Thanks so much for considering membership in First United Methodist Church Winnsboro!  Whether you are growing in your faith with us virtually or connected in person, church membership is a personal decision between you and the Lord!

 

We would be honored to have you as part of the membership and I recognize that joining the Church should be a thoughtful decision.  If you have visited with us already, you know that we only consider you a visitor ONCE and when you come back you’re FAMILY, and we truly mean that! If you choose to remain a visitor for a while, no problem! In fact, membership has no privileges. Only responsibility.  As a visitor, the only noticeable difference is that you cannot serve as a committee chair or on some leadership committees, but nothing else is different!
 
When you join a United Methodist church, you join on three levels: 1) as a Christian first, 2) then as a United Methodist, and then 3) as a member of a particular church. You first affirm that you are a Christian having a relationship with the Triune God and seek to live out your faith in Jesus Christ. Then, while you may not agree entirely with all the beliefs of the Methodist church, it’s probably good to understand the basic doctrines (click here for more). Finally, you join the individual church and covenant to support it with your prayers, your presence, your gifts, your service, and your witness.
 
We see membership in a church as a commitment you are making to God first ~ it’s personal ~ it’s a vow that requires faithfulness and grace ~ it should not be entered into lightly, but prayerfully. However, when you do make that commitment, our entire congregation will renew their covenant with you to affirm the belief that we are a community of faith as much as we are individuals of faith!

 

If you are coming to First UMC Winnsboro from another Methodist church we can simply transfer your membership. Just let us know when you’re ready and we’ll send a letter to your former church home and introduce you to the congregation!
 
If you are coming from another denomination and you’re ready to make the commitment to First UMC Winnsboro, our church congregation will affirm your vows (see the 2 questions below) with you! This is important because in so doing, we agree to work together, as a church family, to help each other grow in our faith. When you’re ready, please let me know.
 
You will be asked Two Questions:
 

Reception into the United Methodist Church (from another denomination):

As members of Christ’s universal church, will you be loyal to The United Methodist Church, and do all in your power to strengthen its ministries?
 

Reception into the Local Congregation (from any other church):

As members of this congregation, will you faithfully participate in its ministries by your prayers, your presence, your gifts, your service and your witness?
 
WHAT IF I HAVE NEVER BEEN A MEMBER OF A CHURCH? If you have not been a member of a church in many years or have never professed membership in a church before, we will be especially blessed to welcome you into the “Body of Christ!”  You will be asked to make a profession of faith as follows:
 ~Do you renounce the spiritual forces of wickedness, reject the evil powers of this world, and repent of your sins? 
~Do you accept the freedom and power God gives you to resist evil, injustice, and oppression in whatever forms they present themselves?
~Do you confess Jesus Christ as your Savior, put your whole trust in his grace, and promise to serve him as your Lord, in union with the church which Christ has opened to people of all ages, nations, and races? 
~According to the grace given to you, will you remain faithful members of Christ’s holy church and serve as Christ’s representatives in the world?
 
CONGREGATION THEN JOINS TOGETHER Let us join together in professing the Christian faith  as contained in the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments. 
~Do you believe in God the Father? I believe in God, the Father Almighty, creator of heaven and earth. 
~Do you believe in Jesus Christ? I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried; he descended to the dead. On the third day he rose again; he ascended into heaven, is seated at the right hand of the Father, and will come again to judge the living and the dead. 
~Do you believe in the Holy Spirit? I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic [universal] church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting.
 
BAPTISM
We would also love to discuss baptism with you, for you or your children, if you have not been baptized. In the Methodist Church, we accept your Baptism, of water and the Holy Spirit, regardless of what mainstream Christian denomination you come from. We don’t believe you have to be baptized again! (Click here for details on BAPTISM in the Methodist Church).
 
Please feel free to call or text me (903-342-6172) or email me if you have questions or want to talk!
 

May you be blessed in your walk with God, now and forever!

Pastor Debbie Lyons