Edgewood

    Presbyterian

 Church

3617 Macon Road

Columbus Georgia

echurch@bellsouth.net

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Think You Want To Officially Join Us?

You are welcome in our midst whether or not you decide to take the step of becoming an official member of EPC.  However, if you decide to accept Christ’s call to be fully involved in the ministry of His Church, there are three ways to join Edgewood Presbyterian – profession of faith, reaffirmation of faith, and transfer of certificate from some other Christian church. Talk with the pastor about your desire to join and about which method is the correct one for you.  When you and the pastor are in agreement about your becoming a member, the pastor will consult with the session about the exact date for you to join.

If you join us by transfer of certificate, the Edgewood staff will write your former church and request your transfer certificate.  If you are a new Christian, whether an adult or young person, Edgewood will help prepare you for making your profession of faith by offering instruction in the meaning of this profession, the responsibilities of membership, and the faith and order of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.).  The session shall determine whether this instruction shall be given before or after your public profession.  If you are reaffirming your faith or joining by transfer of certificate, this same instruction will help refresh your call to be an active participant in the fellowship of believers at EPC.

In the Presbyterian Church, “professing your faith” means that you are willing to stand before the session and the congregation during a Sunday service and answer, “I do!” to each of the following questions:

1.  “Do you accept the Scriptures of the Old and New Testament to be, by the Holy Spirit, the unique and authoritative witness to Jesus Christ and God’s Word to You?”

2.  “Do you acknowledge yourself to be a sinner in the sight of God, justly deserving His displeasure, and without hope apart from the unmerited sovereign love and mercy of God?”

3.  “Do you trust in Jesus Christ as the Son of God, Savior of sinners, and the Lord of your life; and do you receive and depend upon Him alone for your salvation?”

4.  “Do you promise to support the Church in its worship and work to the best of your ability through the dedication of your time, talents, financial resources, and spiritual gifts?”

5.  “Do you submit yourselves to the government and discipline of the Church, and promise to devote yourself to its purity and peace?”

In like manner, after you answer these questions in the affirmative, the entire congregation is asked to respond aloud to this question,

 “Do we, the members of Edgewood Presbyterian Church, promise to love, support, and nurture this disciple/these disciples in faith as we serve together in the name of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior? “

Following your profession and the congregation’s affirmation, the pastor will publicly welcome you by extending to you the right hand of fellowship.  Often times, the choir and congregation join in singing “Blest Be the Tie That Binds”.  Congratulations! You are now on the rolls as a member of Edgewood Presbyterian Church!

One of the true joys of church membership is preparing children for their public profession of faith in Jesus Christ.  The pastor personally conducts the training sessions that teach our children exactly what they mean when they say they believe in Jesus Christ.  These “Communicants” classes are held once a year and are conducted once a week for a number of weeks prior to Palm Sunday.