Membership

While there isn’t a Book of Membership in the Bible that explicitly tells us to join a local church, we believe Scripture is abundantly clear that to join the church is to join Jesus Christ. From a non-Christian’s standpoint, a local church is a voluntary association. No one has to join. From the standpoint of the Christian life, however, it’s not. Once you choose Christ, you must choose his people, too. It’s a package deal. Choose the Trinity – Father, Son, and Holy Spirit – and you have to choose the whole family, which you do through a local church. **When the time comes for key decisions to be made in the future direction of the church, only members are able to vote on those decisions.**

One of the vows of membership says, “Will you be loyal to Christ through Church on the Hill and do all in your power to strengthen its ministries through your prayers, your presence, your gifts, your service, and your witness as Christ’s representative in this world?” Thus, we expect every member to regularly pray for the church, its leaders, and ministries. We expect every member to worship regularly, participate in opportunities for spiritual growth and service in ministry. We also expect members to financially support the church and its ministries through their faithful and sacrificial giving. Bear in mind, you are making a covenant with other members of the church and the leadership before God. Similarly, the congregation and leadership are making a covenant with you before God. A covenant community is a beautiful thing.

No, not really, but we are raising the standards of membership in the church. All members are called into a loving accountability with one another. If someone neglects their membership vows, the congregation should use every means of encouraging that member to return to an active faith. Negligent members, however, may be placed on an inactive roll by a two-thirds vote of the church council. Members placed on the inactive roll may remain in that status for up to two years while every attempt is made to return them to active membership. Members on the inactive roll are suspended from serving on church committees or voting on church matters during that time. If an inactive member does not complete the restoration process or show evidence of desiring to return to a more active status after two years, then the church council may remove the member by a two-thirds vote.

Yes. Members of the leadership board are required to be members of the church. However, you can still be very active in the life of the church without becoming a member.

If you are currently an active member who is participating in the life of our congregation then the answer is no. There is no need for you to take the membership class. We will be happy to help you transfer your membership to Church on the Hill. You may click here to complete a form to request the transfer of your membership. You will also be given the opportunity to choose an upcoming Sunday to take your membership vows. If, however, you are an inactive member of SHUMC or someone who has not attended in the last two years, you will be required to attend our new membership class to reorient you to life and ministry here at Church on the Hill. You may click here to register to attend an upcoming new membership class.

Any adult or child who has completed confirmation class is eligible to become a member. However, we require each person to have worshipped at Church on the Hill for 6 months before making the commitment to membership.

Since membership includes making vows to the church, we want children to be old enough to understand the commitment they are making. Therefore, if a child has completed the confirmation class, which is offered to middle and high school students, they are able to become members at Church on the Hill. Children younger than middle school age must wait to join.

That’s okay! Membership is a special commitment to a church and if you’re not prepared to commit to worshipping, growing, serving, and giving on the Hill yet that’s not an issue. There will be plenty of opportunities to join in the future if you change your mind.

If someone was a member of Sugar Hill United Methodist Church and did not transfer their membership to Church on the Hill, their membership will transfer to the North East District of the United Methodist Church. Some church members are no longer able to attend worship services regularly due to their health. We will recognize them as charter members of Church on the Hill.