Taking part

A church is not a club or a team, but it should know a sense of meaningful belonging. Those who hear, believe, and are baptised are brought into a distinct and defined body, bounded by believing and behaving, where duties, responsibilities, opportunities and liabilities all hold together.

In the New Testament, we see this in the life of churches which can be counted, added to, officially and formally gather, choose leaders and representatives from among themselves, carry out discipline by vote, and observe the Lord's supper together.