Informal Belonging and Formal Belonging

by Tom Goodman

“Why do I need to become a member?”

I was recently asked that by someone who’s been actively participating in the life of our church for several years. He’s been attending and giving and volunteering on a level that matches—even exceeds—those whose names are on the membership roll. So why, he wanted to know, was that not enough?

At Hillcrest, we have a high commitment to both informal belonging and formal belonging. If we only had one of these things without the other, we wouldn’t be everything God wants us to be as a church.

Informal Belonging

When I ask people what drew them to Hillcrest, one of the most frequent comments I get is, “I felt like I belonged from the day I first attended.”

It’s one of our highest values: No matter where someone is on the spiritual journey, we want them to feel welcome in our fellowship.

I often use two phrases to communicate this value to our leaders. The first one is, “Belonging precedes believing.” It’s in the context of acceptance and friendship that people can consider Jesus and commit to him. I also tell our leaders, “Practice the IPI Principle.” That stands for “Involve People Immediately.” Don’t wait for baptism and church membership. Ask them to serve as a greeter or take the offering. Persuade them to go on a mission trip. Inform them about the causes we believe in and invite them to participate with us in giving generously. Enlist them to sing in the choir or play a musical instrument. Challenge them to volunteer. There are certain positions and activities that require formal church membership, and I’ll explain why in a moment. But as much as we can, we follow the IPI Principle at Hillcrest.

Formal Belonging

So, if we work so hard to create an environment where people feel they already belong, why do we ask people to become a member?

It’s a public covenant.

In the step of membership, we’re formally announcing, “I’m responsible for this group, and I’m letting them be responsible for me.”

Of course, we can start living like that during the stage I called “informal belonging.” In fact, we should. But there should be a point at which there is no question that you’ve entered into a covenant with a particular group of people.

It’s like marriage. A couple’s love and loyalty for each other doesn’t begin at the wedding ceremony, but it is formally expressed at the ceremony.

How do we fulfill Hebrews 13:17 without church membership? That verse says, “Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they are keeping watch over your souls, as those who will have to give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with groaning, for that would be of no advantage to you.”

“Obey your leaders.” Which leaders? Any Christian leader in the city?

“They keep watch over your souls.” Who are they to keep watch over? Any Christian in the city?

It’s only in the covenant of membership that we make ourselves responsible for a particular group of people, and we let them take responsibility for us.

As Rick Warren puts it: “Every team must have a roster. Every school must have an enrollment. Every business has a payroll. Every army has an enlistment.”

Conclusion

So, help us create a church culture where both informal belonging and formal belonging takes place. Welcome people into the life of our fellowship in every way you can, but also call people to the covenant called church membership.