Membership

Membership

Interested in becoming a member of First Pres. or want to learn more? Each season we form an Inquirers’ Class specially designed to help prospective members learn about our congregation, its beliefs, traditions, government and programs. It is a safe place to ask questions about faith, questions about transitioning from another congregation, questions of non-belief, questions about raising a child in the church, or questions about receiving pastoral care. Please contact the church if you are interested.

Inquirers' Class Outline

The class is held over 4 weeks.

Each Inquirer is provided a sponsor from the congregation membership. It will be someone they don’t already know well, so they get to know another person in the congregation, and someone from the congregation gets to know them better. Inquirers and Sponsors both come to classes. Childcare provided if requested.

Week One: 

Dinner – Sponsors bring dinner items potluck

What brought each person to First Presbyterian?

History of particular Church

Homework: Read, “The Presbyterian Handbook”

Week Two: 

What it means to be Presbyterian

Book of Order

Confessions

History of Presbyterian Church

Homework: Look at Websites for PCUSA, Synod of the Pacific, Eastern Oregon Presbytery, and First Presbyterian

Week Three: 

What it means to be an active member

Ways to Plug In

Interests and Talents

Stewardship

Homework: Faith Statement

Week Four: 

Inquirers and sponsors come at beginning of session meeting.

Everyone (session, new members, sponsors) shares a little about faith journey.

Sponsors leave, session asks the new members if it is their intention to join the church and the session votes them into membership. If inquirers are not interested in joining, they are welcomed to continue to be a part of the life of the church. 

In Worship:

Inquirers say Profession of Faith and are welcomed into membership during worship.