Membership

Members of New Community Church are on a shared journey of faith and mission in relationship with each other through our common belonging to Jesus Christ and call to be His Body – the Church. This shared journey, as parts of the Body of Christ at NCC, takes a variety of forms. Each form of church membership at NCC shares five basic commitments:

1) Affirmation of beliefs as expressed in NCC’s faith statement.
2) Support of NCC’s stated call and vision.
3) Growth in our relationship with God and each other.
4) Claiming and offering our God-given gifts in service to Jesus
through NCC and in consultation with the covenant members.
5) Financial giving.

The categories of membership described are intended to provide support and structure for commitment, accountability, service and growth as Jesus’ disciples in the world and members of His Body at New Community. They are also an expression of our commitment to the integrity of church membership in the tradition of the Church of the Saviour. Integrity of membership means that each member takes his/her membership seriously, makes promises he/she intends to keep and is intentional about discerning and following God’s call in relation to the commitments he/she makes.

Everyone who makes a commitment to one of the membership categories is a congregational member at NCC and makes his/her commitment with integrity. Each category has integrity. We value the gifts and participation of all members while also recognizing that the covenant members have the final responsibility and authority for decision making in the life of the church. We seek to be both as inclusive as we possibly can, yet also draw the lines of commitment as clearly as possible. All forms of membership at New Community Church are commitments that are prayerfully reviewed and renewed (or not) on an annual basis at Pentecost.

Categories of Membership:

Child/Youth Members: Child/Youth members make a basic faith statement and declare their membership in New Community Church and commit to share their gifts.

Community Members: Community members make New Community Church their church home and share their God-given gifts and give financially, as they are able. Each community member commits to the five basic membership commitments.

 Exploring Members: Exploring members make New Community Church their church home and share their God-given gifts in the context of specific commitments. Including the five basic membership commitments, exploring members commit to:

1) Taking NCC’s covenant members orientated class called “Treasures and Vessels”.
2) Maintaining a relationship in which you are “partnered’ with one of the covenant members.
3) Committing to a daily time of quiet, prayer and Bible reading. 4) Making a financial pledge.

Intern Members: Intern members make New Community Church their church home and share their God-given gifts in the context of exploring a decision about becoming a full covenant member of the Church. In addition to the five basic membership commitments, intern members commit to:

1) Participating in a NCC approved Mission Group.
2) Attending one silent retreat per year sponsored by the Church.
3) Committing to a daily time of quiet, prayer and Bible reading of at least 30 minutes.
4) Maintaining a “sponsoring” relationship with a covenant member.
5) Tithing a minimum of 5% of one’s income to the Church.

Covenant Members: Covenant members make New Community Church their church home and share their God-given gifts in the context of accepting and exercising full responsibility for the church in all its parts. In addition to the five basic membership commitments, covenant members commit to:

1) Participating in a NCC approved Mission Group.
2) Continuing to study and become an informed Christian.
3) Serving as a partner and/or sponsor of an exploring and/or intern member.
4) Take responsibility for the overall church organization and the exercising of church members’ gifts. 5) Tithing a minimum of 10% of one’s income to the Church.