membership at the ring
we believe that church membership is about more than just having your name on a list in the church database, and it's not about voting privileges or financial contributions. being a member of a church is about joining a family. this is very important to us, and so we have a process that allows us to build relationships and that helps everyone find their place in the family.
here's an overview of our membership process...
attend one of our membership classes - this is a 3 hour class where we tell you everything you need to know about the ring community church. we cover our beliefs, core values, vision, structure, and exactly what membership entails. this time is usually led by the pastor and elders, so that everyone can get to know each other. the main goal is to provide you with everything you need to make a prayerful decision about membership. attending the class does not make you a member. now the ball is in your court.
pray - now that you are informed, it's time to make sure the ring is really the place for you. we want you to take as much time as you need, and let Him guide you. you won't hurt our feelings if you feel led elsewhere. we only want what He wants.
complete the "blue book" - if you know that God is leading you to join, we have put together a 5-day devotional known as the "blue book" because it looks like a blue book from college. the idea here is to have you think through some things about yourself that will help you find your place in the church family. the devotion covers spiritual gifts, interests, things you are good at, experiences you have been through, etc. all of these things pressed together shape you for unique roles within the church family.
meet with one of the elders - after you have completed the blue book, you will set up a meeting with one of the elders, known as a one-on-one. this might seem intimidating, but it is an important part of our membership process. we want to get to know you, and this helps us personalize the process even beyond the class. in this one-on-one, we will ask about your life... where you are from, what you are doing now, your family, your church background, etc. we will also ask you what you learned about yourself by going through the blue book and will help identify some areas of the church where you want to get involved. this meeting is not about seeing if you are good enough for us, but it's about helping you get connected to our church family and turning you loose to serve and use the gifts God has given you.
come to a family meeting - the final step is for you to come to one of our family meetings. this is a time where we gather all of the members of the family together and take care of some family business. this usually includes reports from various ministries within the church, a financial update, insight on what's ahead, q&a with the pastor, and renewal of the membership covenant. a part of the covenant renewal is the welcoming of new members to the family, and we seal this by taking communion together.
if you have questions about membership or want to sign up for the next class, email josh at .