A membership interview is one of my favorite tasks as an elder. It is here that I get to hear people’s stories by asking them how the Lord has worked in their lives. In other words, how did the Lord draw them to Him.
I see the beauty of local church membership. Not all churches have formal membership. I believe that the Bible supports church membership, but that is not what this article is about. Perhaps we can address it at another time.
Our denomination, a conservative Presbyterian denomination, takes membership seriously. To become a member, you need to complete an interview with two elders. I have been an elder in our denomination for nearly thirty years. In short, elders shepherd and rule (or lead). Our other ordained office is deacon. Deacons focus on service and mercy. Continue reading →