Church Membership for Children

Question:  When and how can children become members at Metro North Church?
Answer:  The information addressing this important question comes from the Parent’s Guide given to parents at the Communicant Member Orientation.

            A.  Age Qualifications -The Book of Church Order of the PCA states, "The time when young persons come to understand the Gospel cannot be precisely fixed.  This must be left to the prudence of the Session, whose office it is to judge, after careful examination, the qualifications of those who apply for admission to sealing ordinances."  While no definite age is set for a child to become eligible for membership, the Session of Metro North Church has approved the approximate age of 10 to 12 years old as typical at Metro North Church, following that child’s profession of faith. 

            B.  Willful Initiation- The membership of a person in the church of Jesus Christ as a whole and in Metro North Church is not to be taken lightly.  Since the sacraments and other important blessings of God's grace are involved, we require that the child himself or herself express a strong desire for church membership.

            C.  Parental Instruction (Deuteronomy 6:4-9) - The child must complete the Communicants Class workbook with his or her parents as teachers before an interview for membership may take place. - Metro North Church believes that the primary agents in the spiritual training of children are Christian parents (Ephesians 6:4).  We are committed to helping parents disciple their children in this important task. This will not only fulfill a Biblical mandate (Deuteronomy 6:6-9), but hopefully be a catalyst for a closer family relationships by fostering good communication.  Once a year (usually in February) a Communicants Class orientation will be held with parents for preliminary instruction.  The parents are given approximately two months to have their child complete the 17 lessons and to have their child complete a Membership Application Form and send it to the church office.  The completed form confirms to the elders the readiness of the child for membership.

            D.  Elder Interview -Upon completion of the instruction by parents each child will be interviewed by an elder of the church and if found to be ready, recommend the child to the Session for membership.

            E.  Session Approval - Upon completion of parental training and the elder interview, the child is received and welcomed into the church's membership by the Session.

Question:  What do we mean when we call the children who go thru this process “ communicant members”? 
Answer:  Basically it means that they can take communion.  As communicant members these children become full members of the church, entitled to all the (adult-like) responsibilities and privileges thereof.  

Parents are invited to contact Pastor Bill Thompson at 764-0873 regarding their children’s membership and the process by which it occurs.