1)      You can join the church by coming forward during the last hymn of any Sunday Worship Service.  You do not need to notify the church in advance of joining the church.  Some persons prefer to meet will our Senior Pastor, Rev. Kathleen Baskin-Ball, prior to joining the church.  Sometimes persons have questions to ask Kathleen about church membership, because they have not previously been members of a United Methodist Church.  To set up a meeting with Kathleen, please contact her at the church office at (972) 390-1695.

2)     It is helpful to our ministerial staff if you complete one of the Join the Church forms that are found in the document holders in the pews.

3)     In the United Methodist Church, children may become baptized members of the church.  Upon the completion of Confirmation, they are invited to decide if they would like to become professing members of the church.  Suncreek UMC offers a 9-month Confirmation experience for sixth grade children.  From time-to-time, we offer shorter Confirmation experiences for youth who did not participate in Confirmation during sixth grade.

      Children may also come into the life of the church as unbaptized children.  The United Methodist Church believes in the baptism of infants, children, youth, and adults.  We urge parents to consider presenting their children for baptism as soon as possible.  Our ministers welcome the opportunity to talk with you about this.

4)     The vast majority of adults and youth chose to enter under the professing membership category.  This refers to a person who has been baptized and has declared their faith.  However, the special membership categories of Affiliate member and Associate Member are also options:

The affiliate member category is for persons who are members of another United Methodist Church and wish to keep their primary membership at that church; however, they also want to formalize their status as being part of a new United Methodist Church. College students often do this. They keep their membership in their home church, but become an affiliate member of a church in a town where they attend college. Sometimes persons who temporarily relocate to another city for employment reasons become affiliate members of another church. Affiliate members may hold leadership positions at their affiliate church. However, they are not voting members of the church council (Administrative Board).

The Associate Member category is the same as the Affiliate Member category except that it is used in situations in which persons choose to keep their primary membership in a church of another denomination.

5)      When you come forward during the last hymn, hand Kathleen or another minister the New Member card.  If you have not completed the card, Kathleen or another minister will ask if you are transferring your membership from another Christian church or if this is the first time you have joined a church.  You will also be asked if you have been baptized.  If you wish to be baptized, Kathleen will be glad to perform that ritual.

6)     Youth and Adults who are not transferring from another church will be asked three questions to profess their faith.  They will be asked to respond to each question with “I do.”

On behalf of the whole church, I ask you:

Do you renounce the spiritual forces of wickedness,
  reject the evil powers of this world,
  and repent of your sin?

I do

Do you accept the freedom and power God gives you
  to resist evil, injustice, and oppression
  in whatever forms they present themselves?

I do

Do you confess Jesus Christ as your Savior,
put your whole trust in his grace,
and promise to serve him as your Lord,
in union with the church which Christ has opened
  to people of all ages, nations, and races?

I do

7)      All persons who are joining the church will be asked: “Will you be loyal to The United Methodist Church and uphold it by your prayers, your presence, your gifts, and your service?”  Your response is “I will.”

8)      The congregation will respond by saying:

We rejoice to recognize you as members of Christ’s holy church, and bid you welcome to Suncreek United Methodist Church.  With you we renew our vows to uphold it by our prayers, our presence, our gifts, and our service.  With God’s help we will so order our lives after the example of Christ that, surrounded by steadfast love, you are established in the faith, and confirmed and strengthened in the way that leads to life eternal.

9)      Rev. Kathleen Baskin-Ball will guide you through this process during the service.  You don’t need to memorize anything. 

10)  At the end of the service, we will ask that you remain near the front of the sanctuary for a few minutes, so that church members can stop by and welcome you to the Suncreek UMC family.

11)  After greeting is completed, a church member will take your picture and make sure that we have your membership information.  Pictures are placed on the New Members bulletin board and in the church newsletter.  

What happens after I join the church?