Membership

There are three ways in which this church will accept new members.

Letter of Transfer
First, a person may unite with us by a letter of transfer from another Baptist church of like faith and order. When someone requests to join in this fashion, CVBC will request a letter of transfer of membership from the candidate’s former church.

Statement of Faith
Second, a person may unite with us by statement. This signifies that the candidate was once a member of another Baptist church of like faith and practice but a letter of transfer is unobtainable. While CVBC will generally accept a candidate’s statement about their baptism and membership in another Baptist church, it is important that a full explanation be given to the church concerning why a letter of transfer is unobtainable.

Profession of Faith & Baptism
Third, a person may unite with us by profession of faith and subsequent baptism. This means that a person publicly confesses to be a believer in the Lord Jesus Christ and is asking for baptism and membership in Chena Valley Baptist Church. The act of baptism identifies the believer with Christ and with His church. Members of CVBC vote to receive the candidate for membership. After baptism a person is a member.

Baptism is not sacramental. Baptism is symbolic; picturing the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ and a representation of what has already taken place through conversion: death to the old life, its burial, and raised to walk in newness of life in Christ.

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​Church membership is not just a religious exercise. To unite with the Chena Valley Baptist Church is to agree with our church covenant, and it is uniting with us for the purpose of glorifying God in all that we think, say, and do; endeavoring to achieve that purpose through the public worship of God, the preaching of His Word, consistently living what we preach, and by local and global evangelistic effort.

In order to do this, a church member must be faithful in church attendance, study the Bible (the learning is for living), pray daily for God’s help and leadership, faithfully give a tithe and offering to support the Lord’s work, and take an active part in this church’s ministry.