Membership

All who trust in God’s grace in Jesus Christ and desire to be part of the fellowship and ministry of the church are welcome to be members based on their profession of faith. Trusting in God’s grace thru and in Jesus Christ means that they consider themselves followers of Christ as Lord and as Savior and have received and accepted Him as such. How do candidates enter into membership?

      1. Membership Classes
        1. When a candidate wishes to become a member, he or she must participate in a series of classes that include teaching on:
          1. The Bible
          2. Discovering Jesus Christ
          3. Choosing Jesus Christ
          4. Following Jesus Christ
            1. Personally
            2. As part of a Church community
      2. Public profession of faith
        1. This is made after a careful examination of the session (the pastor + elders together) of the understanding of the candidate of what it means to be a member.
        2. The person making profession of faith must be baptized in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, if not already done so.
      3. Certificate of Transfer
        1. When a person is a member of another Christian church which believes in the same Triune God and the supreme authority of the Holy Scriptures as it pertains to life and faith. Primarily, members of other Armenian Evangelical churches or Presbyterian USA churches fall into this category, though an interview can serve as a sufficient witness of any viable transfer from a Christian church, provided there is agreement on the tenets of faith and a willingness to learn the new forms of worship, if applicable.
      4. Reaffirmation of faith
        1. When a person has left the faith, even though they had originally been baptized in the name of the Triune God and had publicly professed their faith, they are welcomed by being given a chance to reaffirm their faith publicly in order to be enrolled as an active member of the church once again.

 
Please note: Although we do practice both the baptism of infants/children as well as adults, these do not constitute the complete requirement to be a member of the Armenian Presbyterian Church. There must be a confession of faith done publicly in order to be a member.

How can members serve?

    1. Proclaiming the Good News of Jesus Christ in both words and deeds.
    2. Participating in the common life and worship of the congregation.
    3. Praying for each other.
    4. Showing concern for each other.
    5. Actively supporting each other.
    6. Studying Scripture and the issues of the Christian faith and life.
    7. Supporting the ministry of the church thru money, time, and talents.
    8. Being an example of the new life in Christ both within and without the church walls.
    9. Living responsibly in the personal, family, vocational, political, cultural, and social relationships of life.
    10. Working for peace, justice, freedom, and human fulfillment in light of Scripture.
    11. Caring for God’s creation.
    12. Participating in Church Government.
    13. Reviewing one’s membership and considering increased participation when appropriate.

 
Finally, it goes without saying that being a member of APC means that you represent God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit in your everyday endeavors. It is both an honor and a responsibility to be a member of APC. It is not to be taken lightly – your service as a member can mean much more than just an accurate reflection of your faith. People’s eternal destinies hang in the balance…