Membership
We hope that our community may be a welcome place for you to participate and grow as a member at Fairfax United Methodist Church.
How do I become a member of Fairfax UMC?
The first thing to do is call the church office and speak with one of the pastors. All people who come to take the covenant of membership need to have been baptized. Joining the church is something that takes place once a person has been through the sacrament of baptism. We encourage all people who are interested in becoming a member to come to our informal gatherings at the pastor’s house to meet people and learn about the church.
Once you have talked to one of our pastors, we will invite you to choose a Sunday and a worship service where you would like to take the covenant of membership. This covenant involves the care and companionship of the community.
At a certain point in the service, you will be invited forward by the pastors and you will be asked two questions. More information about these questions are below. Then the congregation will renew their membership covenant and commit to journeying with you in your membership. Then, after the service, you will be invited to stand in the back of the sanctuary with the pastors so that the membership can greet you!
What age do I have to be to join the church?
When children have been baptized, they become what we call baptized members of the church. When students move into 7th grade, they are invited to participate in confirmation to become professing members of the church. We require all students from 7th to 12th grade who are interested in becoming professing members of the church to participate in confirmation. See our Youth Sunday School page for more information about this process. After someone has graduated from high school or turned 18, we have them join the church with the same process as adults.
What questions do I have to answer when I become a member?
The two questions are asked of all people joining the United Methodist Church. If you are joining the church from another denomination or by profession of faith, you will be asked the first question:
“As a member of Christ’s universal church, will you be loyal to the United Methodist Church, and do all in your power to strengthen its ministries?” United Methodist Hymnal, pg 38
This joins you as a member of The United Methodist Church and asks that you will support the United Methodist Church by supporting its ministries. The second question is asked of all who join the church:
“As a member of this congregation, will you faithfully participate in its ministries by your prayers, your presence, your gifts, your service, and your witness?”United Methodist Hymnal, pg 38 (addition of witness not in the Hymnal)
This is the ultimate covenant that we make … to grow in faith and service by giving of ourselves through our prayers for our community, the church, and the greater world, our presence each week at worship and Sunday School as well as our presence at ministry events and activities, our gifts both financially and utilizing the gifts God has given to us, our service to God’s kingdom by volunteering to serve in at least one ministry in the life of the church, and our witness which helps us share the story of what God is doing in our life.