Becoming a Member

If you have any questions about the membership process, stop by the Member Center after a Sunday morning service or contact the Membership Department at 818-909-5644 or membership@gracechurch.org. For more on what we believe about church membership, read “The Distinctive of Church Membership."

1. Register at the Member Center

After each Sunday morning service, the Member Center is staffed with volunteers eager to answer questions about member- ship and baptism, provide you with a membership application, and help you begin the registration process for membership classes.

2. Begin Membership Application

Fill out all parts of the application for membership—this includes answering questions about your spiritual background, writing a brief testimony, and reading a few documents to help you understand what we teach and how our church operates.

Read Membership Documents: An integral part of becoming a member of our church is becoming familiar with what we believe and how our church practices those beliefs. Prayerfully review the following documents and audio recordings, which give a thorough overview of our church’s doctrine and practice. Should you have any questions, we encourage you to note them to discuss during your pastoral interview. Additionally, you may contact the Membership Department with any questions you may have.

— Read "Doctrinal Statement" (25 minutes): Read Online
— Read "Grace Community Church By-Laws" (40 minutes): Download (PDF)
— Read "Affirmation of Commitment" (5 minutes): Read Online | Download (PDF)
— Listen to the "Understanding Baptism" sermon (1 hour): Listen Online | Baptism FAQ | Testimony Guidelines

3. Attend Membership Classes

A complete class cycle is offered at 11 am over the first three Sundays of every month (excluding July and December). The classes can be taken in any order, but all three classes are required.

— Membership 101: Distinguishing GCC from Other Churches
— Membership 102: Why Membership Is Biblical
— Membership 103: How to Be an Effective Member at GCC

4. Attend Pastoral Interview & Schedule Baptism

After completing your application, return it to the Members Center on Sunday morning at the end of the Worship or Fellowship Group service. Then contact your Fellowship Group Pastor or Elder to schedule your membership interview. This interview is a chance for you to get to know your leadership and ask any questions you have.
 
Once your interview is scheduled, notify the Membership Office (contact information is on the right side of the webpage) and let them know who will be conducting your interview. The office will then send a digital copy of your application to that Pastor or Elder for review.
 
If you are not currently part of a Fellowship Group, the Membership Office will follow up with you about next steps after they receive your application. If you have any difficulty scheduling your interview, please reach out to them for assistance.
 
If you have not yet been baptized, please review the baptism testimony guidelines guidelines for your baptism testimony. After your pastoral interview, submit your baptism testimony at the Member Center on a Sunday morning at the end of the Worship or Fellowship Group service. A volunteer will review it with you and answer any questions. The Membership Department will then contact you to schedule your baptism.

5. Right Hand of Fellowship (RHOF)

When you complete the membership process, you will be welcomed as a member at the next “Right Hand of Fellowship,” which occurs monthly at the end of the evening service. Before the Sunday evening service, there is a brief reception to welcome all new members, and at the close of the service, new members will make an affirmation of their commitment to the local body here at Grace Church.

 

Distinctives

Membership Resources

Serving Our Church