Membership Application - Valley Bible Church

Thank you for your interest in church membership at Valley Bible Church. Official church membership at Valley Bible Church is a meaningful way for us to clearly and earnestly express our mutual biblical commitments to one another. These commitments are biblically supported, and we pray that church membership will preserve and enhance the health and vitality of our congregation.

Your name *

Email address *

Please indicate membership applicant below:

Biblical Foundations for Membership

1. God desires that every believer be part of the local church. (Hebrews 10:25) Every single believer in Jesus Christ is already a member of the universal church (Christ’s gathered people throughout all time and in every place.) However, every member of Christ’s universal church is not automatically a member of the local church body. Church membership is a way for you to express your commitment to this local church family.

2. God calls church elders to shepherd the flock under their care. (Hebrews 13:17; 1 Peter 5:2; Acts 20:28) Local church elders have to give an account to God of whether they have cared for their flock faithfully. Church membership is a way for the church elders to make a commitment to care for you spiritually.

3. God calls us as believers to submit to the spiritual oversight of our local church. (Hebrews 13:17) This is not a directive for us to submit to every church leader everywhere, but this command assumes that each believer will have a particular local church affiliation. Under God and His word, church membership is a way to express our submission to the spiritual oversight of our local church elders.

4. Church membership protects the church against false doctrine. (Acts 20:28-30; 2 Peter 2) Establishing biblical standards for every member of the congregation helps to preserve the church's spiritual integrity. Our doctrinal standards for membership ensure that our members be professing believers in Jesus Christ with a commitment to essential doctrinal beliefs. These standards also prevent those who hold false doctrines from joining our church and moving into positions of influence, including church leadership.

5. God calls his people to care for one another. (Matthew 18:15-18; 1 Corinthians 5:9-13; Titus 3:10-11; 2 Thessalonians 3:14-15) God expects believers to hold one another accountable to biblical standards within the church.
Members of the church seek to uphold sound doctrine, walk in godliness, and agree to confront one another in love when necessary. Those who will not turn from false doctrine or immoral behavior must ultimately be put out of the church as an act of formal church discipline. The hope is that they will eventually be restored to fellowship as the Holy Spirit brings them to a place of conviction and repentance. Church membership is a way for us to express our commitment to care for one another within the body of Christ.

6. We each have spiritual gifts, with which to build up one another within the Body. (1 Corinthians 12; 1 Peter 4:10; 1 Peter 4:8; Galatians 6:10; 2 Corinthians 9:7) The Bible uses the word “member” in the context of the “body” metaphor for the church. Each member of the body has God-given spiritual gifts and natural abilities which God intends to be exercised for the benefit of the entire church family. Believers are exhorted to love one another and to care for one another physically, relationally, and spiritually. Church membership expresses our intention to use our gifts to build up God's people.

Membership Qualifications:

Individuals 16 years or older who have regularly attended Sunday morning worship services for a period of at least three months may apply for membership. Individuals desiring membership at Valley Bible Church must profess a saving faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, manifest the fruit of a Christian life, agree to abide by the Valley Bible Church doctrinal statement, and commit to the defined responsibilities of membership. (Believer's baptism by immersion is not a requirement for church membership; however, it is strongly encouraged as an act of obedience to the Lord.)

Membership Responsibilities:

With the help of God, members will endeavor:
• To live according to the teachings of Scripture in a manner that glorifies God (Ephesians 4:1-3; 1 Corinthians 7:17;
Colossians 1:10; 1 Thessalonians 2:12)
• To regularly attend worship services (Hebrews 10:25)
• To serve within the church exercising God-given gifts and abilities (1 Peter 4:10-22)
• To submit to the spiritual leadership of the elders (Hebrews 13:17, Matthew 18:15-18)
• To financially support the church (1 Corinthians 9:13-14; 2 Corinthians 9:6-7)
• To love and encourage one another by caring for physical, relational, and spiritual needs (Romans 12:10, 1 Peter 4:8,
Galatians 6:10, 1 Thessalonians 5:11, Hebrews 10:25, Romans 12:13)
• To preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace (Romans 12:16, Ephesians 4:3)
• To hold fellow members accountable for living a Christian lifestyle (Galatians 6:1, Luke 17:3-4, Matthew 18:15-18)

Membership Application:

If you desire to become a member of the Valley Bible Church family, please complete the application below. As you complete the application, you will need a copy of the Valley Bible Church Constitution for reference. (find it here: https://tinyurl.com/VBCVTconstitution) After we receive your application, we will contact you to schedule an interview with two of the elders. The purpose of this brief, informal interview is to get to know you better, and to confirm you understand the membership requirements. After the interview, the elders will vote to approve your application for membership.

Birthday *

Phone Number *

Address *

Marital Status

Gender

Members of your immediate family (name, relationship and age):

Your Personal Testimony: *

When and how have you come to know Jesus Christ as your Savior and Lord?

In what ways has your life been different since you came to believe in Jesus? *

If a friend asked you to explain the way of salvation, what would you include as the essential details? *

Past church experience: In what churches (if any) have you been a member in the past 10 years? Please list name, city, and state of each church.

May we contact these past churches, if we would find it helpful?

Yes

Are you a member of any other religious organizations or fraternal orders? If so, please list them:

Have you been baptized since becoming a believer?

Yes

If you have not been baptized as a believer in Christ, would you like to do so?

Yes

I'd like to learn more about it/talk more about it

Other

Affirmation of Membership Responsibilities

With the help of God, members will endeavor:
• To live according to the teachings of Scripture in a manner that glorifies God
(Ephesians 4:1-3; 1 Corinthians 7:17; Colossians 1:10; 1 Thessalonians 2:12)
• To regularly attend worship services (Hebrews 10:25)
• To serve within the church exercising God-given gifts and abilities (1 Peter 4:10-22)
• To submit to the spiritual leadership of the elders (Hebrews 13:17, Matthew 18:15-18)
• To financially support the church (1 Corinthians 9:13-14; 2 Corinthians 9:6-7)
• To love and encourage one another by caring for physical, relational, and spiritual needs
(Romans 12:10, 1 Peter 4:8, Galatians 6:10, 1 Thessalonians 5:11, Hebrews 10:25, Romans 12:13)
• To preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace (Romans 12:16, Ephesians 4:3)
• To hold fellow members accountable for living a Christian lifestyle (Galatians 6:1, Luke 17:3-4, Matthew 18:15-18)

With God's help, I will endeavor to fulfill these membership responsibilities. *

Check this box if you agree

Governance Policies

The governance policies for the church can be found in section 3 of the Valley Bible Church Constitution entitled “How the Church Functions” (https://tinyurl.com/VBCVTconstitution, pages 3-7). Please read that section of the constitution and signify your acceptance below.

I have read and accept the governance policies set forth for this church. *

Check box if you agree

Please note any concerns or objections you may have about the church governance policies:

Affirmation of the Valley Bible Church Doctrinal Statement

Please read the Valley Bible Church Statement of Faith
Revised November 17, 2015

Doctrine that is faithful to Scripture is the foundation of our unity and identity as a church. The following nine points summarize the main truths of the Bible and outline what we believe at Valley Bible Church.

1. The Word of God
The Bible is God's only written revelation to humanity. Each and every word of Scripture is God-breathed (2 Timothy 3:16, Matthew 5:18). God directed the authors of Scripture to write exactly what he wanted them to say (2 Peter 1:21). Therefore, we uphold that the Bible is free from error in the original writings, and we submit to the authority of God's Book in every area of life.

2. God
We believe in one sovereign, eternal God, the creator of all things, eternally existing in three equally divine persons: The Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit (Matthew 3:16-17; Matthew 28:19, 2 Corinthians 13:14, 1 Peter 1:2). God is all-powerful, all-present, all-knowing, and all-loving, eternal, holy, just and unchanging (I Chronicles 29:10-13; Psalm 139; Psalm 145). He directs all things for the praise of His glory (Isaiah 43:6-7; Jeremiah 13:11; John 17:1; Ephesians 1:11-12; Colossians 1:16; Revelation 4:11).

3. Jesus Christ
The eternal Son of God became man and lived on the earth. He was born of the virgin Mary, and men saw His glory (John 1:14). He is fully man and fully God. His name is Jesus (meaning "Jehovah is Salvation") and Christ (meaning the "Messiah"). He is our savior, (Matthew 1:21; Titus 2:13-14) our Lord, our God, (John 20:28) and our coming King (Revelation 19:16). Christ died on the cross as an atoning sacrifice for our sins, was buried, was resurrected bodily on the third day, ascended into heaven, and is now seated at the right hand of God (1 Corinthians 15:3-4; Acts 1:9; Ephesians 1:20).

4. Holy Spirit
The Holy Spirit is one with the Father and the Son (Matthew 28:19). He is God (Acts 5:3-4). He convicts the world of sin, righteousness, and judgment (John 16:8-11), and is the supernatural agent in regeneration at salvation (Titus 3:5). He baptizes all believers into the universal Church, (1 Corinthians 12:13) indwells all believers, and marks them as His own. (1 Corinthians 6:19; Ephesians 1:13) He fills and empowers all believers who are yielded to Him and subject to His will (Ephesians 5:18), enabling believers to grow in maturity and conformity to the image of Christ and to grow in love for God and their fellow man (Colossians 1:28-29; Ephesians 3:16-19). He gives gifts as He chooses to each believer to be used for the building up of the body (I Corinthians 12:11; Ephesians 4:7-16; Romans 12:3-8).

5. Mankind
Mankind was created, both male and female, in the image of God, to worship and glorify Him (Genesis 1:26-27). However, mankind sinned against God and our fellowship with God was broken (Genesis 3). As a result of Adam’s original sin, all human beings are now corrupted by sin and desperately wicked (Jeremiah 17:9; Romans 3:12; Romans 5:12-14). In this natural, rebellious state, mankind is subject to death and the eternal wrath of God (John 3:36; Romans 1:18; Romans 6:23; 2 Thessalonians 1:8).

6. Salvation
In His great love, God has provided a way of salvation for all mankind through the saving work of Jesus Christ (John 3:16; 1 Tim 2:4-6). He died upon a cross, was buried and rose from the dead (1 Corinthians 15:3-5; Romans 5:8). Christ became sin for us that we might become the righteousness of God in Him (2 Corinthians 5:21; 1 Peter 3:18). This salvation comes through personal faith in Christ alone (John 14:6; Acts 4:12; 1 John 5:12), and is by grace alone, the free gift of God, not earned by our works (Galatians 2:16; Ephesians 2:8-9). God also sanctifies his saved people by His Word and His Spirit, causing them to grow in conformity to the image of Christ, dying to sin and living to righteousness (Romans 6:12-22; Romans 8:29; Ephesians 4:13; Ephesians 4:22-24; 2 Peter 3:18). Every true believer who is persevering in faith can have the assurance of salvation (John 1:12-13; John 10:27-28; Ephesians 1:13-14; 1 Peter 1:3-5; 1 John 5:10-13; John 20:31).

7. The Church
The Church universal includes all who have put their faith in Christ. We emphasize the need for a strong local church in which God is worshiped, His Word is taught, and believers minister to one another and reach out to those who do not know the Lord Jesus Christ (Ephesians 4:11-16). We believe that Christ committed the two ordinances of baptism and the Lord’s Supper to the local church as outward signs of the inward reality of salvation and they are observed in obedience and remembrance until Christ returns (Matthew 28:19-20; 1 Corinthians 11:23-26). We believe that the local church is governed by a plurality of elders (1 Timothy 3:1-14; 1 Peter 5:1-3).

8. Angels and Satan
We believe in angels of God which are spirits ministering to us, the heirs of salvation (Hebrews 1:14). The Scriptures tell of the fall of Satan and his angels (Isaiah 14:12-15, Genesis 3:1-5; John 8:44; 1 Peter 5:8; Jude 6; 2 Peter 2:4). Satan originated sin in the world through the permissive will of God, and he and his demons now rule this world as usurpers. (2 Corinthians 4:4; Ephesians 2:2; 1 John 5:19). Satan was defeated at the cross and will be cast into the lake of fire to be tormented day and night forever (Revelation 20:10).

9. The End
We believe in the personal and visible return of the Lord Jesus Christ to earth and the establishment of His kingdom. We believe in the resurrection of the body, the final judgment, the endless suffering of the wicked, and the eternal joy of the righteous (Matthew 16:27; Mark 14:62; John 14:3; Acts 1:11; Philippians 3:20; I Thessalonians 4:15; 2 Timothy 4:1; Titus 2:13; 1 Corinthians 4:5; 1 Corinthians 15; 2 Thessalonians 1:7-10; Revelation 20:4-6,11-15).

I have read the doctrinal statement above and I affirm my agreement with these doctrinal positions. *

Check box if you agree

Please note any concerns or objections you may have about the church doctrinal statement:

Statement on Marriage, Gender, and Sexuality

We have adopted this statement as a summary of our church’s position on these vital issues fundamental to our humanity.

1. We believe that God established marriage as a lifelong, exclusive covenant relationship between one man and one woman and intends sexual intimacy to occur only between a man and a woman who are married to each other (Genesis 2:18-25, 1 Corinthians 6:18, I Corinthians 7:2-5, Hebrews 13:4).

2. We believe that sex outside the marriage relationship, whether heterosexual, homosexual, or otherwise, is sin. We believe that any form of sexual immorality (including adultery, fornication, homosexual behavior, bisexual conduct, bestiality, incest, and use of pornography) is sin (Matthew 15:18-20, 1 Corinthians 6:9-10).

3. We believe that God created the human race male and female and that all conduct with the intent to adopt a gender other than one’s birth gender is ultimately sinful (Genesis 1:26-27).

4. Because God established marriage as a lifelong, exclusive covenant relationship between one man and one woman, Valley Bible Church will only recognize marriages between a biological man and a biological woman. Further, the pastors, elders, and staff of Valley Bible Church will only solemnize marriages between one man and one woman. Finally, the facilities and property of Valley Bible Church will only be used to host weddings between one man and one woman.

5. We believe God is rich in mercy and offers redemption and restoration to all who confess and forsake their sin, seeking His mercy and forgiveness through Jesus Christ (Acts 3:19–21; Romans 10:9–10; 1 Corinthians 6:9–11).

6. We believe that every person must be afforded compassion, love, kindness, respect, and dignity (Mark 12:28–31; Luke 6:31).

I have read the position statement above and I agree to abide by the position set forth for this church and to be held accountable to it. *

Check box if you agree

Please note any concerns or objections you may have about our Statement on Marriage, Gender and Sexuality:

Church Discipline

Church discipline may sound scary to some, but it is nothing more than the biblical process of holding one another accountable to walking in biblical doctrine and lifestyle. The Valley Bible Church constitution explains church discipline in this way:

If any church member demonstrates conduct that is inconsistent with biblical doctrine or lifestyle, and if they show no evidence of repentance, they will be interviewed and counseled by the elders.

The elders will urge repentance in love, with great humility, and a spirit of gentleness. (Galatians 6:1) Situations leading to church discipline may include: sexual immorality (1 Corinthians 5:1-3), unresolved personal conflicts (Matthew 18:15-20), divisiveness (Titus 3:10; Romans 16:17-18), or false teaching (Galatians 1:8-9; 1 Timothy 6:3-5; 2 John 9-11).

If the member should choose to continue in their unrepentant condition, or if they refuse to meet with the elders, the elders will inform the congregation of the matter (Matthew 18:15-17; Titus 3:10-11; 1 Corinthians 5:11-13). The hand of church fellowship will be withdrawn from the offender unless they demonstrate repentance (2 Thessalonians 3:6, 14-15). If the member persists in unrepentance, their membership may be terminated by a vote of the elders and announced to the congregation. This will mark the end of the disciplinary process, with the hope that there will be a restoration to fellowship sometime in the future.

With the help of God, I intend to walk in repentance and faith. I agree to be held accountable by my church family. *

Check box if you agree

Check box if you agree *

I understand that in the unlikely event that I should resign myself from membership while I am the subject of a church discipline process, my resignation will only be accepted after a 90-day waiting period in order to allow time for the church discipline process to be brought, if possible, to conclusion.

Signature *

By placing your name in the section below you are agreeing to everything listed above, and officially submitting your church membership application. The name section below is considered an electronic signature.

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