Membership

There are three ways to become a member at First Church:Night Photo

  • By confession of faith in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior (and readiness to be baptized if you have not been already)
  • By reaffirmation of faith (for those who are not currently an active church member, but have been in the past)
  • By transfer of church membership from another church

Before joining First Church, potential members are encouraged (but no required) to attend our Membership Exploration Class which introduces the history and organization of our church and helps potential members understand what our church is all about. The class is offered as a series over four consecutive Sundays.

Membership Exploration Class - This four-week class is frequently scheduled for persons interested in church membership or in learning more about First Presbyterian. (Participation in this class, while encouraged, is not a requirement for church membership.) Led by the church staff and members of the Evangelism committee, this course allows individuals to ask questions about what it means to be Presbyterian, what it means to be a part of the Reformed church, learn about the mission opportunities in the church, and whether or not they feel called by God to join this community of faith.
Requirements of Members

All that is required of a church member is:

  • Confess the Christian faith
  • Trust in Jesus Christ as our Savior
  • Promise to follow Christ and Christ’s example for living
  • Commit oneself to attend church and to become involved in its work

In addition, there is the promise to live a Christian life and to seek and accept God’s forgiveness when we fail. Members have a commitment to grow in the knowledge of and commitment to this faith.

Membership is an adventure with God to live a different kind of life.

Commitment to Church Life

We believe every Christian has a responsibility before God to use our time, talent and resources, not only in the church, but in common life in the service of God. We are ambassadors who carry a message wherever we go and servants of God in whatever we are doing with our lives in the world.

Organization of First Presbyterian

First Church, like all Presbyterian churches, is a representative democracy. The word ‘Presbyterian’ actually comes from the Greek word ‘presbuteros’ which means ‘elder.’ We are governed by elders who are democratically chosen from and by the entire congregation. Governance and authority over church matters resides with these elected elders.

Elders make up the church’s governing body which is called the Session. Our Session oversees many of the daily tasks of the church, seeking to understand what God is calling our church to do in the world and then taking action to carry that out.

The Deacons, another ordained, biblically based position, serve in many aspects of daily church life.