Article 1 - Membership

Application for membership
A written application for membership will be placed with the pastor or a member of the council. After the applicants have completed a course in the inquirer's class, they will then appear before the church council to give a confession of their Christian faith, according to Article V of this constitution. When the Church Council has reviewed the application and received their testimony favorably, the application will be submitted to the next congregational business meeting for action.

Transfer of membership
Applicants from other Christian churches will submit letters of transfer, when available, to the pastor and/or the council who will act upon the application according to paragraph (a) of this section.

Reception of new members
Applicants who are voted into membership of this church will be welcomed at any regularly scheduled worship service where they will make public confession of their Christian faith, as outlined in A BOOK OF WORSHIP FOR COVENANT CHURCHES.

Children belonging to members of the church and its constituency will be nurtured under its spiritual care. When they have reached confirmation age, special instruction is to be provided by the pastor in the Word of God, Christian doctrine, and the history of the church; whereafter, upon personal manifestation of spiritual life and examination by the Church Council, they will be received in membership of the church, as outlined under Section 1. (a) of this article.

Active members (See The Constitution, Article V, Membership)
All members will assume the responsibilities and obligations placed on them by the Word of God and the church. They will through witness by life and word, consecrated service, prayer, attendance and financial support, further the cause of Christ in the Covenant church of Easton, the East Coast Conference and the Evangelical Covenant Church. Their names constitute the official membership of the church for reporting purposes.

Absent members
Members who absent themselves from the life of the church for six-months or more may be listed as "Inactive Members" on the membership roll of the church. Before listing anyone as an "Inactive Member", the council will attempt to communicate with this individual. If he or she requests to remain listed as an "Active Member", the council will consider this or any other extenuating circumstances and may keep him or her on the "Active Members" list.

Inactive members
An "Inactive Member" will not have voting privileges at congregational meetings until he or she is restored to "Active" by resuming the responsibilities of an active member and by his or her own written request ratified by vote of the council.

Erring members
A member known to err in doctrine or conduct will be counseled according to the procedure outlined in Matthew 18:15-18 and Galatians 6:1. A fellow member having knowledge of such error will in the spirit of Christian love, seek to restore him/her. If he/she does not heed this counsel, the matter will be brought to the attention of the council, who will in meekness and gentleness seek to restore him/her. If he/she fails to heed the counsel of the council, his/her error will be brought before a business meeting of the church. Discipline will then be administered in the spirit of Christ with due regard for the welfare of the individual as well as of the church.

Dismissal
Dismissal of members under paragraph (a) and (b) of this section must be acted on by the church, which alone has the authority. A two-thirds vote of those present and voting at a congregational business meeting is necessary for such action.

Members who move to another community should soon thereafter identify themselves with a local Covenant church. If there is no Covenant church, they should identify themselves with some other evangelical Christian church. Application for transfer of membership will be made in writing to the pastor, who will issue the transfer to the church with which those individuals are uniting. Withdrawal of said membership will be reported through the council to the next business meeting, where it will be a matter of record.

Request for removal from membership in the church will be made in writing to the pastor or the council. After careful consideration, the council may present a recommendation for removal to a business meeting of the church.

Members who have been properly dismissed from the church or have withdrawn their membership have forfeited all rights to any and all property of the church.

Non-member parish friends will be enrolled by the church as a part of its total constituency. The church and its pastor will serve them in all their spiritual needs, and they will be encouraged to consider this as their church home. They will be kept informed of the activities of the church.