Why Membership?

Many will call a church their home without membership and that's okay. 
Covenant membership, however, is our way of committing to one another in order to see the mission and community of our church grow. We use covenant language because it represents a personal and corporate commitment regarding one's active life/participation within the church and the leadership's commitment to serve and help the church grow into greater maturity.
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Membership Covenant

At Mission Hill Church, membership is marked by an evidenced Christian maturity and commitment to ongoing growth in one’s relationship with Jesus personally and corporately. 
We articulate this commitment in covenant language (committing together to build the body of Christ within Mission Hill Church) through one’s (1) profession of faith, (2) baptism, (3) generosity and contribution within the church, and (4) commitment to community health.

Profession of Faith. Ephesians 2:8, says, “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing.” A saving relationship with Jesus is made possible only through accepting the saving grace of Jesus’ sacrificial death and resurrection work through personal repentance and faith in Jesus Christ as our risen Lord and Saviour who imparts his right standing to us. This is displayed both a professional of one's faith in Jesus Christ as the crucified and risen Lord and Saviour, as well as an evidence of ongoing maturity as a follower of Jesus. 

Baptism. Jesus sent out his followers, saying, “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.” (Mt.28:19) Baptism is not how one enters into a saving relationship with Jesus, but a meaningful and public display of life in Jesus (sharing in his death and resurrection) and belonging in the church.

Generosity and Contribution. As those who have received a saving relationship with Jesus, we are brought into a spiritual family on mission. As such, the whole family misses out when other members of the body are not actively participating within community life and generosity of the church. This activity is evidenced through involvement within the church; as one uses their gifts to serve others and simultaneously financially contributing to their church family. We believe generosity is expressed in an active participation and support of Jesus’ mission given to his church.

Corporate Community Health. As followers of Jesus, we have been brought back into a relationship with God, when we were once estranged/enemies of God, through the incredible sacrifice of Jesus’ death and resurrection (Rm.5:10). For believers who have been reconciled to God, we are representatives of that same reconciling work to others (Eph.5:11-21). Therefore, we believe the gospel message enables us to be reconciled with God and one another (even in the most difficult circumstances). As such, we encourage all members to pursue biblical reconciliation with one another as part of ongoing trust in Jesus and the health of the church.