Why Membership?

"Confidence is needed in the area of leadership. God is looking for men and women who, when they meet together, pray with confidence, communicate with confidence, and trust Him with confidence... If we were to raise the qualifications for membership in local churches, and especially for their leadership, we would find fewer men, but greater power. Jesus did not come to make bad men good, but to make dead men live. The church should demand that men be alive in Christ, opposed to being simply good."
The God You Can Know, Dan DeHaan

MEMBERSHIP FAQs (Click here for Membership Covenant)

Why is membership important?Our mission
Membership here is not just having your name on a list. We believe membership is important but it is not a biblical mandate.  In other words, being a member does not make you more acceptable to God or to people.  There are no secret handshakes, special underwear, or passwords that give you deeper spiritual insight. 

The idea of genuine commitment without material profit is foreign if not offensive to our culture today. The importance of church membership has been minimized by a culture saturated with all kinds of memberships in book clubs, gyms, video stores, and innumerable other places.  Being a member of Damascus Road Church is not about what you can "get" from the church, but rather more your commitment to something bigger than yourself-to partner and potentially lead with us in our mission to reach our community with the gospel. 

We do, however, believe that we have a covenantal God who relates to humanity through a series of promises.   Jesus is our husband who died for His bride, the church.  He didn't date the church, see if he was compatible with the church, or leave the church when it didn't meet his expectations.  He committed based on what he would do, not what the bride would do for him.  He committed to the church and signed his name on the marriage license with His own blood.  Membership is intended to reflect this covenantal nature of God whereby His people make a meaningful commitment to a community of fellow believers on mission.  Membership is important because it:

  • Helps the leadership identify the people we can trust to lead and care for others.
  • Signifies that a person has a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, and that he/she is willing to go public with that faith through baptism.
  • Signifies one's willingness to support our unique mission with his or her time, talents, and treasure
  • Demonstrates a willingness to be held accountable to God's Word, Elders of the Church, and the values of Damascus Road.

What are the benefits of membership at Damascus Road?

There has been much debate regarding the need for membership.   Past negative experiences, fear of commitment, or simply misunderstanding of exactly what it means have repelled many.  We don't want to "sell" you on the benefits of membership so that you're persuaded to join us.  There are, however, some significant benefits to taking ownership in the church: 

1.      You have the benefit of accountability to spiritual leaders. Every believer is called to "obey your leaders and submit to them, for they are keeping watch over your souls" (Heb. 13:17). This command assumes that you have a covenant with certain spiritual leaders. They are responsible for you and you to them. Some people may say, "I am accountable only to God". Ultimately, only God has authority over you. But the doctrine of sin should sober us about making ourselves the sole judges over our own hearts, "The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it?" (Jer. 17:9). Heb. 3:13 says we need others to exhort us "daily" lest we become hardened by sin.

2.      You shamelessly identify with Christ or his people (Mark 8:38).  Our hope is that you can speak with confidence and love about your identification with Christ and His church community.  We all desire to see people share, talk about, and stand for Jesus.  We desire a community that we are proud of, that want to talk about and share with others as opposed to inviting others because of a sense of duty or guilt but because of a sense of belonging.  

3.      You stop being an independent Christian (Matt. 18:15-17; Heb. 13:17). Community is a core value because God's very nature declares it.  The early chapters of Genesis declare that we are not made to be alone.  As a part of our community, you have a family there to love you, cry with you, laugh with you, and serve you. 

4.      You participate in a stronger more unified effort of God's people. Ecclesiastes 4.9 teaches that TWO people can accomplish more than TWICE as ONE.  There is strength in numbers.

5.      You may have opportunity to lead church ministries or serve as a church officer.  You will not find a verse that says you must be a member to lead a Bible study.  It does say, however, that pastors must watch over and protect the flock from false teachers and false doctrine.   Membership is one means through which we can protect the purity of the word and the church.  As a member, you agree to uphold the teachings of the church and respect its leadership decisions.  It is both practical and wise to ensure those leading the flock do so from the same foundation under the same authority on the same mission. 

6.      You have greater opportunities to use your spiritual gifts (1 Cor. 12; Eph. 4).  As part of the body of Christ, you serve a particular purpose.  Without you, we're missing parts!  The body might function, but it certainly is not robust.  When you are using your God given skill, gift, talent or resource for the body, you are fulfilling God's ideal for His community. 

7.      You openly manifest the reality of the Body of Christ (1Cor 12.27).

8.      You encourage new believers to commitment to the gathering of the local body (Heb. 10:24).

9.      You may experience priority in pastoral and private counseling, and church ceremonies such as marriage.

What does being a member indicate?

Quite simply members are the Christians who are actively participating in the life of Damascus Road Church that it is being built up for God's purposes (I Corinthians 12:1-31 especially 12:24). It is an emotional, intellectual, and volitional shift from being a consumer to an active missionary through the body of Christ in Marysville. 

What are the prerequisites to become a member?

The prerequisites for becoming a member include:

  • Having a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.
  • Have been baptized SINCE accepting Christ or scheduled to be @ DRC.
  • Completed the GOSPEL CLASS offered by Damascus Road Church or a similar approved class offered by another church in the Acts 29 Network.
  • Are willing to support this ministry with time, talents, and treasure.
  • Are willing to be held accountable to the church in matters concerning relationship to God and to others.
  • Are willing to be involved in community through a community group.
  • Are willing to serve in the church community as we serve the community.

How do I become a member of Damascus Road Church?

If after reading all of the membership materials including FAQs, the Open/Closed Handed theology document, and our doctrinal statement, please sign up for the next membership class if have not already.  Typically, these classes will be offered quarterly.

Once you have completed this short overview of our beliefs and philosophy of ministry, please complete the membership application.  After the application is complete, submit the application in the box at the welcome table or give it to a deacon or elder.  We will contact you to set up a short interview before or after church to answer any questions you might have.  For more information, or to find out when the next membership class is scheduled, email

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