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information, products or services contained therein by The United Methodist Church,
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| 2622 11th Avenue, Sidney, NE 69162 308-254-4505 |
Membership Policy:
We appreciate that you are considering becoming a member
of our church. To learn more about becoming a member,
please contact our Pastor at 308-254-4505 or by email.
There are high expectations placed on those who commit
to membership in First United Methodist Church of Sidney. Participation in congregational worship
and events by any and all (regardless of lifestyle or sin) is
welcomed.
Church staff and leadership uphold the highest ideals of
Christian life and practice. Members make a commitment to
a Congregational Covenant. The Covenant is based on the
vows of membership delineated in The Book of Discipline of
the United Methodist Church.
If a person has been confirmed, then they are members of the church and have made their profession of
faith. Certainly a pastor and church can urge that anyone coming to the local church to become a
member participates in an orientation to the new local church. However, when anyone becomes a
professing member of a local church, he or she is a professing member of The United Methodist Church
and of the universal church of Jesus Christ. No further ritual action is required, except for reception
in the local church pledging to support it with their prayers, presence, gifts and service.
In keeping with the Wesleyan tradition the membership covenant is to be renewed annually. Members
agree that failure to renew the Covenant is considered their request for withdrawal from the
membership of First UMC.
Our ultimate aim is to faithfully serve Christ and count the fulfillment of this goal as the measure of
our success as a congregation, regardless of membership size or attendance.
Our primary aim is to reach the pre-churched or nominally churched people of Cheyenne County,
Nebraska.
Those desiring to be members must commit to the Congregational Covenant, based on the Book of
Discipline's membership vows.
The Congregational Covenant will be renewed annually. Members agree that failure to renew the
Covenant is a request for withdrawal from membership.
A membership class for all new members will be taught by the pastor or person appointed by the pastor.
Members and participants will be guided into weekly small group meetings for Bible study and
discipleship training.
Members will accept that we will actively practice loving church discipline in a traditional Wesleyan
fashion.
Ways to Join First United Methodist Church of Sidney:
By Profession of Faith and Baptism
If you are not now a baptized Christian, our pastor will be happy to discuss the meaning of the
Sacrament with you in your home or at the church at your convenience.
By Reaffirmation of Faith
If you once were a member of a Christian Church, but who have not been active for a long period of
time you will be received by Reaffirmation of Faith in which you renew your baptismal and church
membership vows.
By Transfer From Another United Methodist Church
You may request that we write for your letter of transfer — it is not necessary for you to write your
former church, we can handle the details of transfer for you!
By Transfer From Another Christian Denomination
The process is very much like the one above. Since you are already baptized and confirmed, these steps
will not be repeated. You will be asked to take the one vow taken by all members of the United
Methodist Church: “Will you be loyal to the United Methodist Church and uphold it by your prayers,
your presence, your gifts and your service?”
Transfer of Your Membership From a Denomination That Will Not Accept Your
Transferring Across Denominational Lines
Your baptism is accepted. You will be received in a process called Renewal of Vows, similar to the
Reaffirmation of Faith.
Membership Classes
We encourage all people interested in joining Cornerstone UMC to attend our Membership Classes
which are held periodically. More information on these classes may be obtained from our Pastor.
Any Questions:
If you have any questions, please contact our church office at 308-254-4505.
The Vows of Church Membership
Do you confess Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior and pledge allegiance to His kingdom?
Do your receive and profess the Christian faith as contained in the Bible?
Do you promise according to the grace given to you to live a Christian life and always remain a faithful
member of Christ's holy church?
Will you be loyal to The United Methodist Church and uphold it by your prayers, your presence, your
gifts, and your service?
Prayers
Our commitment to uphold the Church through intercessory prayer is based upon the fundamental
reality that we are not simply a human agency seeking to meet human needs: we pray because we require
God’s guidance in order to be the church. When we pray for our pastor, for our teachers, for one
another, and for those who may never even enter our doors, we express our dependence on God so that
we might in turn express the will and compassion of Christ.
Presence
Our commitment to uphold the Church by our presence is a visible witness of our faith, both in the pew
and in the world. Our relationship to Christ is nurtured by our presence in worship where we find
spiritual guidance, comfort and strength. But our relationship to Christ is not confined to Sunday
morning alone. We also uphold the Church by our presence at home, at work, at school, and in the
community. Wherever we are, our presence should be an expression of our commitment to Christ.
Gifts
Our commitment to uphold the Church by our gifts is a thankful response from the heart for all God
has given us. Such a commitment serves to remind us of our role as stewards over what God has
entrusted to us. The systematic giving of our money also helps to establish and maintain ministries that
no individual or single congregation could fund alone. These worthy causes include hospitals, colleges,
rehabilitation centers, food and clothing distribution, evangelistic and educational work, and emergency
relief.
Service
Our commitment to be loyal to the Church and uphold it by our service further reflects our
commitment to follow the example of Christ, who came not to be served, but to serve, and to give his
life as a ransom for many (Matthew 20:28). God has entrusted all of us with certain talents and abilities,
and sharing these gifts is a means of sharing ourselves out of love and gratitude toward God and love
for one another.
Regarding church membership in the United Methodist Church
¶ 4. Article IV. Inclusiveness of the Church
The United Methodist Church is a part of the church universal, which is one Body in Christ. The
United Methodist Church acknowledges that all persons are of sacred worth. All persons without
regard to race, color, national origin, status, or economic condition, shall be eligible to attend its
worship services, participate in its programs, receive the sacraments, upon baptism be admitted as
baptized members, and upon taking vows declaring the Christian faith, become professing members in
any local church in the connection. In The United Methodist Church no conference or other
organizational unit of the Church shall be structured so as to exclude any member or any constituent
body of the Church because of race, color, national origin, status or economic condition.
Section V. Church Membership
¶ 214. Eligibility
The United Methodist Church is a part of the holy catholic (universal) church, as we confess in the
Apostles' Creed. In the church, Jesus Christ is proclaimed and professed as Lord and Savior. All people
may attend its worship services, participate in its programs, receive the sacraments and become members
in any local church in the connection (¶ 4). In the case of persons whose disabilities prevent them from
reciting the vows, their legal guardian[s], themselves members in full covenant relationship with God and
the Church, the community of faith, may recite the appropriate vows on their behalf.
¶ 215. Definition of Membership
The membership of a local United Methodist church shall include those who have been baptized and
those who have professed their faith.
1. The baptized membership of a local United Methodist church shall include all baptized people who
have received Christian baptism in the local congregation or elsewhere, or whose membership has been
transferred to the local United Methodist church subsequent to baptism in some other congregation.
2. The professing membership of a local United Methodist church shall include all baptized people who
have come into membership by profession of faith through appropriate services of the baptismal
covenant in the ritual or by transfer from other churches.
3. For statistical purposes, church membership is equated to the number of people listed on the roll of
professing members.
4. A baptized or professing member of any local United Methodist church is a member of the global
United Methodist connection and a member of the church universal.
The Meaning of Membership
¶ 216.
1. Christ constitutes the church as his body by the power of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 12:13, 27). The
church draws new people into itself as it seeks to remain faithful to its commission to proclaim and
exemplify the gospel. Baptism is the sacrament of initiation and incorporation into the body of Christ.
After baptism, the church provides the nurture that makes possible a comprehensive and lifelong
process of growing in grace. Becoming a professing member requires the answer of faith of the baptized
person made visible in a service of profession of Christian faith and confirmation using the vows of the
Baptismal Covenant.
a) Baptized infants and children are to be instructed and nurtured in the meaning of the faith, the
rights and responsibilities of their baptism, and spiritual and moral formation using materials approved by
The United Methodist Church. Using the services of the Baptismal Covenant, youth will profess their
faith, commit themselves to a life of discipleship, and be confirmed. Confirmation is both a human act
of commitment and the gracious action of the Holy Spirit strengthening and empowering discipleship.
b) Youth and adults who have not been baptized and who are seeking to be saved from their sins and
profess Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior are proper candidates for baptism in The United
Methodist Church. It shall be the duty of the congregation, led by the pastor, to instruct them in the
meaning of baptism, in the meaning of the Christian faith, and in the history, organization, and teachings
of The United Methodist Church, using materials approved by The United Methodist Church for that
purpose. After the completion of the period of nurture and instruction, the sponsor(s) and pastor shall
bring the candidates before the congregation and administer the services of Baptismal Covenant, in
which people are baptized, confirmed, and received into the Church.
2. a) Formation in the Baptismal Covenant and in the call to ministry in daily life is a lifelong process and
is carried on through all the activities that have educational value. The pastor gives specific leadership
that prepares youth for their profession of faith and commitment to discipleship and for the Holy
Spirit's action confirming them in their faith and empowering their discipleship. This preparation focuses
attention upon the meaning of discipleship and the need for members to be in mission in all of life's
relationships.
b) There are many occasions as people mature in the faith when the Holy Spirit's confirming action may
be celebrated, such as in the reaffirmation of the Baptismal Covenant or other services related to life
passages. Unlike baptism, which is a once-made covenant and can only be reaffirmed and not repeated,
confirmation is a dynamic action of the Holy Spirit that can be repeated.
3. Preparation for the experience of profession of faith and confirmation shall be provided for all
people, including adults. Youth who are completing the sixth grade shall normally be the youngest people
recruited for such preparation. When younger people, of their own volition, seek enrollment in
preparation for profession of faith and confirmation, such preparation shall be at the discretion of the
pastor.
¶ 217.
When persons unite as professing members with a local United Methodist church, they profess their
faith in God, the Father Almighty, maker of heaven and earth; in Jesus Christ his only Son, and in the
Holy Spirit. Thus, they make known their desire to live their daily lives as disciples of Jesus Christ. They
covenant together with God and with the members of the local church to keep the vows which are a
part of the order of confirmation and reception into the Church:
1. To renounce the spiritual forces of wickedness, reject the evil powers of the world, and repent of
their sin;
2. To accept the freedom and power God gives them to resist evil, injustice, and oppression;
3. To confess Jesus Christ as Savior, put their whole trust in his grace, and promise to serve him as their
Lord;
4. To remain faithful members of Christ's holy church and serve as Christ's representatives in the world;
5. To be loyal to The United Methodist Church and do all in their power to strengthen its ministries;
6. To faithfully participate in its ministries by their prayers, their presence, their gifts, and their service;
7. To receive and profess the Christian faith as contained in the Scriptures of the Old and New
Testaments.
¶ 218. Growth in Faithful Discipleship
Faithful membership in the local church is essential for personal growth and for developing a deeper
commitment to the will and grace of God. As members involve themselves in private and public prayer,
worship, the sacraments, study, Christian action, systematic giving, and holy discipline, they grow in their
appreciation of Christ, understanding of God at work in history and the natural order, and an
understanding of themselves.
¶ 219. Mutual Responsibility
Faithful discipleship includes the obligation to participate in the corporate life of the congregation
with fellow members of the body of Christ. A member is bound in sacred covenant to shoulder the
burdens, share the risks, and celebrate the joys of fellow members. A Christian is called to speak the
truth in love, always ready to confront conflict in the spirit of forgiveness and reconciliation.
¶ 220. The Call to Ministry of All the Baptized
All members of Christ's universal church are called to share in the ministry which is committed to the
whole church of Jesus Christ. Therefore, each member of The United Methodist Church is to be a
servant of Christ on mission in the local and worldwide community. This servanthood is performed in
family life, daily work, recreation and social activities, responsible citizenship, the stewardship of
property and accumulated resources, the issues of corporate life, and all attitudes toward other
persons. Participation in disciplined groups is an expected part of personal mission involvement. Each
member is called upon to be a witness for Christ in the world, a light and leaven in society, and a
reconciler in a culture of conflict. Each member is to identify with the agony and suffering of the
world and to radiate and exemplify the Christ of hope. The standards of attitude and conduct set
forth in the Social Principles (Part IV) shall be considered as an essential resource for guiding each
member of the Church in being a servant of Christ on mission.
¶ 221. Accountability
1. All members are to be held accountable for faithfulness to their covenant of baptism.
2. If a baptized member neglects faithfulness and discipline in terms of the Baptismal Covenant, every
means of encouraging that member to return and of nurturing him or her to assume the vows of
professing membership should be made.
3. If a professing member should be accused of violating the covenant and failing to keep the vows as
stated in ¶ 217, then it shall be the responsibility of the local church, working through its pastor and its
agencies, to minister to that member in compliance with the provisions of ¶ 228 in an effort to enable
the member to faithfully perform the vows and covenant of membership.
4. In the event that those efforts fail, then the professing member and the local church may agree to
voluntary mediation in which the parties are assisted by a trained, neutral third-party mediator,
mediation team, and/or their district superintendent in reaching a settlement or agreement satisfactory
to all parties.
5. In the further event that those efforts fail to effect reconciliation and reaffirmation of the vows
and covenant of ¶ 217 by the professing member, then the professing members of the church may pursue
the procedures set forth in ¶¶ 2702.3, 2706.5, and 2714.
(From The Book of Discipline of The United Methodist Church — 2004. Copyright © 2004 by The United
Methodist Publishing House. Used by permission.)
This membership standard is taken from the website of Cornerstone UMC, Fayetteville, NC
We appreciate that you are considering becoming a member
of our church. To learn more about becoming a member,
please contact our Pastor at 308-254-4505 or by email.
There are high expectations placed on those who commit
to membership in First United Methodist Church of Sidney. Participation in congregational worship
and events by any and all (regardless of lifestyle or sin) is
welcomed.
Church staff and leadership uphold the highest ideals of
Christian life and practice. Members make a commitment to
a Congregational Covenant. The Covenant is based on the
vows of membership delineated in The Book of Discipline of
the United Methodist Church.
If a person has been confirmed, then they are members of the church and have made their profession of
faith. Certainly a pastor and church can urge that anyone coming to the local church to become a
member participates in an orientation to the new local church. However, when anyone becomes a
professing member of a local church, he or she is a professing member of The United Methodist Church
and of the universal church of Jesus Christ. No further ritual action is required, except for reception
in the local church pledging to support it with their prayers, presence, gifts and service.
In keeping with the Wesleyan tradition the membership covenant is to be renewed annually. Members
agree that failure to renew the Covenant is considered their request for withdrawal from the
membership of First UMC.
Our ultimate aim is to faithfully serve Christ and count the fulfillment of this goal as the measure of
our success as a congregation, regardless of membership size or attendance.
Our primary aim is to reach the pre-churched or nominally churched people of Cheyenne County,
Nebraska.
Those desiring to be members must commit to the Congregational Covenant, based on the Book of
Discipline's membership vows.
The Congregational Covenant will be renewed annually. Members agree that failure to renew the
Covenant is a request for withdrawal from membership.
A membership class for all new members will be taught by the pastor or person appointed by the pastor.
Members and participants will be guided into weekly small group meetings for Bible study and
discipleship training.
Members will accept that we will actively practice loving church discipline in a traditional Wesleyan
fashion.
Ways to Join First United Methodist Church of Sidney:
By Profession of Faith and Baptism
If you are not now a baptized Christian, our pastor will be happy to discuss the meaning of the
Sacrament with you in your home or at the church at your convenience.
By Reaffirmation of Faith
If you once were a member of a Christian Church, but who have not been active for a long period of
time you will be received by Reaffirmation of Faith in which you renew your baptismal and church
membership vows.
By Transfer From Another United Methodist Church
You may request that we write for your letter of transfer — it is not necessary for you to write your
former church, we can handle the details of transfer for you!
By Transfer From Another Christian Denomination
The process is very much like the one above. Since you are already baptized and confirmed, these steps
will not be repeated. You will be asked to take the one vow taken by all members of the United
Methodist Church: “Will you be loyal to the United Methodist Church and uphold it by your prayers,
your presence, your gifts and your service?”
Transfer of Your Membership From a Denomination That Will Not Accept Your
Transferring Across Denominational Lines
Your baptism is accepted. You will be received in a process called Renewal of Vows, similar to the
Reaffirmation of Faith.
Membership Classes
We encourage all people interested in joining Cornerstone UMC to attend our Membership Classes
which are held periodically. More information on these classes may be obtained from our Pastor.
Any Questions:
If you have any questions, please contact our church office at 308-254-4505.
The Vows of Church Membership
Do you confess Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior and pledge allegiance to His kingdom?
Do your receive and profess the Christian faith as contained in the Bible?
Do you promise according to the grace given to you to live a Christian life and always remain a faithful
member of Christ's holy church?
Will you be loyal to The United Methodist Church and uphold it by your prayers, your presence, your
gifts, and your service?
Prayers
Our commitment to uphold the Church through intercessory prayer is based upon the fundamental
reality that we are not simply a human agency seeking to meet human needs: we pray because we require
God’s guidance in order to be the church. When we pray for our pastor, for our teachers, for one
another, and for those who may never even enter our doors, we express our dependence on God so that
we might in turn express the will and compassion of Christ.
Presence
Our commitment to uphold the Church by our presence is a visible witness of our faith, both in the pew
and in the world. Our relationship to Christ is nurtured by our presence in worship where we find
spiritual guidance, comfort and strength. But our relationship to Christ is not confined to Sunday
morning alone. We also uphold the Church by our presence at home, at work, at school, and in the
community. Wherever we are, our presence should be an expression of our commitment to Christ.
Gifts
Our commitment to uphold the Church by our gifts is a thankful response from the heart for all God
has given us. Such a commitment serves to remind us of our role as stewards over what God has
entrusted to us. The systematic giving of our money also helps to establish and maintain ministries that
no individual or single congregation could fund alone. These worthy causes include hospitals, colleges,
rehabilitation centers, food and clothing distribution, evangelistic and educational work, and emergency
relief.
Service
Our commitment to be loyal to the Church and uphold it by our service further reflects our
commitment to follow the example of Christ, who came not to be served, but to serve, and to give his
life as a ransom for many (Matthew 20:28). God has entrusted all of us with certain talents and abilities,
and sharing these gifts is a means of sharing ourselves out of love and gratitude toward God and love
for one another.
Regarding church membership in the United Methodist Church
¶ 4. Article IV. Inclusiveness of the Church
The United Methodist Church is a part of the church universal, which is one Body in Christ. The
United Methodist Church acknowledges that all persons are of sacred worth. All persons without
regard to race, color, national origin, status, or economic condition, shall be eligible to attend its
worship services, participate in its programs, receive the sacraments, upon baptism be admitted as
baptized members, and upon taking vows declaring the Christian faith, become professing members in
any local church in the connection. In The United Methodist Church no conference or other
organizational unit of the Church shall be structured so as to exclude any member or any constituent
body of the Church because of race, color, national origin, status or economic condition.
Section V. Church Membership
¶ 214. Eligibility
The United Methodist Church is a part of the holy catholic (universal) church, as we confess in the
Apostles' Creed. In the church, Jesus Christ is proclaimed and professed as Lord and Savior. All people
may attend its worship services, participate in its programs, receive the sacraments and become members
in any local church in the connection (¶ 4). In the case of persons whose disabilities prevent them from
reciting the vows, their legal guardian[s], themselves members in full covenant relationship with God and
the Church, the community of faith, may recite the appropriate vows on their behalf.
¶ 215. Definition of Membership
The membership of a local United Methodist church shall include those who have been baptized and
those who have professed their faith.
1. The baptized membership of a local United Methodist church shall include all baptized people who
have received Christian baptism in the local congregation or elsewhere, or whose membership has been
transferred to the local United Methodist church subsequent to baptism in some other congregation.
2. The professing membership of a local United Methodist church shall include all baptized people who
have come into membership by profession of faith through appropriate services of the baptismal
covenant in the ritual or by transfer from other churches.
3. For statistical purposes, church membership is equated to the number of people listed on the roll of
professing members.
4. A baptized or professing member of any local United Methodist church is a member of the global
United Methodist connection and a member of the church universal.
The Meaning of Membership
¶ 216.
1. Christ constitutes the church as his body by the power of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 12:13, 27). The
church draws new people into itself as it seeks to remain faithful to its commission to proclaim and
exemplify the gospel. Baptism is the sacrament of initiation and incorporation into the body of Christ.
After baptism, the church provides the nurture that makes possible a comprehensive and lifelong
process of growing in grace. Becoming a professing member requires the answer of faith of the baptized
person made visible in a service of profession of Christian faith and confirmation using the vows of the
Baptismal Covenant.
a) Baptized infants and children are to be instructed and nurtured in the meaning of the faith, the
rights and responsibilities of their baptism, and spiritual and moral formation using materials approved by
The United Methodist Church. Using the services of the Baptismal Covenant, youth will profess their
faith, commit themselves to a life of discipleship, and be confirmed. Confirmation is both a human act
of commitment and the gracious action of the Holy Spirit strengthening and empowering discipleship.
b) Youth and adults who have not been baptized and who are seeking to be saved from their sins and
profess Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior are proper candidates for baptism in The United
Methodist Church. It shall be the duty of the congregation, led by the pastor, to instruct them in the
meaning of baptism, in the meaning of the Christian faith, and in the history, organization, and teachings
of The United Methodist Church, using materials approved by The United Methodist Church for that
purpose. After the completion of the period of nurture and instruction, the sponsor(s) and pastor shall
bring the candidates before the congregation and administer the services of Baptismal Covenant, in
which people are baptized, confirmed, and received into the Church.
2. a) Formation in the Baptismal Covenant and in the call to ministry in daily life is a lifelong process and
is carried on through all the activities that have educational value. The pastor gives specific leadership
that prepares youth for their profession of faith and commitment to discipleship and for the Holy
Spirit's action confirming them in their faith and empowering their discipleship. This preparation focuses
attention upon the meaning of discipleship and the need for members to be in mission in all of life's
relationships.
b) There are many occasions as people mature in the faith when the Holy Spirit's confirming action may
be celebrated, such as in the reaffirmation of the Baptismal Covenant or other services related to life
passages. Unlike baptism, which is a once-made covenant and can only be reaffirmed and not repeated,
confirmation is a dynamic action of the Holy Spirit that can be repeated.
3. Preparation for the experience of profession of faith and confirmation shall be provided for all
people, including adults. Youth who are completing the sixth grade shall normally be the youngest people
recruited for such preparation. When younger people, of their own volition, seek enrollment in
preparation for profession of faith and confirmation, such preparation shall be at the discretion of the
pastor.
¶ 217.
When persons unite as professing members with a local United Methodist church, they profess their
faith in God, the Father Almighty, maker of heaven and earth; in Jesus Christ his only Son, and in the
Holy Spirit. Thus, they make known their desire to live their daily lives as disciples of Jesus Christ. They
covenant together with God and with the members of the local church to keep the vows which are a
part of the order of confirmation and reception into the Church:
1. To renounce the spiritual forces of wickedness, reject the evil powers of the world, and repent of
their sin;
2. To accept the freedom and power God gives them to resist evil, injustice, and oppression;
3. To confess Jesus Christ as Savior, put their whole trust in his grace, and promise to serve him as their
Lord;
4. To remain faithful members of Christ's holy church and serve as Christ's representatives in the world;
5. To be loyal to The United Methodist Church and do all in their power to strengthen its ministries;
6. To faithfully participate in its ministries by their prayers, their presence, their gifts, and their service;
7. To receive and profess the Christian faith as contained in the Scriptures of the Old and New
Testaments.
¶ 218. Growth in Faithful Discipleship
Faithful membership in the local church is essential for personal growth and for developing a deeper
commitment to the will and grace of God. As members involve themselves in private and public prayer,
worship, the sacraments, study, Christian action, systematic giving, and holy discipline, they grow in their
appreciation of Christ, understanding of God at work in history and the natural order, and an
understanding of themselves.
¶ 219. Mutual Responsibility
Faithful discipleship includes the obligation to participate in the corporate life of the congregation
with fellow members of the body of Christ. A member is bound in sacred covenant to shoulder the
burdens, share the risks, and celebrate the joys of fellow members. A Christian is called to speak the
truth in love, always ready to confront conflict in the spirit of forgiveness and reconciliation.
¶ 220. The Call to Ministry of All the Baptized
All members of Christ's universal church are called to share in the ministry which is committed to the
whole church of Jesus Christ. Therefore, each member of The United Methodist Church is to be a
servant of Christ on mission in the local and worldwide community. This servanthood is performed in
family life, daily work, recreation and social activities, responsible citizenship, the stewardship of
property and accumulated resources, the issues of corporate life, and all attitudes toward other
persons. Participation in disciplined groups is an expected part of personal mission involvement. Each
member is called upon to be a witness for Christ in the world, a light and leaven in society, and a
reconciler in a culture of conflict. Each member is to identify with the agony and suffering of the
world and to radiate and exemplify the Christ of hope. The standards of attitude and conduct set
forth in the Social Principles (Part IV) shall be considered as an essential resource for guiding each
member of the Church in being a servant of Christ on mission.
¶ 221. Accountability
1. All members are to be held accountable for faithfulness to their covenant of baptism.
2. If a baptized member neglects faithfulness and discipline in terms of the Baptismal Covenant, every
means of encouraging that member to return and of nurturing him or her to assume the vows of
professing membership should be made.
3. If a professing member should be accused of violating the covenant and failing to keep the vows as
stated in ¶ 217, then it shall be the responsibility of the local church, working through its pastor and its
agencies, to minister to that member in compliance with the provisions of ¶ 228 in an effort to enable
the member to faithfully perform the vows and covenant of membership.
4. In the event that those efforts fail, then the professing member and the local church may agree to
voluntary mediation in which the parties are assisted by a trained, neutral third-party mediator,
mediation team, and/or their district superintendent in reaching a settlement or agreement satisfactory
to all parties.
5. In the further event that those efforts fail to effect reconciliation and reaffirmation of the vows
and covenant of ¶ 217 by the professing member, then the professing members of the church may pursue
the procedures set forth in ¶¶ 2702.3, 2706.5, and 2714.
(From The Book of Discipline of The United Methodist Church — 2004. Copyright © 2004 by The United
Methodist Publishing House. Used by permission.)
This membership standard is taken from the website of Cornerstone UMC, Fayetteville, NC
