CARE OF MEMBERS

The Book of Discipline of the United Methodist Church (2020/2024), Paragraph 228,  states:

 “1.  The local church shall endeavor to enlist each member in activities for spiritual growth and in participation in the services and ministries of the Church and its organizations.  It shall be the duty of the pastor and of the members of the church council by regular visitation, care, and spiritual oversight to provide necessary activities and opportunities for spiritual growth through individual and family worship and individual and group study to connect faith and daily living, and continually to aid the members to keep their vows to uphold the Church by attendance, prayers, gifts, service, and witness.  The Church has a moral and spiritual obligation to nurture its non-participating and indifferent members and to lead them into an active church relationship”.

Paragraph 228 further states:  “b)  While primary responsibility and initiative rests with each professing member to faithfully perform the vows of the baptismal covenant that have been solemnly assumed, if the member should be neglectful of that responsibility, these procedures shall be followed:

(1)      If a professing member residing in the community is negligent of the vows or is regularly absent from the worship of the church without valid reason, the pastor and the membership secretary shall report that member’s name to the church council, which shall do all in its power to reenlist the member in the active fellowship of the church.  It shall visit the member and make clear that, while the member’s name is on the roll of a particular local church, one is a member of The United Methodist Church as  whole, and that since the member is not attending the church where enrolled, the member is requested to do one of four things:

(a)     Reaffirm the baptismal vows and return to living in the community of the baptismal covenant in the    church where the member’s name is recorded,

(b)      Request transfer to another United Methodist church where the member will return to living in the community of the baptismal covenant,

(b)     Arrange transfer to a particular church of another denomination or,

(c)     Request withdrawal.

If the member does not comply with any of the available alternatives over a period of two years, the member’s name may be removed”.

At Christ United Methodist Church the membership secretary works with the Lead Pastor and Church Council to identify and contact non-participating members annually.  A copy of the letter that was sent to first reading members, is included with this article.   Cultivation lists of members are presented at the Annual Charge Conference for a running period of two years.  This year’s Cultivation Report is also included for review. 

Members who are homebound or have other limitations are still considered active members and are not included in the process. 

Respectfully submitted,

Melissa Chapman