I love local churches. I just love them.
I know they are filled with imperfect members. I know all the members are sinners and occasional hypocrites just like me. That reality has not changed since the first century.
But I just love local churches.
And I love being a member of a local church. First Corinthians 12, in essence, gives three qualities of healthy church members: they are committed; they are serving; and they are accountable.
And lest you missed it, the word “member,” referring to church members, is in 1 Corinthians 12 five times. Church membership is biblical and church member is a biblical term.
But what do we do with the concept of dual membership? As a rule, most of us believers should belong to one and only one local congregation. We need to be accountable to one body and ministering where we live. But I can see some exceptions. For discussion, then, let me throw out six perspectives on belonging to two different churches.
Keep in mind, there are doctrinal and polity issues that could preclude dual membership. I certainly want to respect the integrity of each local church. Let’s consider, then, these six perspectives on dual church membership:.
- Yes: If the member truly lives in two different locations throughout the year. Obvious examples include “snowbirds” who migrate south in the colder months, and businesspersons required to live in two locations because of their unique jobs.
- Yes: If the member has a high probability of returning to the original church in the near future. A college student moves out of state but plans on taking a job in her hometown when she graduates. She might do well to minister and serve in both her college church and then her hometown church. A soldier is stationed in another state or country but will be coming home. Both might do well with dual membership.
- Yes: If both churches embrace dual membership. In some contexts, churches do not allow dual membership, but they will allow you to become affiliated with their congregation “under watch care,” whatever that means.
- No: If the church member knows he is not returning, but he has a sentimental attachment to one church. Moving is difficult. Leaving a church we love is tough as well. But that is no reason to stay tied to a congregation where you will never serve in the near future.
- No: If the member wants to escape accountability. I actually heard a church member say he has dual membership, and he has become accountable to neither church. There must be an understanding of accountability in each church.
- No: If the member must compromise doctrinally with either church to join. There are some good churches where I disagree with their doctrines on secondary and tertiary issues. I could not and would not join them. I don’t doubt their faith, but I can’t compromise my beliefs either.
For the past few years, I have been advocating the concept of “I am a church member.” In a few cases, it might be okay to say, “I am a member of two churches.”
I hope you will engage with me on this issue. There is so much to discuss, affirm, and, possibly, disagree.
Posted on August 1, 2016
With nearly 40 years of ministry experience, Thom Rainer has spent a lifetime committed to the growth and health of local churches across North America.
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80 Comments
I can only really see two circumstances that genuinely warrant dual membership: (1) students who will regularly return home until they graduate; (2) missionaries sent by a local church, requiring formal, accountable link to their sending church, whilst being an active member/leader in their mission field. I can see a case to be made for those who uniquely spend time in two places during the year but it would be my inclination to encourage them to become a member where they spent most of their time, rather than offer a dual membership (I would, respectfully, query how helpful such a setup is for their Christian walk and probe as to whether such a working arrangement is (a) genuinely necessary and (b) whether it may be an instance of prioritising our work above our Christian walk and need for accountability in a local congregation where we can serve meaningfully).
Typically, however, I tend to encourage people to transfer their membership entirely. It seems right for people to transfer membership to the church where they mainly spend their time. Even if they return with some regularity, it’s hard to see how they will meaningfully serve in the congregation on their return if they will shortly be moving off again. This is even more disruptive if it is a regular, ongoing mode of working. If the member is in good standing with us, and they transfer their membership, I always stress there is no problem in reinstating their full membership if they ever return longterm to the area but I tend to stress the importance of joining fully, and participating fully, where you are.
Your point is well made, Stephen. The most compelling case to me is “snow birds” who genuinely live in two locations in a year.
Great article concerning many views.
Concerning #5 the issue of escaping accountability: Sadly, many churches are already filled with single membership members who have escaped accountability and involvement within the one and only church they presently attend. Part of the 80% of pew warmers whose only contribution to anything church related is the warmth of their south side deposited to the padded pew they occupy on Sunday morning. The ones you could not encourage into any kind of action or accountability with dynamite.
I also know of an individual that wanders between several churches and is seen often at all of them. He also has made it known to me that he will not place formal membership with any one congregation because he feels he belongs to the universal body of Christ. He also feels that since he wears the name Christian that he should be allowed to teach in any Christ believing church he attends like Paul, Peter and all the rest did. Possibly, not placing membership with ANY church is his way of escaping involvement and accountability.
#3 mentions churches allowing dual membership. Unless a church specifically asks, how would the church know how many churches a person has memberships with? I know of churches where the question is never asked.
My husband and I are dual attenders. (Well him more than me, work has been getting in the way of me attending Church A.) We are members of Church A, the one we have been attending for 13 years now. We have mostly attended on Saturday night. But after some hurtful actions we thought had the pastor’s blessing, and it turns out did not, we sought out Church B. It meets only on Sunday morning. We absolutely love it there, and now spend far more time there than at Church A. But having worked through the hurtful things, we also still love Church A. And since we may move too far away from both in a few years, my husband doesn’t want to join Church B. So we haven’t.
We have, however, taken the membership class. And when we did, Pastor B put on Facebook about his “new members.” Pastor A saw the picture as he and Pastor B are Facebook friends. He wrongfully assumed we had joined Church B. He was corrected, but that, my friend, is how Church A knows you join Church B. Sometimes they even send courtesy letters to your old church.
My mother in law attends a mega church here in town that she’s been a member of since the 80s. She serves in a ministry there, but only attends the Saturday evening service. When we started our ministry several years ago, she joined and has been a faithful core member ever since. We did not ask her to leave the other church b/c we understood the history and because that church’s doctrines are closely aligned wit ours. But that is a unique situation and I would not advise most people to do that because it can be challenging.
Good example, Brian.
Most people are challenged enough to commit to just one congregation…how on earth can they commit to more than one?
If we love the “Body of Christ everywhere” then we must love the Body of Christ somewhere. I firmly believe in Church membership…More than a decade ago, Josh Harris wrote a book entitled “Stop Dating the Church”…one of the best volumes on Church membership I’ve ever read. As a matter of fact, when Hutz H Hertzberg was the Executive Pastor of The Moody Church (Chicago), he gave each person in the “Discovering Your Church” (new members’ class) a copy of this book, and encouraged them to read it.
I understand the occasional need for “dual membership”—I’m just wondering if the person holding “dual membership” also tithes in both congregation.
It’s a good question, Phil. The few cases of which I am aware the church member gives proportionally according to his or her time at each church.
Let me poke the 10% hornets nest right here…
Jesus does not want His followers to practice tithing…just as He does not want us circumcising our males, or sacrificing animals on our altars. When will believers study The Word correctly? This is so tiresome…Lord help us.
What are your thoughts on the trend of churches and new church plants renaming membership to now being called a “partnership”?
I prefer “membership,” Levi, since that is how Paul describes it in 1 Corinthians 12. I wish we would not yield biblical terms to culture.
Wish we would not co-opt biblical words, and twist them to for our own ends.
Thank you Thom. I definitely agree. I have seen it first hand with a church plant and was against it. I think we have gone too far in trying to be relevant to the culture in terms of this topic at least. Thanks again.
Thanks, Levi.
I Pastor in an area with a large vacation and retirement community and many of our residents are seasonal with second homes here in the mountains. When I arrived, we had a huge number of “associate membership’s” to accommodate those seasonal attenders but in reality they could not vote or serve on committees so it seemed like only an identifier. We changed the titles and descriptions to allow more service, commitment and involvement, even if they are only here 3 or 4 months. We now have “seasonal” people with “dual” memberships who are as committed here to our local body as our full time residents, where as before they were basically attenders.
More than half of our community lives here for 3-6 months out of the year and “dual membership” allows us to reach and develop these attenders into committed members. It is not uncommon for many to eventually identify solely with us as their home church.
I had my very first dual membership request in my last pastorate. It was a snowbird situation that worked quite well. I spoke with the pastor in North Carolina and we agreed to the membership status. Our leadership teams were in agreement. The couple flourished in their Maryland Church and in the the OBX. They were a blessing to both churches and were blessed by our willingness to accommodate their needs. Communication was the key to a successful partnership.
Thanks for that information, Rick. You demonstrated much wisdom in handling the request.
I liked reading your blog up until now, with all do respect sir, my understanding of the Body of Christ is when we become saved we are members of the Body of Christ, we are individually “” The Church” it’s not the ” church building”, we are accountable to ” GOD” that’s why in Jeremiah 17:5 says we shouldn’t put our trust in man. In Matthew 28:19 Jesus says before HE ascended into Heavento go out into all nations and teach meaning to every kind of people with all kinds of issues, He didn’t stay in one place. These local churches have to many rules to become a member of their church, GOD just required that we believe!!! Remember God looks at the heart Jeremiah 17:9-10. God bless!!
Nothing about the church building here, Elizabeth. It’s an issue of being accountable to a local body of believers. Remember: Paul wrote to the church at Corinth, at Ephesus, at Philippi , etc.
Good reply Thom. Too many want to evade accountability to a single local body of believers. I don’t think this is biblical. Is your book “I am a church member’ still on your site? Respondents to this blog should give it a read.
I’m always puzzled by the accountability that goes around tithing and contributions for one thing or the other and see no other demands.
But it was different then, Paul referred to the church of “said city,” not to 1 of the 1000s of churches in the city. The believers in that city were 1 congregation. Today, there is to much division even in the body of Christ. I’m ok with there bring different methods of teaching and serving, but not when denominations don’t affiliate with others. I believe the LORD wants all of his children to be one. Which is my problem lately, because I even include the Messianic Jewish congregations, in the Body.
Elizabeth, actually, we do need to be baptized in order to be part of the body of Christ, which is the Church
“1 Corinthians 12:13 For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.” the part “baptized into one body” could share more light about this.
Being member of a church is not that complicated. Just be saved and be willing to be baptized and that’s it 🙂
Also the same God that says to not put your trust in man, is the same that orders us to obey our pastors Hebrews 13:17, and that means we have to trust God first, that He is in control, as always, even of the pastors 🙂
For us we allow dual membership under special circumstances only. In reality, it is single membership that turns on and off based on where the person is attending. This allows them to move freely without constantly transferring/rejoining membership.
I am hearing about more churches like yours, John. Thank you.
I pastored a church in which we had a snowbird member. She tithed off her retirement to both churches and made sure to inform us when she was in town. She expected to be put to work as soon as she arrived back. Since she was a children’s Sunday School teacher and lived in our town during the summer, this was a great help to our children’s department. She would actually have us circulate to our teachers a calendar asking for their vacation dates and would then sub for them during their absence. It was a win for all involved.
Great story!
She is a rare jewel, and I pray that God will raise up more true disciples of Jesus like her.
What are your thoughts on pastors working in two congregations at the same time? Or a husband and wife who each pastor separate churches? ( I’m considering attempting the first question-in the context of starting a church plant and serving at a traditional church looking to make changes and reach a younger generation).
Maybe a discussion for a future post.
Circuit pastors have been around for a few centuries, especially in the Methodist church. One pastor has responsibility over two or more churches.
Jared, I can provide examples for both your points:
1.) Back in my home country, I know of a pastor who serves a Christian Reformed church and a Wesleyan church. I have always been curious as to how he sorts out the theological differences in his sermons.
2.) In our Methodist Conference, I can think of at least 3 husband/wife clergy teams who serve multiple churches. It works very well, and in one instance, this arrangement keeps the doors of the church open.
Do not forget people who go to their “home ” church on Sunday mornings but another at nights because of distance or night issues. I have many in this area.
So true.
“Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it.”
You are right, apparently church membership is biblical. It stinks that we can’t be members of the body of Christ, since apparently that only applies to the church in Corinth. Haven’t met any Corinthians on this blog before.
Oh well.
Then of course, he could be talking about all believers who have been called by God, how we are all members of a one body which is Christ, but that would make this verse less applicable to local church membership and more just a fact of being a believer.
Right on Dallas! The meaning of the text in this case is so obvious. I question the honesty of anybody claiming the bible indicates that one must be a member of an institutional church.
Professional pastors can lead one to feel so despondent with all their manipulations. I hope so much that in another hundred years me and my son (and others of course) are with Jesus and away from all this world’s crap…..
I have a challenge with the membership issue. I have two vhurches I love, the other is pastored by somebofy who taught me at Bible college, when I was sick in hospital he was visiting me, when my son was out if order he helped n still keep checking him. And he tries all the time to make us realise how bis church js the best than other churches. He does not believe also that we may be called to minister or preach but onlybwhen it is him who says preach and it will be once in sic months or a year. Then I have another church that loves me and believes in my calling, it has asked me to preach in one of their branches every Sunday. I know the pastor’s family for long, they have also been supporting me materially if in need. Now my challenge is I go to both because I like to still hear the ither Pastor preach but if i have to choose one, which one should i leave? I go to both churches without the pastor’s knowing. Help please.
You should ask the Holy Spirit to lead you and not try to ppl please man but God. What does God say to you in His word. God called the man to be head in his household, why would He call a woman to be head in His???
In my case, I am a member of one church for the music opportunities and a member of another church in the same theological persuasion for the children’s ministry. Neither have the other opportunity, so my family balances our attendance as well as our service between the two. This way my children are able to bond and grow where they feel most comfortable, and I am able to participate in music ministry that strengthens my faith. I’ve wondered if my participation in either could be stronger and/or more effective without the balancing act, but I don’t want either need to be left unfed to find out.