| |||
| |||
| |||
| |||
| |||
| |||
| |||
| |||
| |||
| |||
| |||
| |||
| |||
Membership Continuum  Church membership can mean different things to different people depending on background and former experiences. At Incarnation, membership implies steps of shared responsibility for carrying out Incarnation’s understood mission, vision, and values. Membership is valued at Incarnation and membership is one of the ways we partner with each other and God to carry out what God has called this faith community to be about. Incarnation has defined membership in terms of a continuum so that people are able to enter and engage in ministry in ways that make sense to them. It is important to us that you find a place and be a part of what’s happening at Incarnation, and in a way that is meaningful to you and assists with your continued growth and faith in Christ. It is our hope that this continuum is helpful in providing a path to your goals for connection, engagement, and growth. A Guest is a newcomer who first comes to Incarnation for one or more reasons - to find a place to worship, to enroll a child in preschool or Sunday School or Confirmation, or to find a place to serve in community. As a guest you are welcome and encouraged to sample nearly any ministry opportunity you desire. A Participant is a guest who over time, has come to feel more connected to Incarnation, participates in a manner of different ways through one’s own and/or family involvement, through serving on a regular basis or being a part of a small group or by choosing to share one’s financial resources with Incarnation. Like guests, participants are invited to self-select into nearly any ministry opportunity desired. An Affiliate Member is generally an active participant who desires a greater commitment with Incarnation as a faith community, and wishes to be formally affiliated with Incarnation. To prepare for Affiliate Membership, one participates in a 2.5 hour overview/workshop about who Incarnation is as a faith community, which helps provide an explanation of Incarnation’s uniqueness, as well as an opportunity to quickly connect with many people – staff, existing members, and other prospective affiliate members. This learning opportunity is anchored in Incarnation’s mission, vision, values, and prepares the participant to partner with others in carrying out many of the mission elements. As a part of the orientation process, you will be invited to sign a Membership Covenant. The first New Affiliate Membership Orientation is scheduled for March 25 from 6:30 – 9:00 p.m. To register, contact bbenson@incarnationmn.org or 651-484-7213. Childcare is made available for those who make an advanced reservation. Registration is due March 22 for this session. All the dates set for New Affiliate Member Orientation in 2010 are the following: Thursday, March 25 from 6:30 – 9:00 p.m. Tuesday, June 15 from 6:30 - 9:00 p.m. Wednesday, September 8 from 6:30 -9:00 p.m. Saturday, November 13 from 9:00 - 11:30 a.m. A note about New Affiliate Member Orientation: Attending orientation is a great way to learn more about Incarnation, however, attendance does not commit anyone to step into membership if he/she does not feel ready. Reception of new Affiliate Members is done in the context of a worship gathering by making some public statements of commitment together as an entire group. Likewise, Incarnation as a faith community also makes public commitments to these new affiliate members. This is why Incarnation values the receipt of affiliate members during worship. We do this in a community setting. While affiliate membership is a significant commitment, it is not meant to be a stopping place but a point along the journey with this faith community. Hopefully, as an affiliate member, you’ll desire an opportunity for more leadership and commitment to partnership, and thus will seek to become a “Voting Member” of Incarnation. Voting Members have the responsibility to participate in the decision-making activities held during Congregational meetings, and have the opportunity to serve on ministry teams and governing body leadership teams. The preparation requirements for stepping into voting membership involve having Incarnation experiences in each of the Incarnation mission elements as described below. We believe it is important for those who are representing the faith community as strategy is set and decisions are made, be versed in a variety of ministries at Incarnation. Connect: An experience which has incorporated repeated exposure to the same small (in numbers) group, at Incarnation or an affiliated organization with the goal of getting to know those within the group from a faith perspective. The experience must have included prayer or devotional elements with each gathering. Grow: A learning opportunity that is Biblical, theological, or otherwise has an orientation towards faith practices, including a book study with faith orientation, 4 hour minimum cumulative commitment. Serve: Any opportunity available through Incarnation which provides the chance to be in service to others in a way that is an outgrowth of our faith, 4 hour minimum cumulative commitment. Invite: a learning opportunity which provides information about why we are called to share our faith, how we prepare to share our faith, and an opportunity to share faith outside of the Incarnation community. There are a myriad of ways to live out these elements of Incarnation’s mission and prepare for voting membership. In fact, it’s possible that within a single experience at Incarnation, the mission is lived out multiple ways. However, the more encounters a person has at Incarnation, the better he/she will know this faith community. In order to have a fuller understanding of the various worship styles offered and to have a greater connection with those who choose to worship using different styles, voting members will also be expected to attend worship gatherings at least once in each worship space, the Sanctuary (8:45 a.m. or 10:05 a.m.) and Incarnation Hall (10:45 p.m. or 6:00 p.m.). To learn more about Voting Membership, contact Becky Benson at bbenson@incarnationmn.org. For more information about membership at Incarnation or to register for the next scheduled New Affiliate Member Orientation, contact Becky Benson at bbenson@incarnationmn.org or 651-484-7213. Coming to Worship FAQs |
