By Darrel Riley
As today’s culture grows less and less receptive to the institutional church, the following question is often asked: “Does membership matter?” To respond to this question honestly, we need to answer both “no” and “yes.”
No, membership does not matter if it is primarily used as a statistic to establish a pecking order of prestige. I used to minister in another denomination where membership served as the primary scoreboard for church and pastoral success; in that setting, it didn’t matter that often more than half of the declared members were no longer actively involved in the church. No, membership doesn’t matter if it re-enforces an insider/outsider mindset within a congregation. And no, membership doesn’t matter if a person believes that he or she “ought to” become a member.
Yes, membership matters when it is a public expression of commitment to Christ and His body, the church. We become a part of the universal church when we respond to Jesus’ invitation and become a Christ follower, but local church membership provides us with a family and a home base where we can grow up as disciples. Church membership is an acknowledgement that it’s not just Jesus and me.
Membership matters when honest relationships allow us to speak truth to one another, so we can become all Christ called us to be. No one can become fully formed in Christ apart from authentic Christian community.
And yes, membership matters when we realize that it is not about us, or even our church. Rather, it’s about being better equipped to serve and share with those who have yet to hear or respond to God’s love.
Does membership matter? That really depends upon you.
November 22 is Free Methodist Membership Sunday. Let’s celebrate belonging to Christ and His body, the church.
Darrel Riley serves as superintendent for the Alabama-Georgia, Gulf Coast, and South Atlantic Conferences.
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