Membership In Bethel United Methodist Church
All persons are welcome to attend services and seek connection with God in Bethel United Methodist Church whether or not they are members. Those who are ready to enter into deeper connection with the church are invited to consider membership. Consult with the Sr. Pastor regarding current preparation procedures for membership in this church. Membership Preparation Classes are generally held several times a year.
Membership Categories in the United Methodist Church include the following:
Professing Members - Includes all baptized members who have come into the membership of the church by profession of faith, or by transfer of membeship from another church. This is the common category used to measure the statistical membership of the church. Persons seeking this catergory must have been baptized at some point prior to being received as a professing member.
Baptized Members - Includes those persons who have been baptized into Christian faith in this church, or who have been transferred into this congregation after a baptism elsewhere. Baptized members are encouraged to take the next step of becoming a professing member when they are ready to do so.
Affiliate Members of Bethel United Methodist Church are professing members of another distant United Methodist Church who are temporarily located in this congregation, but who wish to keep their primary membership in their original church, anticipating their return to that church after a prolonged, but temporary residency here.
Associate Members of Bethel United Methodist Church are members of another denomination in a distance location, who desire temporary membership in this church during a prolonged, but temporary residence here.