Membership is one of the hot button topics in the church today. Is membership in its current format appropriate for today’s church? Is it appropriate for the church of tomorrow?
I guess the arguement centres around whether baptism is the only form of entry into the church of Jesus Christ or if, given some denomination’s practice of baptising infants, there needs to be some kind of confirmation. The problem is that in todays postmodern society people don’t join, people aren’t members. There are many more people who are happy to be what we call ‘adherrant’, coming to church, getting involved in all its activities, but don’t want to join.
There are lots of reasons why this is a problem. Members are the ones who pay. Members are the ones we count, particularly as denominations (I know we count adherents but not for money).
Is there another way? Should we rethink what we mean by ‘member’? What might the church look like if we didn’t have members? How would it work?
I have to say that I think baptism is the only form of entry into the church. Am I right, wrong or just plain mad?