On Sunday, May 11th following the 10:00 am Woraship service there will be a “New Members” Orientation meeting with Steve, Laura and Carleen. New members will be welcomed to FCCOL during our Worship Service on Sunday, May 18th.
In the coming weeks, we look forward to talking more about what it means to become a member of FCCOL. “Member” is a word that comes with a lot of baggage, and it might be worth saying what we don’t mean by that term. For a lot of organizations, membership is something transactional – your dues entitle you to particular services or privileges. You become a member of the club, and you’re entitled to use the clubhouse, say, or sign up for tee times. That’s not how it works with us. Grace is free. Church is free, and you’re entitled to be a part of things here with or without becoming a member. So too, in some quarters, membership means that you need to subscribe to or endorse particular beliefs. You become a member of x, meaning that you endorse a political platform, or a set of doctrines. Again, that’s not necessarily the case with us. We’re composed of many different theological understandings, and we do our best to honor the spiritual journey that each of us is on. One size does not fit all. Finally, membership is often understood to distinguish between those who are in and those who are out, those who truly belong from those who are just passing through. We believe otherwise: everyone belongs, with or without the designation of membership.
So if that’s what membership is not, what is it? Perhaps it’s simply a way of making explicit what is already the case. If you’re already here and already participating, it might be that you’re already a member, and that it makes sense to be explicit about that. Or, it’s a way of signaling your desire to go deeper into the life of this community, and into the life of spirituality that we seek to embody. Or, it’s a way of staving off the isolation that is endemic to 21st century society, understanding that none of us can go it alone. Or, it is a way for churches to build a deep bench of talent, of interests, of backgrounds and skills, that strengthen the life of us all. Or, it’s a way of affirming what Jesus and the Apostles, together with generations of theologians (and psychologists) have understood: that we only ever come into our own personhood in relationship to other people. Or, it’s a way of saying that when it comes to God and Jesus, we are at our best when we’re grounded in a concrete practice, with a specific group of people, who walk with us upon life’s way, even as we covenant to walk with them.
There are lots of reasons to become a member of FCCOL. Pick the one that’s right for you. And know that with or without membership, we’ll always be glad that you’re here!