3 Ways to Help Your Church Value Membership

Is church membership in the Bible? There’s no specific verse, but it’s important for the health of believers and the mission of the church.

By Dean Inserra

“Is church membership in the Bible?” I’m asked that question occasionally, and I’m sure many other pastors and church leaders get asked something similar. While it’s a good and fair question, in my experience, the person asking it is usually trying to find a way to avoid becoming an official member of the church. Still, it’s a question we need to answer.

The answer to the question is yes and no. There’s not a specific Bible verse that reads “you must go through the membership process of a specific congregation and join that church.” Joining a particular church, however, is implied throughout the Scriptures.

The story of the New Testament is one written to actual church congregations people considered themselves belonging to and contributing to. And we see people placing their spiritual lives under the authority of the leadership of those specific churches. A casual, non-committed onlooker was not a biblical category and completely unrecognizable to early Christians. To be a believer in Jesus Christ was to be part of a local church. It was and still is God’s good design for His people.

“A casual, non-committed onlooker was not a biblical category and completely unrecognizable to early Christians. To be a believer in Jesus Christ was to be part of a local church.” — @deaninserra Share on X

Church membership has seemed to have lost its luster in some circles of evangelicalism today, but it’s important church leaders see membership as significant for the health of believers and the mission of the church. A recent study from Lifeway Research found among those who attend a church but are not currently a member of that church, 15% say they aren’t a member because they don’t see the value in church membership. But there are three ways a church can help those attending see church membership as valuable and an important step to take in their discipleship.

1. Answer the “why”

When we first started our church, I figured we needed to have a membership meeting immediately. In that meeting we would ask people to join the church. As a young pastor at the time, I just assumed that’s how it worked. Someone raised their hand at the meeting and asked a question. “If we join the church tonight, what changes tomorrow?” I froze then gave some generic, probably incoherent mumble of an answer and quickly moved on to the next question. I truly didn’t know how to answer the question.

Years later, we have clear answers to that question, and it allows membership to matter for the people who call our church their home. Church leadership must be able to answer that question by their own polity, principles, and vision. Otherwise, it’s simply a formality or tradition that might not be worth someone’s time to go through the process. Scripturally and practically, the “why” should lead to a “why not?”

2. Have an accessible and clear process

It shouldn’t require a doctorate to figure out how to join the church. And it should be clear what you’re asking people to commit to and join. At our church, we have a once-a-month meeting, pushed and promoted through all communication outlets of our church, where we go over our statement of faith and what it means to be a member.

If a person is interested, they fill out an application and schedule a meeting with a pastor who makes sure the person is a believer, knows exactly what we believe and who we are, knows what their commitment is, and knows the church body’s commitment to them as members. The membership meeting is held the first Sunday of every month and introduces a clear pathway. Do you have a membership process? It’s hard to make membership meaningful and appealing if you fail to have a process and a plan.

3. Talk about ownership

I’m a member of a local gym in my community. If something breaks or is out of order, I tell someone who works there and go along with my day. I don’t lose one millisecond of sleep if something needs attention at my gym. The owner of the gym has a different story.

We’ve called it membership simply because that’s a familiar word for churches. But what we’re asking people to do is become owners. Members have demands and basic rights; owners have responsibilities. There’s something powerful and captivating about people seeing their church not just as something they consume but as something they contribute to with their time, treasure, talent, and testimony.

“There’s something powerful and captivating about people seeing their church not just as something they consume but as something they contribute to with their time, treasure, talent, and testimony.” — @deaninserra Share on X

A healthy church membership shines a bright light to the community. In a low commitment society, we need a high commitment church more than ever. There is certainly more to being a Christian than joining a church as a member, but there’s definitely not less. Own the mission; join the church.

For permission to republish this article, contact Marissa Postell Sullivan.