Summary
After an individual/family has attended SBC worship a few times, an elder (accompanied by his wife if visitor is a single woman) will contact him in the hopes of meeting with him – at 40 Battle, in his home, at a coffee shop. At this meeting the elder will inquire into his relationship with God and discern how well he understands the gospel. He will also ask to add the attendee to the church email list. Finally, the elder will present the booklet “The Christian Gospel.”
If out of that initial meeting one has a clear testimony of knowing God and is baptized, he’ll be encouraged toward entering the next Christianity 201: “Exploring SBC,” an introduction to the philosophy, history, beliefs, practices of SBC. If he chooses not to take the class, he is, of course, welcome to keep attending worship at SBC. If he does take the course and afterward finds himself in agreement with the doctrine and direction of SBC, he can then pursue membership. To that end he will again meet with an elder and together they’ll formulate a statement of faith and testimony. A date will be set for joining the church.
If during the initial meeting with the elder it becomes clear that the newcomer is unbaptized and/or unclear about the gospel, he’ll be encouraged to join the next Christianity 101: “The Story of God Saving the World.” For the one who finishes Christianity 101 and is still unsure about following Christ, he’ll be invited into Christianity 102: “Three weeks through Romans 12.” If afterward he’s still unsure, he can be taken through “The Christian Gospel.”
The one who finishes Christianity 101+ and desires to be baptized in the name of the Triune God will then meet with an elder a couple times to a) understand what baptism is; and b) formulate a statement of faith and testimony. A date will be set for baptism.
When one is baptized he can choose also to be joined to the church at that same time, with the provision that sometime during the next year he completes Christianity 201.
Two important notes:
- If it applies, the elders will consult with a prospect’s former church leadership. If one wishes to move his church membership to SBC from another local church, his exit from his former church needs to have been some combination of a) peaceful, b) practical, c) principled. If in the judgment of the elders these do not fit the description of his departure, the prospect will not be received into SBC membership; instead, he’ll be encouraged toward reconciliation with his former church.
- In the weeks beforehand the prospective baptized/and or new member will need to meet with the whole leadership team (normally a ten minute meeting arranged by the leadership team after a worship service) and relay to them their statement of faith/testimony. The leadership team will need to “sign off” on what they’ve heard before the prospect moves ahead.
After one joins the church, immediately he’ll be matched with someone who will bring him through Christianity 202, “Basic Christian Practices.” At least two of the goals over their ten weeks together are a) the new member himself be trained into leading a basic disciple-making relationship; and b) discerning together how the new member can serve the body of Christ… at SBC and beyond.
