How do we view membership?

At Hope we understand that membership is not a biblical mandate. It is not required for a real and personal relationship with Jesus, nor is it necessary for involvement in church life. In fact, each local church will define membership a little differently. Here is how we see membership at Hope and why we think it is important.

Membership is a cultural expression for us as Americans. In a consumer culture with fewer and fewer relational ties, membership is a mark of commitment to a local faith community. Although this commitment is not exclusive, it does call us to invest. Membership allows us to move further away from self service into further service of God and others. It strikes a blow to consumerism and its effect on our spiritual lives. In a culture of ambiguity and shallow relationships, membership honors others by clearly establishing where you stand and your desire to submit to the care giving of these people.

At Hope, we want membership to be a marker of Christian maturity and the practice of our faith, not a substitute for an active relationship with Jesus. Here are four things that we specifically identify with membership:

1. To embrace the mission, vision, and values of Hope.
2. To be in relationship with the people that attend Hope church.
3. To follow the spiritual leadership of Hope.
4. To invest in the work of the church in service and finances.

We believe that the following must all have happened before membership is possible:

• Attend a Hope 101* where the mission, vision and values of Hope are explained.
• Read the Essentials manual about the history, structure, and ministry of Hope.
• Have committed to trust Jesus Christ and practice your faith in Jesus.

Please take the time to consider church membership and the requirements. *Click here for information on Hope 101, a presentation and discussion of Hope's mission, vision, and values. You will have a chance the week following that meeting to have any final questions answered and make a decision about membership. If you choose membership, you will be introduced to the congregation as members within a couple of weeks, on a Sunday morning. There are no repercussions to declining membership. In fact, you can choose membership later by indicating your interest on a connect card.

Have more questions? E-mail us at info@extremehope.org, or call 595-8490 ext. 302.

Hope 101

We have even more things to say about "membership." If you're considering taking this step at Hope, click here to check out Hope 101. It's designed to introduce Hope to you, so that you can make a decision about membership.

Already Attended Hope 101?

Ready for Membership?
Here's the document you need if you're making a decision for membership at Hope. You can mail this to the church office at 28 Harpersville Rd. Newport News, VA 23601 or bring it to the First Glance team on any Sunday.