SECTION 1
MEMBERSHIP
Except as hereafter provided, any person may enjoy the rights, privileges and obligations of membership in Calvary Baptist Church, including the right to vote, as follows:
Profession of Faith and Baptism. Members may be received on profession of faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and baptism by immersion in water according to the Holy Bible.
Letter. Members may be received on presentation of, or promise of, a letter of recommendation from another Baptist church of like faith and order.
Statement. Any person who for good reason cannot present or promise a letter, may, upon statement of previous profession of faith and baptism by immersion, be admitted after appropriate inquiry by an ordained minister of the Church. If the baptism was not by immersion, admission to membership will be upon baptism by immersion as a restatement of faith symbolizing a desire to unite with Calvary Baptist Church and it heritage.
Watchcare. Any person who desires to enjoy the rights, privileges, and obligations of membership in Calvary Baptist church on a limited, temporal basis may ask for membership by watchcare. Because the member's affiliation with another church remains the same, this membership does not carry voting rights. The names of watchcare members will be kept on a separate list and removed when they leave the local area.
Confirmation. All persons requesting membership in Calvary Baptist Church by profession of faith and baptism, letter, statement, or watchcare shall be presented to the Church by an ordained minister of the staff at a scheduled worship service and confirmed by a majority of members present at the time of presentation.
Other. All persons desiring to avail themselves of the rights, privileges, and obligations of membership in Calvary Baptist Church on any basis not described herein, after consultation with an ordained member of the staff, may be presented to the congregation by that ordained member of the staff at a scheduled worship service for approval by a majority of the members present at the worship service.
SECTION 2
TERMINATION OF MEMBERSHIP
Membership in Calvary Baptist Church may be terminated by a majority vote at a regular business session as follows:
Letter. Letters of recommendation for the purpose of uniting with another Baptist church shall be granted, when requested, to members of good standing by a majority vote of members present at a business meeting.
Erasures. Members uniting with churches of other denominations shall be dropped from the membership list of Calvary Baptist Church. Courtesy letters of Christian commendation may be written by the Pastor where deemed appropriate.
Other. If circumstances indicate the necessity for disciplinary action, the matter shall be referred to the Pastor and Board of Deacons for investigation and possible recommendation for a vote of the members of the Church at a regular or properly called business meeting. The guidelines and principles for the procedure shall be consistent with the teachings in the New Testament in general and Matthew 18:15-17 in particular. The members involved in the disciplinary process should remember that humans are imperfect and that discipline must be done in love with the hope that the circumstances creating the need for the discipline will be resolved. Any member who is the subject of a disciplinary proceeding shall be notified in writing at least thirty days in advance of the date the matter is to be presented to the Church and Board of Deacons. The notice shall contain the nature of the matter and advise of the member's right to appear and be heard in full before the Board of Deacons and the Church during the discussion of the matter.
Adopted February 12, 1997