How to Join
If the Bible is the cornerstone of our church, then membership is the cement that holds us all together. Both Christ and Paul pointed us toward membership for our encouragement, our protection, and our instruction. We seek to carry out this vision through our four-step process by which to join CHBC.
Membership Class All prospective members must attend our Membership Matters class. The curriculum is composed of seven one-hour classes entitled:
- Statement of Faith
- Church Covenant
- Why Join a Church?
- Church History
- Who Put the Southern in Southern Baptist?
- Nuts and Bolts
Courses are offered in a Friday night/Saturday morning format periodically through the year and weekly on Sunday mornings. Upon completion, those who attended all seven classes are able but not obligated to sign up for a membership interview, the second step of the membership process.
Membership Interview In a 35-40 minute meeting, the prospective member meets with a pastor to provide basic biographical information and recount God’s converting work in his or her life. After signing the church statement of faith and covenant, the prospective member may move to the next step in membership: elder recommendation.
Elder Recommendation At a regularly scheduled elders’ meeting, the pastor will review the applicant’s testimony with the other elders. Upon receiving their collective approval, the candidate’s application proceeds to the next step: congregational affirmation.
Congregational Affirmation During our every-other-month members meetings, our senior pastor briefly describes the applicants desiring to be admitted to membership. Questions are fielded, a vote is taken, and with a majority secured, candidates are admitted into membership.