Membership vs. Partnership

I've been thinking lately... and I know that can be very dangerous at times.  At NMCC we try and help people take next steps in their relationship with God, others, and the church, but in asking people to take those next steps, are we asking them to take a wrong step when we ask for membership?  Maybe, I'm playing semantics here, but the church has a history with the word "membership."  Asking someone to become a member of a church historically meant...

• Now, I have a pastor who will marry, bury, and come visit me when I'm sick.
• Now, I have a place that will meet my needs.
• Now, I have a people that are just like me or if they're not I can just ignor them.
• Now, I have a position that I can voice and vote, my opinions.

Historically, becoming a "member" of a church meant that you had rights, priviledges, and options.  (serving, giving, and showing up being the main options)

What if we asked people not to take a step toward membership, but partnership?  And we could have levels of partnership to help us along the journey of taking steps.  Think about it.  Take a step of partnership by...

• Partnering with God by accepting His Son Jesus  (Salvation)
• Partnering with us in community worship.  (Weekend worship)
• Partnering with us in community groups.  (Maturing in Christ)
• Partnering with us in community ministry.  (Volunteering)
• Partnering with us in community outreach.  (Building relationships with the unconvinced)
• Partnering with us in community resourcing.  (Giving to vision)

So instead of membership lists, we'd have partnership covenants.  Our ultimate goal is to get the unconvinced to partner with God by accepting His Son, Jesus and growing to become more like Him by continuing the partnership relationship with the local body of believers.  We grow, one step at a time partnering together in community worship, groups, ministry, outreach, and resourcing.

It may just be me, but I think partnership has a much greater impact than membership.  What do you think?

Comments

[Shellie]

I agree completely.

In fact, I know some people at NMCC who are actively involved in leadership positions and have yet to 'join' our Church. They ask me all the time if it bothers me they aren't members. I always tell them not in the least. Their heart is here, and their focus is on God. That's good enough for me.