Becoming a Member
The best way to really live out what it means to be part of the Body of Christ is to take that next step of church membership. It means that you are taking your faith journey seriously and that you want to be a part of God's work in and through the church. You can't do that by watching from the sidelines!
God is doing some very exciting things in the hearts and lives of the people of Highland Valley UMC. We think that once you've met the friendly people and experienced the programs and ministries of Highland Valley , you'll want it to be your church home, too.
If God is leading you to this decision, one of the pastors will be happy to visit with you about this important step in your spiritual life.
If you have made the decision to join highland valley, you may...
- Mark the appropriate box on the registration pad or visit with a pastor during the week to make your desire to join the church known and discuss when you want to be received into membership.
- You may also wait until the service is over to meet with the pastor and make your desire to join the church known.
There are three ways to unite with the United Methodist Church.
Joining By Transfer From Another United Methodist Church
If you are a member of another United Methodist Church and wish to join Highland Valley, you may do so by simply making your intent to transfer your membership known to one of the Pastors.
Joining by Transfer from Another Denomination
If you come from another Protestant congregation, you will be asked one question:
As a member of Christ's Church, will you be loyal to the United Methodist Church and do all in your power to strengthen its ministries, and will you then also be loyal to Highland Valley United Methodist Church and uphold the ministry and outreach of this congregation with your Prayers, Presence, Gifts and Service.
Your answer is "I will."
YOUR BAPTISM IS ACCEPTED - If you have been a member of another Church and have been baptized either as an infant, youth or as an adult using one of the traditional modes of baptism—sprinkling, pouring, or immersing--you do not need to be rebaptized to become a member of the church. If you have not been baptized, you can be baptized when you join either in worship or privately.
Joining by Profession of Faith
A person who begins the Christian life does so through baptism, which is a symbol of God's grace through Jesus Christ. If you have never joined any church as an adult or as a youth through a confirmation program, you profess your faith for the first time by proclaiming Christ as your personal savior and choosing to join the family of God at Highland Valley.
All who join the church affirm a common profession of belief made either for you by those who love you, in your name, or stated by you at your baptism. Simply stated, that common belief is "I believe God loves me." In coming forward to join the church, you profess your faith that:
- Renounces anything that comes between you and God
- Accepts Jesus Christ as your Lord
- Acknowledges the Bible as authoritative, informative and inspiring to your Christian Faith
- Commits to the Church as the fellowship of believers in Jesus Christ.
If you have not been baptized or were baptized as an infant but never professed your faith nor had your faith confirmed, we invite you to make your desires known to the pastor. A special service of baptism and confirmation will be planned at a time convenient for you, either during worship or privately.
Membership Vows
Will you be loyal to the United Methodist Church and uphold it by your prayers, your presence, your gifts, and your service?
Prayers
Our commitment to uphold the church through intercessory prayer is based upon the reality that we are not simply an agency seeking to meet human needs; we pray because we require God's guidance in order to be the church. When we pray for our pastors, for our teachers, for one another and for those who may never even enter our doors, we express our dependence on God so that we might in turn express the will and compassion of Christ.
Presence
Our commitment to uphold the church by our presence is a visible witness of our faith, both in the pew and in the world. Our relationship to Christ is nurtured by our presence in worship where we find spiritual guidance, comfort and strength. But our relationship to Christ is not confined to Sunday morning alone. We also uphold the church by our presence at home, at work, at school and in the community. Wherever we are, our presence should be an expression of our commitment to Christ.
Gifts
Our commitment to uphold the church by our gifts is a thankful response from the heart for all God has given us. Such a commitment serves to remind us of our role as stewards over what God has entrusted to us. The systematic giving of our money also helps to establish and maintain ministries that no individual or single congregation could fund alone. These worthy causes include hospitals, colleges, rehabilitation centers, food and clothing distribution, evangelistic and educational work, and emergency relief.
Service
Our commitment to be loyal to the church and uphold it by our service further reflects our commitment to follow the example of Christ, who came not to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many (Matthew 20:28). God has entrusted all of us with certain talents and abilities, and sharing these gifts is a means of sharing ourselves out of love and gratitude toward God and love for one another.