Membership FAQ
Is membership necessary to attend church here?
No. You are welcome to worship at Harvest City Church without becoming a member.
Am I automatically a member by attending Harvest City?
No. By law, there must be a membership list, and our constitution defines a ‘member’ as someone who has applied and been received into membership through Board approval.
Is church membership biblical?
While there is no single passage of scripture that commands church membership, we can discern from afar that the early church developed a governing structure. This helped serve their ongoing needs.
We apply this principle by developing or own structures that meet the needs of our time and context. Here are some scriptures that help build the case for modern church membership.
Acts 2:37-47 – A record existed tracked church growth, engagement and spiritual experience.
Acts 6:1-6 – Elections took place, begging the question, “who was qualified to vote?” A roster must have been created.
Romans 16:1-16 – There was an awareness of who belonged to this church in particular.
Hebrews 13:17 – If church leaders must give an account for those under their care, then they required a specific roster of who that includes.
Romans 13:1 – To be subject to the governing authorities in Canada means that churches must abide by the Societies Act, which requires a roster of members.
Is membership necessary to be involved at HCC?
Yes, and no. Yes, only members can vote at Annual General Meetings, serve on the board and experience the full benefits of partnering in the vision and mission of the church. However, no, you can still be involved by serving on a ministry team without being a member.
How do I become a member of Harvest City Church?
You need to attend Harvest City Church consistently for at least 3 months before applying for membership.
Once a Membership Form has been filled in. you will meet with the pastor or a board member.
Once you’ve signed the Membership Commitment and been approved by the Church Board… then you will be publicly welcomed into membership.
Why wait?
Finding a spiritual home is important. It takes time to get to know people and to be known. It takes time to find a place where you feel comfortable, have a sense that you can trust the leadership and that you understand the vision of the church.
Can I attend the Annual General Meetings?
Yes, we encourage attendance, but if you are not a member, you do not have the right to vote.
Can I ask questions at the Annual General Meeting, without being a member?
Only members can ask questions at these public meetings.
We encourage all our leaders to be available, approachable and open to answering any questions as they arise.
You should never feel you need to wait for the AGM to ask a question.
What are some reasons I would want to become a member?
Membership is so much more than a constitutional obligation:
It’s partnering in the gospel with a new spiritual family.
This family commits to journey with you, pray with you, believe in you, support you through the valleys and mountaintops of life, celebrate with you and cry with you when necessary.
Membership is also about making a decision, and this is where I am committing to support and find a place to use my gifts to grow the church.
It’s deciding that I will invest financially to resource the Kingdom of God by supporting the ongoing mission of Harvest City.
Finances received by the membership are used to pay staff, support ministries and outreach projects, support missionaries and maintain the building, etc.
Membership also gives you a voice in the affairs of the church life in everything from selecting a new pastor to having a say on a building program.
To be a member is to be a contributor and not a consumer.
It’s a commitment to being led and learning how to lead others by making yourself accountable.
It’s a place where I can raise my family and a place to belong.
Members also have the additional benefit of being exempt from any fees for pastoral staff officiating Weddings, Funerals etc.
Are members obligated to Tithe?
We prefer to talk about being generous rather than having an obligation to give a certain amount of money to the church annually. Jesus often spoke about money because there is such a close link between what you value and what you’re willing to give to God. Therefore, we do expect and promote generous giving as God prompts us. No one checks up, and you will not be sent a bill requesting finances.
Simply put, the place where you are being fed spiritually, your spiritual home, the place where your family is being ministered to is the place where you should sow and invest financially. The reality is that church ministries are supported financially by all of us; there is no government subsidy.
If I am a member, do I have to agree with everything Harvest City does?
We are more interested in unity than uniformity. Many people misunderstand what unity is. Unity isn’t everyone believing in exactly the same thing. It’s agreeing that we will not cause dis-unity over things that don’t really matter.
We do ask you to agree with the PAOC Statement of Faith since this is the denomination that we are a part of. Our aim is to let Romans 12:9-21 be our guide.
Is the leadership accountable to the members?
Yes. We encourage members to ask questions of any of our Pastoral staff, Board or Ministry leaders at any time. We want to be as open, transparent and available as possible. If there is confidentiality involved, which will NOT be breached.
Is there a yearly membership fee?
No.
Does membership have to be renewed yearly?
Yes, we will ask members to renew their membership on an annual basis to keep our records correct. If a member stops attending, moves away or asks for their membership to be transferred to another church, then their membership ceases. If they return, they will have to re-apply for membership.
Can someone maintain membership and not attend?
No – but with some limited exceptions. We do allow non-attending membership for those who are too ill, elderly or housebound to continue; otherwise, membership requires regular attendance and involvement.
Are adult children of members automatically members of Harvest City Church?
No. Membership is requested and received on an individual basis, not as a family. Each adult person in the family would need to apply for membership.