Inquirers Gathering

MEMBERSHIP MATTERS! Membership is about responding to God’s call to take the next step in your spiritual journey, and to belong to a community of people who are striving together to do the work of God’s limitless love with purpose and passion. By becoming a member of First Baptist Church, you are making a commitment to partner with us as we seek together to claim, cultivate, and proclaim the good news of God’s love for our world. Your commitment will make a positive difference in your life, in the life of this church, and in the world around us.

How do I become a member? That’s a great question, and we’re glad you asked! The first step is to come to our Inquirers Gathering on Sunday, August 28 (3:00p-5:00p, at the Morgan home, 2614 Page Court). This relaxed, outdoor, child-inclusive gathering offers an opportunity to get to know each other, learn more about First Baptist Church, hear how you can connect with the life and ministry of this congregation, ask questions, and get some insight into what membership at FBCA2 means. Let us know if you can come!

If you can’t attend the Inquirers Gathering, you can contact one of our pastors (Pastor Stacey or Pastor Paul) to indicate your interest in learning more about church membership.

What about my children? What does membership mean for them? We seek to incorporate children of all ages into the life and ministry of First Baptist Church, with a commitment to listening to and learning from them as well as mentoring them in Christian faith. Whatever the age of your child(ren), we have a place for them on the path of lifelong engagement in a faith of their own. In addition to our spiritual formation classes for all ages, we offer the following opportunities for kids to be received into the congregation.

• Babies, toddlers, preschoolers (or older). We offer a liturgy of dedication in the context of Sunday morning worship. This is an opportunity for parents to make public their commitment to raising their child in Christian faith, for the congregation to make a commitment to pray for the child and parents, and for the pastors and congregation to bless the child.
• Elementary school children. If your elementary school child has not been dedicated (or baptized) elsewhere and you are interested in having them dedicated at First Baptist, we will work with you to put together a liturgy of dedication especially for them. If your older elementary school child has begun expressing interest in being baptized, you can contact Xan about possible next steps for them.
• Middle school and high school children. Pastor Stacey periodically leads a discipleship group for 6th-12th graders interested in exploring what it means to make a public profession of faith in Jesus and a commitment to follow him. After the sessions and discipleship assignments are completed, participants may decide to be baptized. If they’ve already been baptized in another tradition, they may choose to be confirmed in their faith in the context of public worship. On the Sunday of their baptism or confirmation, they will be officially received into full membership by the congregation in a liturgy of mutual commitment. Contact Pastor Stacey if your child is interested in being in the next discipleship group.

Personalized possibilities. First Baptist Church is not a “one size fits all” kind of place. Are you an adult who has not been baptized and is ready to make a personal profession of faith? We baptize adults and will talk you through how our unique immersion-style baptism takes place in the context of Sunday worship. Have you been baptized in another church or denomination? We accept into membership anyone who has been baptized, regardless of your age at the time of baptism or the denomination in which your baptism occurred. We do not require re-baptism. Are you only in the area temporarily? We’re accustomed to the rhythms of life in a university town, and we thrive on providing a welcoming, hospitable church home for anyone seeking a place of connection and purpose, even if your stay in the area is brief. Full membership, affiliate membership, highly involved participation – we have lots of options for you to find your place here. Pastors Paul and Stacey would love to help you explore your personal path for engaging in faith and service in partnership with this congregation!