Church Membership

Next Class - Sunday, September 10th | 5-7pm

Our Membership Process

  • Step 1: Attend Risen 101 (sign up on Church Center)

  • Step 2: Complete Membership Application 

  • Step 3: Meet with a Pastor / Elder

  • Step 4: Vote of Affirmation by Congregation 

    • Baptism by immersion (if you haven’t gone through believers’ baptism already)

  • Step 5: Sign Church Covenant

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Our Membership Class

If you wish to learn more about the beliefs and practices of Risen Church, and learn how to become a Covenant Member, we have a recurring Membership Class that is just for you!

This class is the first step of the membership process.  We cover the doctrines and values that are foundational to our life together, and how they work their way out in our practices. This course is a requirement for those seeking membership at Risen, though attending the class does not commit you to membership. 

To sign up for the next membership class, click the button below. If that date doesn’t work for you and you’d like to talk 1 on 1 about membership, please email ian@risennc.com.

Our Membership Philosophy

Why Do We Have a Church Covenant?

  • Covenants are a major theme in the Bible. God makes a promise or commitment to His people. Covenants establish relationships (Jeremiah 31:33) and relationships entail identity & responsibility (John 13:34-35).

  • When believers covenant with one another in a local church they establish their identity as a distinct, unified body of individual members (1 Cor. 12:12-27) in a particular area. This helps clarify what it means to follow Jesus, together, as Risen Church. 

  • It helps the elders exercise soul care as they "shepherd the flock" known as Risen Church. 1 Peter 5:1-5 calls the elders of a local church, on behalf of Jesus, the Chief Shepherd, to shepherd the flock of God. Our church covenant helps the elders know who has submitted to their leadership (Hebrews 13:17) and who "the flock" is that they've been called to shepherd.

​What is Our Church Covenant?

Our church covenant is based on historic Baptist church covenants and on New Testament commands to Christians. It states:

Having been brought by God’s grace to repent and believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, and having been baptized in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, we joyfully and earnestly enter into covenant with one another as one body in Christ. Thus, as members of Risen Church, and relying upon the grace of God, we make the following commitments to our brothers and sisters in Christ:

  • We will work and pray for the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. (Eph 4:3; John 17:20-23)

  • We will walk together in love as Christ commands, caring for each other, watching over each other, encouraging and admonishing one another as occasion may require - with humility, gentleness, and patience. (Luke 17:3; Col. 3:13; Eph 4:2, 32; 1 Thes. 5:11; 1 Pet. 1:22; Matt. 18:15-20; 1 Cor. 5:1-13; Titus 3:10-11; James 5:19-20)

  • We will regularly attend the church’s gatherings, faithfully pray for one another, and serve one another with the gifts God has given us, as stewards of His grace. (Col. 4:2; Heb. 10:25; 1 Sam. 12:23; 1 Pet. 4:10)

  • We will endeavor to lead those in our care in the nurture and admonition of the Lord, as well as to seek the salvation of our family, friends, neighbors, and coworkers. (Gen. 2:24-25, Eph. 5:21-33; Eph. 6:4; 1 Pet. 3:1-7)

  • We will rejoice at each other’s happiness and bear each other’s burdens and sorrows, providing both spiritual and physical care as occasion may require. (Rom. 12:15, Gal. 6:2)

  • With God’s help, we will live carefully in this world, denying ungodliness and worldly desires, having been raised up with Christ to walk in new life. (Titus 2:11-12; 1 Pet. 1:14, Rom. 6:4; Col 3:1)

  • We will work together to maintain a faithful gospel witness in our worship, sacraments, discipline, and doctrine. (2 Tim. 4:2, Acts 2:38; 1 Cor. 11:26, Matt. 18:15-20, 1 Cor. 5:1-13; Titus 3:10-11, James 5:19-20)

  • We will contribute cheerfully, generously, and regularly to the expenses of the church, the needs of our neighbors, and the spread of the gospel around the world. (Matt. 28:19; Luke 12:33; 2 Cor. 9:7)

  • If we leave this congregation, we will join another gospel-preaching church as soon as possible, where we can carry out the spirit of this covenant and the principles of God’s Word.

May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with us all. Amen.