The church is the body of Christ, the local collection of Christians committed to Christ and each other. The local church is not a club. It is not a voluntary organization where membership is optional for you. It is not a friendly group of people who share an interest in religious things and so gather weekly to talk about the divine. Nor is the church a service provider, where the customer has all authority. The local church is the authority on earth that Jesus has instituted to officially affirm and give shape to our Christian lives.

Fundamentally, church membership entails a life of repentance and belief. The church is intended to be a community of those who have been born again.

God's grace in our lives, granting us repentance and faith, is signaled by two things:

Baptism

The Bible presents baptism as the first step of obedience for the Christian, and the assumption in the New Testament is that all Christians have been baptized.

Signing of church covenant

The signing of a church covenant is not a new practice. In fact, the opposite is true. The practice is a historic one. It simply fell into disuse in the middle decades of the twentieth century. But earlier in American history, such signing was general practice.

The Christian life is fundamentally relational in nature. Relationships require commitment to flourish. Our church covenant is the commitment we make to one another within our church.

“Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.”
— Hebrews 10:23-25

Individuals desiring to unite with Red Lane may offer himself or herself as a candidate for membership by meeting the following qualifications:

  • By profession of faith and having been baptized by immersion

  • By letter of transfer from another SBC church

  • By statement of faith and believer's baptism by immersion

  • Attendance and completion of the Connection's Class and signing of the church covenant

  • Candidate Interview with one of the elders

Member candidates will be received with a 3/4 affirmation vote by members at the next Member's Meeting.