ARTICLE V: MEMBERSHIP

1. Qualifications: The members of this church shall be persons who have been received by recommendation of the Pastor and vote of the Board of Deacons and by public acceptance of the church's covenant: (a) on presentation of satisfactory letter of transfer from other churches; (b) if letters are not available, by reaffirmation of faith; or (c) on confession of faith and baptism.
 

2. Reception: The public reception of members shall ordinarily be upon the Lord's Day when the Lord's Supper is celebrated.
 

3. Duties: Members are expected to be faithful in all the spiritual duties essential to the Christian life, to attend the services of this church, to give regularly for its support and its charities, and to share in its organized work.

4. Rights: Such members who are in full and regular standing and have attained the age of eighteen years may act and vote in transactions of the Church.
 

5. Termination:

a. Any member may, on the request from another church, be granted a letter of transfer to that church. If wishing to join a body not in fellowship with this church, he/she may be dismissed with a certificate of church membership.
 

b. If a member requests to be released from his/her covenant obligations to this church for reasons which the church may finally deem satisfactory, after it shall have patiently and kindly endeavored to secure his/her continuance in its fellowship, such request may be granted and his/her membership terminated.
 

c. A member whose address has long been unknown, or for a period of two years, in spite of spiritual care, has not attended the church worship or contributed to its support, may by recommendation of the Board of Deacons be removed from the active membership roll and placed on an inactive list. The inactive member shall remain in that status until such time as he or she submits in writing a request to return to active membership.
 

d. Should a member become an offense to the church and to its good name by reason of immoral or un-Christian conduct, or by persistent breach of his/her covenant vows, the church may terminate his/her membership, but only after due notice and hearing, and after faithful efforts have been made to bring such members to repentance and amendment.
 

6. Restoration to Membership: Any person whose membership has been terminated shall, upon written application to the Board of Deacons and/or minister and affirmation vote of the church at a duly called meeting, be restored to membership; if for any offense upon evidence of reformation, or if for any other cause, upon satisfactory explanation.
 

7. Associate Members: Any member of a Christian church may, on recommendation of the Pastor and vote of the Board of Deacons and by public acceptance of the church’s covenant at any service of reception of members, be admitted into associate membership. Associate members shall have the rights of regular members of voice, but not of vote.