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We're
encouraged to know that you are finding your spiritual
needs met and are being challenged to walk with
the Lord here at Congregation Shema Yisrael, and
want to join our community! We take membership
very seriously. Being an active and involved part
of Messiah’s Holy Community of Believers
is one of the most important things you can do.
It is one of the most important relationships
that you have.
Please
read and study the following articles and documents:
-
Membership Information
- What
I Believe And What I Reject
- The Bylaws
- Principles
and Procedures of Congregational Discipline.
Then answer
the following questions and provide us with the
requested information. Please use the back of
these sheets as necessary to fully answer any
of the following questions or provide the requested
information.
Why are
you applying for membership at Shema?
Are you
in agreement with the congregation’s doctrinal
statement? If not, where do you disagree?
Is there
anything in the “What I Believe And What
I Reject” article that you disagree with?
If so, what is it?
If ever
you find yourself in disagreement with our doctrinal
statement, or in disagreement with our position
on a given issue about which you feel strongly,
will you agree to bring the matter before Rabbi
Loren and/or the leadership of the Congregation,
so as to prevent division or dissension within
the Congregation?
The New
Covenant Community is not the nation of Israel
living under the Covenant made at Sinai, nor are
our rabbis the Levitical Priests, nor do we offer
bulls, goats, lambs and other offerings as the
sons of Aaron did at the Jerusalem Temple, nor
are we are living under the same economy as the
nation of Israel from Sinai to the Destruction
of the Second Temple. Rather, we are a religious
community living within another nation - the United
States, with it’s own government and financial
and social system. For these reasons, we don’t
teach tithing as was commanded to the Jewish people
under the Torah. Nor do we support our congregation
like non-Messianic synagogues do, charging their
members annual dues. We depend on the members
to systematically contribute as God prospers them.
We teach generous, cheerful giving, not giving
grudgingly or because you feel forced to give,
because the Lord loves a cheerful giver. We recommend
- we don’t demand, we only suggest - that
ten percent is a reasonable amount to try and
give if you are able to do so. Can we count on
you to support the congregation in this way?
As the
Lord has set for us the example, we expect all
members to adopt a servant’s attitude. In
what ways can you see yourself contributing to
the growth of our community?
Being
an active and involved part of the community is
one of our spiritual duties. It is also essential
for spiritual growth. Are you committed to faithfully
attending scheduled services unless something
unusual occurs to prevent you from doing so?
We expect
that our members will give their time, energy,
finances, allegiance and loyalty primarily to
our congregation. They ought to attend our services
and Bible studies. We don’t mind when our
members have fellowship with other Believers and
congregations. Fellowship is a good thing. But
if they are attending somewhere else on a regular
basis (a church, a Sunday service, a Bible study)
we would like to know what influences and teachings
they are placing themselves under. If you go somewhere
else on a more than occasional basis, will you
inform us?
Have you
been baptized? If so, when, and through what Messianic
Congregation or Church? Was it by full immersion,
or by sprinkling? Were you a Believer when you
were baptized, or did it happen before you had
personally and consciously committed your life
to serving Messiah?
Have you
been divorced (if a couple: were either one of
you divorced)? If so, what were the circumstances?
Were there Biblical grounds for divorce (adultery,
abandonment of the Believer by the non believer)?
Did it happen before or after you were a Believer?
We particularly want to know if you were divorced
and remarried as a Believer, and also if you went
against the advice and council of your previous
congregation.
Have you
ever been convicted of a felony? We ask this question
for several reasons: A felony is a matter of public
record, and if the public has the right to know,
so do we. Knowing helps protect the congregation
from doing something foolish. For example, if
you have been convicted of a felony regarding
embezzling, we want to know before we ask you
to be part of the finance committee or be the
treasurer; if you have been convicted of a felony
for child sexual abuse, we need to know before
we ask you to serve in Shabbat school. If you
have been convicted of a felony, it does not mean
that you are automatically disqualified from becoming
a member. If you have been convicted of a felony,
please describe the details of what happened.
It is
traditional for congregations to receive some
sort of recommendation from the previous congregation
from which a person is transferring. Do you have
a letter of recommendation? If not, please provide
us the name, address and phone number of your
previous church/messianic congregation, and the
name of the pastor/rabbi.
When someone
leaves a congregation it is proper to inform the
leaders of their intention to leave. Will you
agree to extend us that courtesy should this happen?
If you
are still interested in becoming a member, please
fill out the rest of the information on this page,
sign and return this completed form to the synagogue’s
office. After reviewing it, we will contact you
to arrange an interview with the elders. If the
interview goes well, at the end of the interview
we will welcome you as a member. Then, at a service
we will introduce you as a member to the rest
of the community. Thank you again for taking the
time to share these things with us, and for your
desire to walk with the Lord in our midst!
Being
a community characterized by Messiah's love, we
like to recognize special days in our members'
lives. Please provide your names, address, phone
numbers, email addresses, birthdays (year not
necessary) and anniversary (please include the
year).
Names
of adults
_____________________________________________________________
Address (include city and zip)
_____________________________________________________________
Phone numbers
_____________________________________________________________
Email addresses
_____________________________________________________________
Names of children
_____________________________________________________________
Birthdays
_____________________________________________________________
Anniversary date
_____________________________________________________________
Signature
_____________________________________________________________ |
