Join us in Covenant Membership

And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved. (Acts 2:46-47)

Click here for a brief description of what our pastors and elders hope to expect from our members.

Corporate spiritual vitality . . . together in the temple . . . in one another's homes . . . and accountable for each other's lives. From the start it's been the normal pattern for the church to attend temple together. To belong to the Head of the church means being a member of his body. While there are many paths to our front door, we've paved the following walkway into supportive, accountable membership at Bethlehem:

"Getting Acquainted" Classes (optional & open for "starters" every Sunday)
Classes meet at each Bethlehem campus over a 12-week cycle where a cross-section of different leaders unpack Bethlehem's key ministries. Here newcomers often get their first opportunity to match a Sunday morning, large-group worship experience with a small-group experience.

"ASK" Membership Classes (mandatory for those contemplating membership)
This is a 5-hour series, offered in two venues: a 2-part seminar (often Friday PM/Saturday AM) or 1-hour sessions over 5 weeks (usually on Sunday mornings or Wednesday evenings). Sessions include explanations of what it means to be a Christian, what Baptists believe, what is distinctive about Bethlehem, and what is offered to and required for "covenant membership." View our church calendar to see when the ASK Membership Class is offered next.

For those wishing to proceed, here are the steps to membership:

• Sign the Church Covenant, a five-paragraph definition of how we are committed to living together.
• Request a membership interview with one of the church elders, where membership candidates have an opportunity to share how Christ became their highest treasure, as well as such things as any previous experiences of church membership, and their willingness to be baptized if they have yet to do so.
• Participate in a Covenant Affirmation service. Together with others who have completed the foregoing preparation, new members voice their hearty "I do's" to the Church Covenant and are received by congregational vote into Bethlehem's congregation!