The purpose of this session is to introduce potential new members to unique aspects of your local church life.  Here are the kinds of questions we suggest you cover in this session

1. What are the main points of your official church documents (constitution, bylaws)?

2. What are the formal offices of the church?
        a. If you have elders, how many are there, what do they do, and how are they nominated?
        b. How long is an elder’s term, and how often must an elder be re-affirmed by the congregation?
        c. If you have deacons, how many are there, what do they do, and how are they nominated?
        d. How long is a deacon’s term, and how often must he/she be re-affirmed by the congregation?
        e. What is the authority relationship between the leaders and the congregation?

3. What paid staff positions are there, and what is the relationship between paid and unpaid leaders?

4. What is the process for arriving at an annual church budget?

5. When do the main weekly gatherings happen? What is the intended purpose of each?

6. What property does the church own?
        a. Does the church rent its facilities to other Christian groups? To non-Christian groups?
        b. What are the normal operating hours during which the church building is open?

7. How are small group Bible studies used in your church?
        a. Are they used as an entry point? Or are they used for closely knit discipling relationships?
        b. How does one get plugged into a small group?
        c. How is adult education structured at your church? Is it age graded? Topical? Why?

8. What are the primary ministries in which new members can participate?
        a. Is there a period of time that new members should wait before becoming involved in ministry?
        b. Is there an expectation that members will eventually serve in some capacity?
        c. If I want to start a new ministry, how would I go about doing that?
        d. Is there an area of ministry in which the church needs particular help?

9. What is the debt policy of the church? How much debt has the church currently accrued?

10. How does missions work here?
        a. Is missions done solely at the local church level?
        b. Is the church affiliated with a giving and sending program that includes other local or  denomin-            ational churches?
        c. Who are the missionaries that your local church supports?
        d. Do you partner with any specific para-church organizations or ministries?
        e. Have you adopted a certain country or geographic area for evangelistic purposes?

11. How often are business meetings held?
        a. What is the general content of business meetings?
        b. Are all members expected to attend business meetings?

12. Do you conduct introductory membership interviews? If so, why do you ask the questions you ask?

13. Who do I call if I want to set up an appointment to talk with one of the pastors?

Date: ____________________

Pastor:_________________________________________________________

Other Staff/Guest:________________________________________________   _______________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________________________________

Applicant Information

Name:                         _________________________________________________          Birth date:   _______________

Address:                     ________________________________________________________________________________

Home Phone:              (     ) _______-___________           Cell Phone: (    ) _______ - ___________

Occupation:                ________________________________________________________________________________

Work Phone:              (    ) _______-___________             Email:  ____________________________________________ 

Married: _______ Yes _______ No                                   Wedding date:  _____________________________________

Children

Name 1: ___________________________________        birth date: __________________        notes:

Name 2: ___________________________________        birth date: __________________        notes:

Name 3: ___________________________________        birth date: __________________        notes:

Name 4: ___________________________________        birth date: __________________        notes:

Name 5: ___________________________________        birth date: __________________        notes:

Name 6: ___________________________________        birth date: __________________        notes:

Previous Church Membership:___________________________________________________________________________

Baptized (date/location):________________________________________________________________________________

How Introduced to our Church? ______________________________________        Began Attending: _________________

Membership Class (Date):  ___________________________
Comments?

Membership by:
Baptism (date)  ______

Statement        ______

Letter               ______          Sent to: ___________________________________________                   Received: _____

Divorced: _______ Yes _______ No         Notes:

____________________________________________________________________________________________________
Personal Background / Experience:

____________________________________________________________________________________________________

                                                                                                                  Date: _____________________________