2016 Wesleyan Discipline: B. Categories of Membership

B. Categories of Membership

1. Membership

553. Persons to be admitted to membership in The Wesleyan Church shall be those who meet the conditions set forth in the Constitution (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:297:1-4).

(1) Candidates for membership shall be examined by the local board of administration (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:782:8; 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:835-837), to determine whether they meet the requirements of the Constitution concerning their experience of regeneration, Christian baptism, their willingness to be instructed in and acceptance of the Articles of Religion, Elementary Principles and the authority of The Discipline in matters of church government, and their willingness to enter into a membership and discipleship relationship with The Wesleyan Church through the local church.

(2) Candidates for membership who have satisfactorily passed the examination by the local board of administration, shall be voted upon by the local church conference unless the local church conference has delegated this responsibility to the local board of administration (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:567; 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:655:1). In either case, it shall require a majority vote of those present and voting to receive; and if objections are urged against the reception of a member, it shall require a two- thirds vote of those present and voting.

(3) Members will be asked to reaffirm their commitment to their experience of regeneration, Christian baptism, their acceptance of the Articles of Religion, Elementary Principles and the authority of The Wesleyan Church in matters of church government, and their willingness to continue a membership and discipleship accountability relationship with The Wesleyan Church through the local church annually. The local board of administration shall carry out this annual reaffirmation process in a fair and responsible manner, taking care to preserve both the life and health of the church as well as the established rights of the member. If a member chooses not to participate in the annual reaffirmation process, that choice will be considered as a voluntary withdrawal from membership.

(4) Persons who have been duly accepted for membership as explained in 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:553:2, should be received into membership in a public service, in which they shall make their confession and vows public, (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:5565), and be given the right hand of fellowship by the pastor or the representative of the pastor.

555. The rights of membership are set forth in the Constitution (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:302). The judicial process for dealing with any member charged with failure to uphold the Articles of Religion are located in the Judiciary section of The Discipline (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:5000-5008) and in the General Board Policy on Church Discipline and Ministerial Restoration. 557. Guides and Helps to Holy Living. The Membership Commitments (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:260-268) are the biblically-based convictions historically held by The Wesleyan Church, which all members are encouraged to prayerfully consider and embrace. 558. Leadership Commitments. All those serving in elected or credentialed office in The Wesleyan Church shall be required to follow carefully and conscientiously the Guides and Helps to Holy Living found in paragraphs 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:260-268.

2. Student Membership

564. Those children and youth who have testified to the experience of regeneration may be received as student members immediately after their conversion and baptism. The local board of administration, having provided for their examination concerning their relationship with Christ and their intention to develop toward spiritual maturity, may receive them by majority vote. Student members should be received formally in a public ceremony led by the pastor or staff pastor. The local church shall provide a program that will guide student members toward spiritual maturity and an understanding of the importance, privileges, and commitments of membership.

565. Student members shall have all the rights of adult level members except to vote and hold office. They may become adult level members at any time the local board of administration deems they are qualified, and should be received as given in 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:553. If student members are not qualified for adult level membership by their sixteenth birthday, every effort shall be made by the pastor and local board of administration during the following year to prepare them for adult level membership. When they are twenty-one years of age, they must either become adult level members or be dropped from the student membership list (cf. 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:782:10). Student members who desire to become adult level members shall be received as given in 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:553.