How Do I become a Member?

Step 1:  Intro to BPC – Membership Workshop
Your first step is attendance at the Intro to BPC workshop.  This is also known as the Membership workshop.  The workshop is free of cost and is open to anyone interested in finding out more about BPC.  Attendance at the workshop does not obligate you in any way towards membership – you may simply come and find out more about BPC’s vision, goals and beliefs.  Intro to BPC is given 3-4 times a year, usually on a Saturday from 9:00 a.m. – Noon.

Register for the Intro to BPC class

Step 2:  Membership Profile
If after attending an Intro to BPC workshop you decide to pursue formal membership, you can submit your application for Membership by logging on to the BPC website, and then go to Membership Profile.  Your completion of this application tells us that you are interested in Membership and identifies you as being actively involved in our Membership process.

You can fill out the application in stages – you don’t have to complete it in one sitting.  You can also submit your application at any time; you don’t have to wait until after you take the Intro to BPC workshop.

Submit Membership Profile form

Step 3:  Complete a “Christianity Explored” course
We believe the most important decision of anyone’s life is the choice to proclaim Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior.  At BPC, our lives and ministry are dependent upon this faith profession.  We recognize that people come to BPC from a variety of previous religious and denominational experiences.   When we add new members to our family faith, we desire that all of us should have an understanding of the basics of the Christian faith.  We believe the “Christianity Explored” course gives us a common foundation of faith. 
Whether you are brand new to your faith or you have known Christ your entire life, this course offers something for each of us as together we seek to proclaim Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior in all that we do.

To view the Christianity Explored page click here.

Step 4:  Schedule a Membership Interview
Once you have decided you want to belong to the BPC family and have completed, the Intro to BPC workshop, the Membership Application AND a “Christianity Explored” course, contact the Discipleship office to schedule your Membership Interview via the link below.  A Discipleship staff member will set up your meeting with an elder.  This meeting lasts about 45 minutes.  Married couples are interviewed together.

The interview is designed for several purposes:  First, it gives our elders (the elected leaders) a chance to get to know you better, to hear your experience in coming to know Jesus Christ, and what is happening in your spiritual life right now.  Second, you have an opportunity to ask any questions you might have and to talk about your need for Baptism or your children’s need for Baptism.  You will discuss with the elder the Membership Vows you will affirm to before the congregation to make sure you are clear about what you are promising in front of our family of faith and to determine whether you can make these promises.  The elders will also review the Membership Covenant with you and ask you to sign it.

Fill out Membership Interview Request

Step 5: Membership Vows
Once you have completed the above steps, your name will be submitted to the Session (the church’s ruling elders and pastors) to be considered for membership approval at their next monthly meeting (the Session meets on the third Monday of each month).  You become a formal member the night Session takes action (you do not have to be present at this meeting).  Upon Session approval you will be contacted by an elder and given details about when you can take your Membership Vows at a future Sunday worship service.  If you have not received Christian baptism, you will also be baptized during the Sunday worship service at which you take your vows.

After taking your vows, you will meet another time with the elders so that you can talk with the elders about your next steps in connecting your life with your new family of faith as well as those next steps in continuing your ongoing faith journey.