Planting Churches Among the City's Poor - Volume 2

338 • P LANTING C HURCHES AMONG THE C ITY ’ S P OOR : V OLUME 2

g. Support and be responsive to the church’s elected and appointed leaders (Heb. 13.17)

3. Receiving members. Anyone desiring membership shall meet the requirements of membership and make a commitment to assume the responsibilities of membership. Upon approval by the congregation, the applicant shall be received as a member with full privileges and responsibilities. 4. Transferring membership. Those who are convinced that the Lord is leading them to unite with Anyname Fellowship may be received with full privileges and responsibilities upon completion of the following requirements. a. If they are changing their membership from another church, they may submit a church letter from their previous church which acknowledges their release from it, and the promise to renew membership elsewhere. b. If they have previously accepted Christ as personal Lord and Savior, and have been baptized as a believer, they may join by their confession. If they have confessed Christ but have never been baptized, they may be accepted as a candidate for membership by baptism. c. All persons who are transferring must affirm and agree with the mission and doctrinal statements of faith of Anyname Fellowship, discuss their desire to join AF with a member of its Pastoral Team, or their appointed representatives, and complete the membership orientation class and their application for membership form. 5. Removing members. Member status may be reviewed, and a member may be removed from the membership roll by a two-thirds vote of the Elders Council under the following conditions:

a. Transferring to another church home

b. Assuming a new permanent address out of the city, state, or region

c. Requesting to be released from membership