Becoming a Member Church
The Bylaws of the Association state the following in regard to membership:
4. Membership
4.1 Qualifications. Members of the Association shall be individual Baptist churches which:
4.1.1 are in sympathy with the purpose of the Association as described in these Bylaws;
4.1.2 participate in a covenant relationship with the other Members of the Association as that covenant* may be established and amended by the Association.
4.2 Application. An organized Baptist Church desiring to become a member in the Association shall apply in writing to the Association’s Director of Missions who will refer the matter to the Credentials Committee for review, investigation and recommendation to the Association for action by the Association. Churches recommended for membership which have been sponsored by a Member may be received immediately into the Association upon majority vote of the Association. Churches applying for membership which have not been sponsored by a Member may be received under the watchcare of the Association for one year upon majority vote of the Association. Upon completion of the year under the Association’s watchcare, the Association may vote to receive the church as a full member in the Association.
*The Association Covenant is located here.
Once you contact us about membership, one of the association staff will schedule a meeting with you to visit about your reasons for wanting to join the Association. This meeting will take place at your church, or in the neighborhood where you are starting a church. We will want to know what you understand about Southern Baptists and Blue River-Kansas City Baptist Association. We’ll want to know a brief history of your church and why you believe that membership in the Association will help your church to fulfill its Kingdom mandate. What do you expect to gain from being a member? How will your church help the Association fulfill its ministry goals?
These, and other questions about your church and your vision will help give us an insight into how we can best serve your needs and how you might be able to assist others in the Association. There will also be ample time for you to ask questions about BR-KC.
If you want to continue the process after this meeting, a meeting will be scheduled with you and your key leaders and the Association’s Credentials Committee. The meeting with the Credentials Committee will be an opportunity for you to share your church’s vision and answer a few questions regarding your doctrine and polity (see the section titled Doctrinal Statements on page 6.)
The Credentials Committee of the Association will want to see the following documents from your church:
- Your church’s Constitution and Bylaws, or a statement on how your church is organized.
- A copy of your Church Budget
- A map showing the location of the church, or in the case of a new work, the target area for the new start.
- A photo of the church.
- The Membership Request Form signed by the appropriate church leaders.
Upon a favorable vote by the Credentials Committee, a motion will be brought at the next meeting of the Executive Board, or at the next Annual Meeting, whichever comes first, that your church be received into the Association either directly or by watch-care (see Bylaw 4.2 above).