Membership (Quick Reference)

Overview

Here at All Souls we practice the ancient Christian (and Jewish!) tradition of Membership in a local body of believers.

Here’s what is required to become a Member at All Souls:

  1. Members need to be Christians

  2. Members need to view All Souls as their local church

  3. Members need to believe the content of the Apostles Creed

  4. Members need to be able to make 6 Membership Vows

  5. Members need to have been baptized in a Christian church

Members (usually) go through a 9 week membership course and then request to meet with elders/leaders for an informal membership interview.

This is usually just a 30 minute conversation over coffee, beer, or dinner. This provides an opportunity for you to tell us why you want to be a member. And it's a chance for us to hear about your relationship with Jesus, to review the membership vows together, and to answer any questions or concerns. If you've never been baptized, we'll talk about that too.

Curriculum (recordings)

  1. Why Membership Matters

  2. What we think about Friendship

  3. What we think about Jesus

  4. What we think about Sin

  5. What we think about Shalom

  6. What we think about Grace

  7. What makes All Souls Unique (Part 1)

  8. What makes All Souls Unique (Part 2)

  9. How All Souls is Organized

Apostles’ Creed

I believe in God the Father, Almighty Maker of heaven and earth.

I believe in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord:
He was conceived of the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, died, and was buried.
He descended into hell; the third day He rose again from the dead:
He ascended into heaven, and sits at the right hand of God the Father Almighty,
whence He shall come to judge the living and the dead.

I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic** church, the communion of saints,
the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and life everlasting. Amen!

** ‘catholic' (small c) is an ancient term, meaning 'universal,' not 'Roman Catholic'.

All Souls Membership Vows

What commitments does a Member make to the Church?

  1. Do you believe that the Christian Scriptures (both Old and New Testaments) are in fact the Word of God, that they contain the true message of salvation for all people? [1]

  2. Do you believe you are a sinner in God's sight, that you justly deserve his displeasure, that your only hope is God's sovereign love and mercy, which flows by grace, through faith, not works? [2]

  3. Do you believe that Jesus Christ is the only Son of the Triune God, the resurrected Savior of sinners, that he is your only hope for spiritual rescue? [3]

  4. Do you promise, through the grace of the Holy Spirit, that you will strive to forsake the world, to put to death your sinful nature, and to live a godly life as a follower of Christ? [4]

  5. Do you promise to support the church in its worship and its work to the best of your ability? [5]

  6. Do you promise to submit to the government and discipline of the church, and to preserve and pursue its purity and peace? [6]

What commitments does the Church make back to new members?

  1. Do you, members of All Souls, promise to receive and accept these brothers and sisters as members of this local body even as Christ has accepted you? And do you promise to encourage, to exhort, to pray for, and to give yourselves for them, realizing that God has brought them into this body for their good, our edification, and His glory?

References:

  • [1] The Scriptures claim to be the Word of God – see 2 Timothy 3:16; 2 Peter 1:19-21; Matthew 4:4.

  • [2] The New Testament sees all people as Sinners – see Ephesians 1:3-14; 2:1-10; Titus 3:3-7; 1 Peter 1:2-9.

  • [3] Both Jesus and the early Christians insist that we must go through Jesus if we hope to know God – see John 14:6; Romans 1:16-17; 3:9-26; Philippians 3:5-9; Titus 3:3-5; 1 Timothy 1:15.

  • [4] Jesus insists that the essence of discipleship is following him – see Matthew 8:34-38; Ephesians 4:17-6.4; 1 Peter 1:13-15; Romans 8:29.

  • [5] Christians are called to support their churches – see Romans 12:3-8; 1 Corinthians 12:9-15; Ephesians 4:1-16; Hebrews 10:24-25; 1 Peter 4:7-11.

  • [6] Christians are called to submit to their leaders and work to create unity – see Ephesians 5:15-21; 1 Thessalonians 5:12-13; 1 Timothy 5:17; Hebrews 13:17.