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Membership

Article V:  Congregation (some portions are not included for brevity)

 

Section 1 – Membership

 

The Board of Elders will maintain a list of Grace Bible Church of Hattiesburg’s members.

 

A.  Though the desire is not to make membership more difficult than membership in the universal church, for the purpose of accountability and shepherding, the visible members of Grace Bible Church of Hattiesburg will be those who:

  1. Have professed faith in Jesus Christ.  This means that he/she has:

  • Recognized that he/she is by nature a sinner and, as such, lacks the necessary righteousness to enter heaven (Romans 3:23),

  • Recognized that he/she is completely incapable of either meriting or earning his/her salvation through good intentions, good works, or religious rituals (Ephesians 2:8,9).

  • Recognized that Jesus Christ, the sinless Son of God, died on the cross to pay for mankind’s sin (Romans 5:8)

  • Personally trusted or relied upon Jesus Christ and His death and resurrection alone for his/her salvation (John 6:47; 1 Corinthians 15:1-4)

  • This statement of faith (testimony) is to be shared verbally or in written form with the Board of Elder

2. Since water baptism is a public declaration of a person’s identification with Christ, any candidate for membership who has not been baptized at the time of his/her application for membership shall agree to be baptized at the earliest opportunity.  The baptism required must be a baptism subsequent to salvation.  This church will practice baptism by immersion.

3. Are in agreement with the Doctrinal Statement and the Doctrinal and Religious Absolute Statement on Marriage, Gender, and Human Sexuality.

4. Agree to regularly participate in the life of Grace Bible Church by attending weekly services, engaging in Biblical community and accountability, and supporting the ministries of the church.

5. Agree to follow the leadership of the Board of Elders which may include accountability and correction.

6. Must have attended regularly for a minimum of six months.

7. Complete and sign the Membership Agreement.

8. Maintain membership in only one local church.

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B. The above requirements for acceptance into membership apply to the following:

  • Those transferring membership from another local church.

  • New believers requesting baptism and membership with Grace Bible Church of Hattiesburg.

  • Believers not currently members of another church.

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C. Releasing of Members

  • Any member may voluntarily resign by writing the Elders and asking to be dropped from membership.  Return to member status requires full reapplication and reexamination.

  • Any member who shall be regularly absent from the services of the church for a period of three (3) months without giving satisfactory reason for such absence to the Elders shall be transferred from active to inactive membership status by the Elders.

  • After one (1) year as an inactive member he/she shall be dropped from membership.  Return to member status requires full reapplication and reexamination.

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