized believer moves to our church, the elders acknowledge his baptism as Christian baptism in receiving him into the membership of the church.If the baptism was administered by a non-Christian sect or cult, and the baptism is determined to be no baptism at all, the individual will be instructed on his responsibility to be baptized at the first opportunity. As an act of an ecclesiastical government, a valid baptism does not depend upon the personal integrity of the minister conducting the baptism, or the doctrinal and moral integrity of the administering church. Nevertheless, if the corruptions are such as to require our elders to consider that church to be no Christian church at all, then the baptisms administered by such a church will not be received. Given the complexity of all such issues, the elders will deal with each situation on a case-by-case basis.
6. When the criteria listed above have been fulfilled, a household or individual will be formally received into the membership of Christ Church before the congregation on the Lord’s Day in the following manner.
   

   a. The individual or head of household will be asked the following questions: “Do you acknowledge yourself to be a sinner in need of salvation by Christ, and do you believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, receiving and resting upon Him alone as He is offered in the gospel?” “Have you been baptized in accordance with His Word?” “Do you swear in the name of God, in humble reliance upon the grace of the Holy Spirit, to live in a way that becomes followers of Christ?” “Do you swear in the name of God to support the ministry of this church in its worship and work, submitting to its government and discipline, while pursuing its purity and peace?” When the questions are addressed to the head of a household, he will also be asked if he is speaking on behalf of the household. b. When an affirmative answer has been given, the members of the congregation will be asked to welcome the individual or household into this covenant relation of membership together with them. They will signify agreement with a corporate “Amen.” c. One of the elders will offer a prayer of thanksgiving to God.

1. If a member household or individual member of Christ Church in good standing requests to be released to the care of another Christian church, the elders will grant the request, and release them with a blessing.
2. If a member household or individual member of Christ Church requests to be released because of disciplinary proceedings against the individual or anyone in the household, the elders will deny the request until the disciplinary matter is resolved.
3. If a member household or individual member is moving from our geographical area, before they leave the elders will exhort them on their duty to find a new church home. If they have not joined themselves to a new church within six months of moving, the elders will release them from membership in Christ Church with a letter of admonition. This will be done even if in the interim a situation arises which would normally call for the disciplinary intervention of the church.

D. Access to the Sacraments

1. It is assumed that all but very young children and unbaptized persons will be regularly attending the Lord’s Supper.  However, the elders of the church recognize that each head of household received into membership is responsible before God for the spiritual condition of his household. Therefore, considering that conscientious Christians differ as to when it is appropriate to admit children to the Table, the head of household is invited to make recommendations to the elders concerning his or her household, with the understanding that no one will be admitted to the Lord’s Supper who has not been baptized. Under the headship of Christ, the administration of church sacraments (or ordinances) remains with the elders. However, in such administration, the elders are to work in league with the head of the household.
2. When a child in a baptistic home desires to be baptized and come to the Table of the Lord, the parents should notify the elders, who will arrange for the baptism of the child.
3. Any baptized child is invited to partake of the Lord’s Supper. The head of the household is responsible to carefully and regularly instruct the child in the gospel and the richness and meaning of the Supper.

E. Electors

Those members of Christ Church who vote in church elections will be called electors.

1. Qualifications for Electors: Electors of Christ Church are those who are heads of member households.  A household is not eligible to vote in an election unless the household is established before the ballot is distributed to the electors.
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2. Authority of Electors: Electors may vote in the elections of elders and deacons, and provide input to the elders and deacons at a regularly scheduled meeting.
   
3. Qualified Electors: The elders will qualify electors. Three weeks prior to any election to church office, the election will be announced and the ballot will be provided to the electors. Those who desire to vote but who do not receive a ballot may contact the elders. If qualified, they will be provided a ballot in time for the election.
4. Elections: Elections will be conducted at appropriate times set by the elders.
   
5. Heads of Households Meetings: The congregation will hold a regular (currently bimonthly) meeting of heads of member households, which will be the normal channel through which the elders and deacons receive advice from the representatives of the church’s households.