Bridgeway Church shall have only nonvoting members. The members shall be prohibited from participating in the governance of Bridgeway Church or voting in any way. The Elder Board holds the right to request input from the members on any issue but is not obligated unless this document calls for such action.
Any person who believes on and has accepted the Lord Jesus Christ as his personal Savior, who has been baptized, who is endeavoring to follow Him in his daily life, and who subscribes substantially to the
Statement of Faith shall be eligible for membership.
Requirements for Membership Recognition
A personal commitment to the Lordship of Jesus Christ in their life.
Baptism following salvation.
Substantial agreement with the Statement of Faith of Bridgeway Church.
Submission to the decisions, vision, and direction established by the Elders of Bridgeway Church. The member must be committed to working out problems or disagreements through communication and love. The member must accept and support the decisions of the Board of Elder when the disagreement deals with questions that are not sin or violations of the law.
- Completion of the New Membership Class in good standing.
- Financially supportive of the church and its ministries.
- Spiritually supportive of the vision and ministries of Bridgeway Church.
- Execution of a membership agreement.
Admission to membership in Bridgeway Church shall be initiated by the person desiring membership. Application for membership shall be made on the forms provided by Bridgeway Church.
The church staff shall periodically review the member roll. Members who no longer meet the requirements for membership shall be purged from the member roll after an affirmative vote by the Board of Elders.
The member has the privilege of being associated with this work of God and the ministries of Bridgeway Churh. Church membership is not a prerequisite to participation in every Ministry Team, but is required for participation in Ministry Leadership and to participate in certain ministries within the church.
Termination of Membership
Termination of membership shall be accomplished in one of the following ways:
- At the member's request;
- By transfer of membership to another church;
- By determination of the Board of Elders for good and sufficient cause;
- By failure to continue to meet the requirements of Membership outlined in the requirements for membership listed above.
- By lapse of contact with the Church for over one year.
- By death.
An annual business meeting of the members may be held each year at a date and time designated by the Board of Elders to deliver financial report, including a report of the prior year's ministry activities and to update the members on any business matters that the Elders decide.
In any dispute between members and the church leadership related to ministry activities and church administration all parties involved will cooperate in good faith to resolve the dispute as outlined in Matthew 18:15-17 and 1 Timothy 5:17-21. An appeal should be made to the Elder board to hear the complaint and work to bring resolution to the dispute.
