What is "Membership"?

From the moment of salvation, and continuing throughout our lives, the gospel not only calls us to God; it calls us to each other, as we reflect one attribute of God: God is Trinity, and thus exists in eternal community with Godself. So covenanting as members of a local church is simply formalizing biblical truths that already exist: you are a member of God’s covenant community; you are pursuing God, each other, and mission; and you are agreeing to do that within the biblical context of an individual, local church.

The Apostle Paul writes in Romans that “just as each of us has one body with members, and these members do not all have the same function, so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another” (12:4-5). Members who covenant with their local church are called to a higher degree of responsibility and service to that church family. At the same time, church leaders covenant with members, to assist members first and foremost, to love and lead members, to provide counsel and aid, and to pray for, teach, and guide members. This is the image of “church membership” as described in the New Testament Church: a local church belongs together, lives out our gospel identities together, and exists together as God’s communities, on God’s mission.

What is a "Covenant"?

Found as early as the book of Genesis (6:18; 9:9-17; 17:4-21; etc.), and still used today to speak of commitments such as marriage, a covenant is an oath. It’s a solemn promise by which you commit yourself to one another into a binding relationship. A covenant generally outlines shared responsibility for both parties, and carries obligations that each party commits to. Even if it's carried out toward another person, a covenant is always a promise made with God. That’s what separates a covenant from a promise, oath, or any other type of commitment: it is always a promise you make with God. David’s friendship with Jonathan was a covenant with God, made to Jonathan. Likewise, marriage is a covenant with God, enacted as a lifelong commitment to your spouse. Your church membership covenant is a solemn oath with God, carried out as we commit ourselves to The City Church family.

Covenant Membership in The City Church

Practically, this covenant with God, made to The City Church, is carried out in our church’s Villages. Based on Paul’s descriptions of “membership of one another” in Romans 12, and the picture of a local church family throughout the New Testament, covenant membership in The City Church involves more than walking to the front one Sunday, joining an institution, attending occasional meetings, and checking a box on the roll. Just as a healthy physical body requires each member do its part well, a healthy church requires each member to sacrificially commit to carrying out the works and ministry God’s entrusted to you (Romans 12:4-5; 1Corinthians 12:12-25; Ephesians 2:10; 4:12). We hold your membership covenant to The Church in high regard, as we strive to live out our gospel-centered identities together, as disciples, family, and missionaries together, for the glory of God and the good of Fort Worth. Membership helps our pastor-elders shepherd better, knowing who is fully invested to our church family and who they will give an account for in heaven (Heb 13:17). Our pastor-elders thus commit to care and counsel, pray for and with, teach, and guide our covenant members first and foremost.

To become a covenant member...

1. We suggest that you invest fully in "City life" (a Village, All-Church Gatherings, everyday mission, etc) for at least three to four months before you covenant as a member
2. Sign up for a Covenant Membership Class (one-time class, offered three times annually; see our calendar for the next one)
3. Discuss your covenant with a Pastor-Elder or candidate
4. Sign your covenant and return to a Pastor-Elder

FAQ's & Membership Covenant

> Click here for covenant membership FAQ's, & if you have further questions, contact us

> Click here to download The City Church's Membership Covenant [.pdf]