Urban Grace Church on membership

From their website:

Why should I become a member?

The church of Urban Grace is a family, adopted by God (Galatians 4:6-7; Ephesians 1:5). We care for each other, pray for each other, and serve together. If you’re already a Christian, if you’re already in some form of Urban Grace community, if you’re already giving your resources and your time, then you are already fulfilling some functions of a member. Without making an official commitment, however, we cannot provide the same level of pastoral care and community support, in part because we may not know who you are, and in part because the Bible requires that we take care of our family first (Ephesians 2:19 cf. Galatians 6:10).

If you’re not a Christian, don’t worry about membership until you’ve been reconciled to God though Jesus. If you are a Christian who has spent a lot of time at Urban Grace, however, search your heart and identify your hesitation. There may be valid reasons to abstain from Urban Grace membership. But we’re rebels by our cursed nature; if you bristle at the very idea of becoming a member, ask yourself why–and don’t hesitate to speak with pastor or community group leader

What are the benefits of being a member?

Scripture calls us a body, a family, a household–being a Christian is not a solo effort. Jesus works through the church (Ephesians 2:10), the church is Jesus’ body (1 Corinthians 12:27), and apart from Jesus, you can do nothing (John 15).

This isn’t Blockbuster, it isn’t a country club, and it isn’t 24-Hour Fitness. Again, members are the church. “In love [God] predestined us for adoption as sons through Jesus Christ…So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God” (Ephesians 1:4-5; 2:19).

You don’t join for the perks–although members do enjoy greater access to about 6 Members Only meeting which meet about every other month, and certain volunteer opportunities are only available to members. The benefit is that we get to worship Jesus together, serve in His kingdom, and be children of God! We enjoy the guidance that His Word provides, and, when sin comes between us, we enjoy the reconciliation Jesus’ blood provides. Plus, an official membership process is beneficial because we will know who we are on mission with, who gives priority to the church, and it helps the leaders to shepherd the members better.