For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ.
1 Corinthians 12:2
Membership often brings the connotations of belonging to a gym or wholesale club. However, membership to a local church is commitment to life together in faith, community and mission.
Under the authority of Jesus Christ and the Word of God, the members of Citylight are the final authority within this local church. This authority is exercised through the leadership of elected officers, elders who shepherd the church and deacons who serve the church.
Membership Covenant
Our member covenant is not a statement of what we believe, but rather our commitment to how we want to live together. Although not noted with references, most all of the phrases are from Scripture with the major themes of the Great Commandments, the New Testament “One Anothers” and the Great Commission.
Having been led as we believe by the Spirit of God to receive Jesus as our Lord and Savior, having been baptized in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit; we do now in the presence of God and this church most solemnly and joyfully covenant with one another as one body in Christ that, God’s Spirit enabling and filling us:
- worship. We will seek first the kingdom of God in our lives, homes and church, doing all for the glory of God, loving the Lord our God with all our heart and with all soul and with all our mind and with all our strength and loving our neighbors as our ourselves.
- community. We will walk together in love in a manner worthy of the gospel, submitting to one another in reverence to Christ, remembering one another in prayer, rejoicing with one another, bearing one another’s burdens, spurring one another to love and good works, all the while being eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. We will not neglect our involvement in Sunday worship and City Groups, but will regularly gather together, encouraging and exhorting one another in the faith, devoting ourselves to God’s Word and to prayer, honoring our leaders, serving one another with our time and talents, and giving cheerfully to the ministry of this church.
- mission. We will seek to be Spirit-empowered witnesses of Jesus – leading a holy life in response to the gospel, loving both in word and deed in obedience to Christ’s commands, making disciples of our neighbors and all nations as we eagerly await our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ.
Steps to membership at Citylight
- Connection. Become involved in the worship, community and mission of Citylight over several months. To qualify as a member, a person must 1) profess faith in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, 2) give evidence of new life in Christ, 3) be baptized (or schedule a baptism), 4) submit to the Christian faith as revealed in Bible and expressed in the Citylight’s statement of faith.
- Interview. Schedule a membership interview with a pastor/elder. In this conversation the pastor will share more about Citylight and answer any other questions you may have. This is also a time for you to share 1.) your articulation and understanding of the Gospel and 2.) your faith story in Christ. Following this meeting, the elders will discuss a recommendation for membership to the members.
- Recommendation. A recommendation for membership by the elders will be communicated to members, along with any other pertinent information. The members then have 2-3 weeks to follow-up with any feedback or concerns to the elders. If an issue does arise (unrepentant sin, question of faith), then the elders will follow up in assessment.
- Welcome. At the end of these 2-3 weeks and necessary issues addressed, the elders will call for the member candidate(s) be welcomed by the membership, usually during a Sunday morning worship service. We then continue together in life and faith, shining the light of Jesus in knowing and following Him.
If you have any questions about the membership process, please contact us.