All individuals 12 years of age or older who have personally received Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord, who have submitted to believers' baptism by immersion, and who desire to be committed to Open Door Bible Church as a local body of believers may become members of ODBC through the following procedure:
Regularly attend the Sunday worship service and consistently
participate in the life of ODBC.
Attend a Discovery Class (membership class) and S.H.A.P.E. Seminar
(ministry placement).
Complete a membership application and be personally interviewed
by an elder or appointed leader.
Sign the church covenant.
Be affirmed publicly as a new member before the congregation.
In the event that an individual in good standing chooses to transfer his or her membership, the process for reinstatement shall be the same as outlined above. If during the time a release from membership is being sought the member is being confronted about his or her sin, the release will be postponed until the process of Matthew 18 (church discipline) has taken its course and the member is restored.
The Purpose of Membership
The New Testament presents a picture of definable groups1 of people who, once committed to the Lord, identified themselves with and committed themselves to a particular local body.
In order to implement the principles of accountability and commitment to the local body of Christ, as defined in the New Testament and practiced in the early churches, ODBC recognizes the need for formal membership.
The Criteria for Membership
Open Door Bible Church membership shall be open to anyone twelve years of age or older who has personally received Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord2 who has submitted to believers' baptism3 by immersion and who desires to be committed to ODBC as a local body of believers.
Principles of Accountability and Commitment
Membership in the body of Christ requires submission to Christ - a desire to bring each area of one's life under His lordship4. Practically, this involves a willingness to be held accountable for one's commitment to invest the resources God has entrusted to him/her in order to further the ministry and impact of the church. Therefore church membership at Open Door Bible Church requires faithful stewardship5 in five areas.
1. Truth
"Therefore take care how you listen; for whoever has, to him shall more be given; and whoever does not have, even what he thinks he has shall be taken away." - Luke 8:18
We recognize that the church is governed by a plurality of shepherding elders6, who hold firmly to the Word of Truth7. It is their responsibility to interpret8 and teach9 the Scriptures accurately. They are also to confront those who are teaching what they should not teach10, or who are continuing in a pattern of behavior contrary to biblical truth11. Thus, elders are to work at maintaining the purity and unity of the church doctrinally and morally, so that the truth of Christ will remain credible both to the congregation and community. Therefore, each member should humbly receive12 the teaching of the elders and conscientiously apply and share13 the truth with which the member has been entrusted.
2. Time
"...and let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds, not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more, as you see the day drawing near." - Hebrews 10:24-25
Regular fellowship with other believers is vital to one's own Christian walk14. Therefore, believers should be willing to adjust their schedules to give priority to meeting with the body when it corporately assembles15. Furthermore, because Christ expended Himself to "seek and save" us, we ought to be willing to occasionally invest our time, individually and corporately, in evangelistic efforts designed to impact the unbelieving within our sphere of influence17.
3. Talents & Gifts
"...from whom the whole body, being fitted and held together by that which every joint supplies, according to the proper working of each individual part, causes the growth of the body for the building up of itself in love." - Ephesians 4:16
We recognize that the body is composed of interdependent members18 each uniquely gifted by the Holy Spirit19 for the purpose of building up the body20. Therefore, each believer should seek to identify, develop and exercise21 his spiritual gift and abilities and seek a place of service within the body, with the support and affirmation of the body.
4. Treaures
"Do not lay up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in or steal; for where your treasure is, there will your heart be also." - Matthew 6:19-21
Realizing that we have been bought with the price of Christ's blood,22 everything we are and have belongs to Him. We recognize "first fruit" and free-will giving23 as the biblical standard of giving for the support of the body. But, and moreover, in response to Christ's abundant giving, we should increasingly seek to submit our personal resources to his Lordship,24 displaying a spirit of generosity and cheerfulness when special projects or pressing needs arise25.
5. Team
Now you are Christ's body, and individually members of it. (1 Corinthians 12:27)
Make my joy complete…also for the interests of others. (Philippians 2:2-4)
We affirm the value of the individual and his/her freedom to choose where he/she will steward the four previous stated bestowments, realizing that each will individually be judged on how he/she has invested.26 However, no believer is intended to live independently of the body27. There should, therefore, be an orientation towards mutuality, cooperation, and a team effort28 and a mindset of considering one another as more important than oneself29. This attitude should be considered acceptable and right in light of our being called together according to the intent of Christ30; in light of the body's unity being essential to evangelistic impact31, and in light of the fact that the Lord and Head of the Church is judging and will judge us collectively for our obedience and conformity to His commandments32.
Open Door Bible Church Covenant
The following is my covenant with the Lord and Open Door Bible Church:
Having personally trusted in Jesus Christ alone for my salvation, and having made public profession of my faith in Him by baptism and testimony, I solemnly and joyfully agree with God to forsake the ways of sin and to walk in Christian love and in the path of righteousness.
I promise to exercise mutual care for fellow members of this local body and to promote the growth of the whole body in Christian knowledge, holiness, and comfort through consistent contact with body members33 and regular attendance of services offered for my spiritual benefit;34 to be diligent to preserve the unity and oneness of mind in the assembly;35 to sustain its worship and steadfastly to cherish and hold Christ's ordinances, disciplines, and the doctrine of the Word of God; to contribute, as a faithful steward, my time, talent, and money. I will regularly set aside a sum of money in keeping with my income in order to support the on-going ministry of the local church and missionary outreach36 through the church.
I also engage to bring my children up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord, to seek the salvation of my family and friends, to walk carefully in the world to the end that I may lead others to a saving faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. I will endeavor to be a Christian example in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith and in purity of life, remembering that God has not given us a spirit of timidity, but of power, of love and a sound mind; that we are the light of the world and the salt of the earth, and that a city set on a hill cannot be hid.
I further engage to give and receive admonition with meekness and affection; to fervently pray for each other and the work at Open Door Bible Church37; to aid each other in case of sickness and distress: to cultivate Christian sympathy in feeling and courtesy of speech.
I purpose to remain silent if I cannot give a good report of other body members38. If someone begins to share a bad report, I will redirect them to approach the one who has offended them or, if a grievance, redirect them to appeal to the one in authority39. I will always be ready to pursue reconciliation, and mindful of the Scriptures, to seek it without delay and to encourage one another in the blessed hope of our Lord's return.
I will become equipped or outfitted for works of service within the church40. Therefore, I will seek to discover my spiritual gift and develop character in order that I might better serve others41.
I, moreover, engage to submit to and obey the leadership of this assembly as defined by Scripture42, and to receive the loving protection, care, direction, counsel, and discipline from the shepherding elders43
I, likewise, engage that before I make a geographical move or should otherwise wish to minister in another assembly, I'll make every effort to locate a Biblically sound church to which I may be released. I recognize that I ought not resign from this local church to be shepherded by none.
I now desire to unite with this local assembly. I am in full agreement with the doctrinal statement and philosophy of ministry of the Open Door Bible Church. I realize that membership does not bring personal salvation.
I covenant today with God, and the brethren at Open Door Bible Church to establish membership in this assembly.
"Now the God of peace, who brought up from the dead the great Shepherd of the sheep through the blood of the eternal covenant, even Jesus our Lord, equip you in every good thing to do His will, working in us that which is pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be the glory forever and ever. Amen" - Hebrews 13.20-21
