Church Membership
Here at the High Kirk we count it a joy to welcome new members into the church family. When we have accepted Jesus as our Lord and Saviour it is important to find a good local Church where we can feel at home, enjoy fellowship, and grow in the Christian life.
There are three ways of becoming a member of the High Kirk:-
(1) By Profession of Faith
Where church membership is being sought for the first time, first and foremost, if you are not already doing so simply start to attend regularly. Let the minister know of your interest, he will invite you to a series of classes which involves no obligation on either side. Afterwards if you decide to join you would take vows of membership along with others at a church service.
(2) By Certificate of Transference
Any member of a Church of Scotland congregation wishing to become a member of the High Kirk should ask their previous Minister or Session Clerk to send them a transference certificate (lines). This certificate should then be given to the Church Secretary (or the Minister) with a view to your name being added to the membership of the High Kirk. It is of course important that you take an active interest; otherwise such membership would be meaningless.
(3) By Resolution of the Kirk Session
Where someone seeking membership has been a Church of Scotland member but cannot supply a certificate or if they are a baptised member of another denomination, then the Kirk Session can resolve to admit them into membership.
Responsibilities of Membership
To help us grow in faith within the High Kirk family, we encourage all members to make a personal covenant. Please read the following commitment steps of responsibility:
1. Seek the Unity of My Church
“By this will all men know you are my disciples if you love one another.”
“So let us concentrate on the things which make for harmony, and on the growth of our fellowship together.”
By acting in love toward other members.
- “…have sincere love for your brothers, love one another deeply.”
By refusing to gossip
- “Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs.”
By supporting the leadership
- “Obey your leaders and submit to their authority. They keep watch over you as those who must give an account. Obey them so that their work will be a joy, not a burden, for that would be of no advantage to you.”
(Hebrews 13:17)
2. Support the Ministry of My Church
“Whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all. For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve and to give His life as a ransom for many.”
By discovering my gifts and talents
- “Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God’s grace in its various forms.”
By being equipped by my leaders
- “[God] gave…some pastors and teachers, to prepare God’s people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up.”
By developing a servant’s heart
- “Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: Who…[took on] the very nature of a servant.”
(Philippians 2:5,7)
3. Serve the Mission of My Church
“Go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.”
By praying for its outreach to unbelievers
- “Ask the Lord of the Harvest, therefore, to send out workers to His harvest field.”
(Matthew 9:38)
By inviting the unchurched to attend
- “Then the master told his servant, ‘Go out to the roads and country lanes and make them come in, so that my house will be full.”
By warmly welcoming those who visit
- “Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God.”
(Romans 15:7)
4. Share the Responsibility of My Church
“They devoted themselves to the apostles teaching and to the fellowship, and to the breaking of bread and to prayer… All the believers were together and had everything in common. Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need. Every day they continued to meet together.”
By attending faithfully
- “Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another.”
By living a godly life
- “Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ…”
- “Each person should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.”
(2 Corinthians 9:7)
- “Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this, ‘says the LORD Almighty, ‘and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it.”
(Malachi 3:10)
