The Moat House 

8 Crow Lane 

Rochester 

Kent 

ME1 1RF 

How do I become a member of RBC?

 

A person wishing to join the church should request membership through one of the leadership team. The leaders will communicate the request to the church members as soon as is convenient. This is to enable members to feed back any observations that may be relevant to the application. These may well affect the process and where appropriate will be raised with the applicant.

The leaders will contact the person’s previous church(es) and where appropriate other parties connected to the applicant with a view to obtaining a reference.

The person will be given a copy of This we believe (containing the Covenant) and This is our practice.

Leaders then arrange a series of studies with the applicant on issues such as:

Meaning and relevance of membership
Responsibilities (including financial giving, participation in evangelism etc)Leadership and the decision making process
Mission
Baptism (if the applicant has not yet been baptised)
The covenant and practice

After the studies have been completed and if the leaders and the applicant agree that it is appropriate to continue with the process then an interview will be arranged. This will cover all issues discussed during the membership studies plus any other relevant matters arising from the application.

The interview will normally be carried out by two members of the leadership team. However, it may be considered appropriate that another church member should help carry out the interview. Where the applicant is female, the other interviewer will also be female.

The person will be recommended for membership to the leadership team, then the applicant will be presented to the church and welcomed into membership at a Sunday meeting. This should be done in such a way that the applicant and membership formally acknowledge their commitment to each other. This might include testimony, baptism, a signing of the church covenant by the applicant, and promises made by the existing members to the new member.

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