How to Become a Part of the First Presbyterian Family 

An Opportunity Every Sunday: During each worship service, one of the pastors extends an invitation to Christian discipleship and to membership in First Presbyterian Church and urges those sensing God’s call to meet with him at the baptismal font following the benediction.

Meeting with the Pastor and Session: After the service, talk with the pastor at the baptismal font. The pastor will take you to the Session Room to meet with him and two members of the Session, our board of elders. You’ll fill out some paperwork and share in a brief conversation about matters of faith and membership.

You will be asked for the basis of your membership. We receive members through one of three ways:

1. Your Profession of Faith in Christ as Lord and Savior (and the scheduling of baptism if not previously baptized).

2. Your Transfer of Membership from a Christian church.

3. A Reaffirmation of Faith when it is impossible to receive a membership transfer.

Next, you will be asked to affirm the Membership Covenant:

• Believing Jesus Christ to be the Son of God, I accept him as my personal Savior and acknowledge him as my Master and Lord.

• I confess my sins, repent of them, and put my trust in the love and mercy of God, revealed in the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

• Trusting in the Holy Spirit for guidance, I shall seek to lead a consistent Christian life, honoring Christ in all my relationships.

• I promise to be a faithful member of this Church, supporting through prayer, Bible study, regular attendance upon worship, unselfish Christian service, and stewardship of my life and possessions.

Then the elders will receive you into the membership of the church and welcome you into the FPC family of faith. It’s that simple!

Step Two: Shortly after you become a member, you will be contacted about Step Two, a one-time, one-hour orientation into the life of the church. Often but not always held during the Sunday School hour, you can schedule the date, time, and place of your Step Two session with the person contacting you.

Other Opportunities to Discover More: We offer courses and other occasions for you to find out more about First Presbyterian Church and its life. Watch the website along with the church bulletin and newsletter for when these other opportunities are scheduled.

• Several times during the year, Dr. and Mrs. Brown host “Discover First Pres: Coffee with Clay and Cathy,” an evening coffee and dessert reception at the Manse for new members and for those considering membership.
• Periodically the pastoral staff teaches a variety of courses about Christian basics, spiritual disciplines, and the Presbyterian church.
  These may include:
  • “Presbyterian Practices and Passions,” or “P3,” a three-session course about what Presbyterians believe and do and why.
  • “Christianity Explained,” a five-session course on what C. S. Lewis describes as “mere Christianity.”
  • Short-term studies on basic Christian spiritual disciplines, such as on prayer and personal Bible study.