Becoming a Member of Messiah Lutheran Church
Frequently Asked Questions

  1. What does membership mean at Messiah?

Membership at Messiah is not about drawing lines or creating insiders and outsiders. Everyone who worships, serves, or prays with us is already a part of this community in the most important ways. What formal membership does is express that belonging in a visible, public way. It’s how we celebrate you and your presence within this community and the larger body of Christ.

Beyond that, membership does carry with it some practical significance. Because we are a democratically governed congregation, members are entrusted with voting rights in congregational matters and are permitted to serve in elected and appointed leadership roles. This reflects our belief that the ultimate authority of the Church rests not with the pastors or bishops but within the gathered community of believers.

  1. What do members commit to?

When you are welcomed as a member, you will be asked to join the whole congregation in freely and joyfully expressing your faith in Jesus Christ in accordance with the words of the Apostles’ Creed. You will additionally be asked whether you will strive to:

  • Show up with this faith community to worship, receive the sacraments, hear God’s Word, study, pray, and serve.

  • Practice being curious about Scripture, your neighbor, and God’s ongoing creation in daily life.

  • Share your sense of call and unique talents with a spirit of generosity in the life of the congregation.

In the Rite of Welcoming new members, these statements of commitments are followed by the new members’ response of “We will, and we ask God to help us.” This is important because it acknowledges that you are not asked to fulfill these commitments perfectly (no one can) but do strive for them with God’s grace and the support of your new faith community.

  1. Do I have to be baptized to become a member?

Our Evangelical Lutheran tradition understands baptism as the foundational mark to belonging to the body of Christ. If you have already been baptized in another Christian community in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, your baptism is fully recognized and there is no need for baptism again. If you know the date and location of your baptism or have a baptismal certificate, please share that with us so we can be sure to mark and celebrate your baptismal anniversary!

If you have not been baptized, we would love to celebrate that gift for you. We believe baptism is indeed a gift – not something we earn or decide for ourselves. We believe baptism has the power to create and stir up faith, rather than a reward for those who can articulate their faith. That being said, if you are not ready to be baptized, we will still joyfully welcome you as a member into this community. As a Messiah member, the gift of baptism will always be offered and held out to you whenever you are ready to freely accept it. Baptisms of new members can either occur on the same Sunday we welcome you as a new member or on a different date.

For children who are not baptized, the same approach applies: the whole family is embraced and accepted as members regardless of baptism. However, baptism is freely offered to children at/around the time of welcoming the family or whenever the parents discern is right for them and their family.

In our tradition, those who are baptized as children have the opportunity to express their faith and their decision to be Christians for themselves in the rite of Confirmation which occurs around the ages of 13-15.

Baptism is an important part of the Christian life, so if you have any questions or concerns at all about baptism, please be in conversation with Pastor Trent about it.

  1. What if I have questions or doubts about my faith or the Lutheran form of Christianity?

You will be in good company at Messiah! We are a community of seekers and lifelong learners. Our members hold a variety of questions and perspectives. We believe that wrestling with faith is a part of discipleship, not a barrier to it. While our Pastor and congregation will faithfully teach and model our communal lives according to Scripture, the historic creeds, and the Book of Concord, there is still much about the Christian life that is not so straightforward and requires a willingness to explore our doubts and questions together. At Messiah, you’ll find lots of ways to engage deeply with theological questions through Sunday sermons, weekly Bible studies, periodic small groups, or our weekly Forums.

If you’d like to learn more about Evangelical Lutheran belief and practice, you might like to explore:

Of course, the best option is to simply have a conversation with Pastor Trent who will be delighted to answer questions and help you navigate other resources or find reliable information.

  1. How can I prepare for membership?

The best preparation is participation – come to worship, meet people, and take part in our different ministries and activities. We do not do “New Member Classes” because membership isn’t so much about you knowing the right things or conforming to some ideal. Membership is about naming you as beloved and affirming you are right where you need to be in your faith journey. That being said, please reach out to Pastor Trent (trent@messiahmission.org or 832-253-3570) if you need to process or discuss anything before deciding to accept the invitation to membership.

  1. When are new members welcomed?

Messiah formally welcomes new members during Sunday worship services several points in the year – typically at Easter, the beginning and/or end of Summer, and around Thanksgiving or the start of Advent. If baptism is a part of your journey to membership, that can be done on the same day or on a different Sunday.

  1. What happens during the Rite of Welcome?

During worship, you will be introduced to the congregation, join the congregation in reciting the Apostles’ Creed, and make simple commitments to worship, study, grow, and serve within this community. The congregation also makes promises to you – promises to honor your unique gifts, to support you in life’s challenges, to accompany you in your seeking and questions, and to encourage you in the life of faith. The rite concludes with a prayer of blessing and celebration: “You are beloved, and your presence here is a gift!”

  1. What if I’m not ready for membership but want to stay involved?

That is perfectly fine. You can worship, serve, and participate in our life together without becoming a formal member. We encourage you to take your time, ask questions, and discern when you feel ready to take this next step. At the same time, we hope you will come to view membership not as something you have to prove or earn. It is truly a freely offered gift of this community’s affirmation that you are a beloved child of God and that we welcome and honor you as such.

Final Word

We hope you can sense that we think of membership a bit differently at Messiah than many other congregations. For us, it is not about conformity, but about real community. We promise to welcome your faith however it flows through the uniqueness of your life. We promise to choose curiosity over certainty, and to honor your gifts and experience with love and grace. Together, we will learn what it means to live as the body of Christ – embracing both the dying and the rising, forgiving and living, that make church life so holy.