After accepting Jesus Christ as your Savior, the Bible tells us to associate ourselves with a local New Testament church (Hebrews 10:24-25). A church is always a local, visible assembly of scripturally baptized believers in covenant relationship to carry out the Commission of the Lord Jesus Christ.
At Vanderbilt, we encourage church membership because of its importance in the life of the believer. Joining a local church is an act of submission, commitment, and acceptance of responsibilities. Church membership is essentially an act of humility it is a willingness to come under the spiritual leadership of a pastor-shepherd and into fellowship of a body of believers who will hold you accountable to your commitment to Christ. We believe that the commitment made by becoming a member of a local church is a vital part of your own growth and maturity as a Christian
You are certainly always welcome to worship without becoming a member here but attending Vanderbilt does not make you a member, there is a process to becoming a member.
If you are presently seeking a church home, you are invited to become a member in one of three ways:
Profession of Faith and Baptism: A person may unite by a public profession of faith in the Lord Jesus Christ as personal Savior and then requesting to become a candidate for baptism and a church member. After baptism the person is a member of the church through the vote of the church.
Transfer of Letter: If you are a member of another church of like faith and order, you may join our church by letter.
Statement of Faith: If you are a member of another church of like faith and order and for some reason a letter of transfer cannot be secured, you may join our church by statement of faith.
