Church Membership

The most important aspect of membership is being a member of what we call the 'Universal Church'. This is automatic the moment we repent of our sins and exercise our faith in Jesus Christ as our Saviour. It means we belong to Gods Church regardless of denominations. We are in membership along with those who professed their faith in Christ two thousand years ago, and with others yet to be born - but will one day embrace Jesus Christ as their Saviour.
But there is another type of membership called the membership of the 'Local Church'. This is not automatic when we become Christians, though it is preferable to join it as quickly as possible, however certain requirements must be met.
As we are commanded by Christ to '..make disciples and baptise them ...' (see beliefs - baptism) we require that all physically healthy prospective members be baptised first in obedience to this command. Following their baptism they will be received into membership at the next Communion Service in the Church.
For people who have moved into the area from another Baptist Church a letter of transfer is acceptable stating that they have been baptise and had been in membership with them.

Why Become A Church Member?

The bible tells us that all who belong to Christ are one body made up of many different parts.
15  Now the body is not made up of one part but of many. If the foot should say, "Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body," it would not for that reason cease to be part of the body.
16  And if the ear should say, "Because I am not an eye,  I do not belong to the body," it would not for that reason cease to be part of the body.
17  If the whole body were an eye, where would the sense of hearing be? If the whole body were an ear, where would the sense of smell be?
18  But in fact God has arranged the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be.
19  If they were all one part, where would the body be?
20  As it is, there are many parts, but one body. 1 Cor 12:14-20
So the bottom line is that we need one another. To refuse to be part of the body is to hurt and hinder the body (other members). It is true that Jesus never explicitly spoke about Church membership, yet He did speak about Church discipline (Matthew 18:15-17). 
15  "If your brother sins against you, go and show him his fault, just between the two of you. If he listens to you, you have won your brother over. But if he will not listen, take one or two others along, so that every matter may be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses. If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church; and if he refuses to listen even to the church,  treat him as you would a pagan or a tax collector. I tell you the truth, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven." Matthew 18:15-18
It is impossible to have Church discipline without Church membership.
In the Baptist Church, membership leads to the right - or rather the privilege, to attend the Church meeting. Here the members gather together to seek the mind of Christ on a whole range of issues. It is the Church Meeting which calls the minister, decides the strategy of evangelism, approves the financial policy. The Church Meeting is the Church in action. Being a Church Member means being involved in the life of the Church in more than just a superficial way.