Membership
MEMBERSHIP
MEMBERSHIP REGISTRATION IS OPEN
Our next membership cycle begins this May, with classes on May 8th and 15th.
At Grace Capital City, we are excited to invite you to become a member of our church family! For us, membership is more than a list of privileges and requirements; it is an invitation to lock arms with leaders and other members and commit to the life of GCC as a co-laborer. Membership is a process of discernment by which those who already consider Grace Capital City their spiritual home can make an informed decision about whether they wish to take a deeper step of commitment forward in the life of the church.
Why membership?
Glad you asked! We believe much of transformation is experienced through the process of spirit-led commitment. Therefore the discernment inherent to this process can be part of God’s work of spiritual formation in your life. As a member, you will be invited and challenged to co-labor with leaders and fellow members as we seek to see God’s Kingdom Come in our city.
Additionally, the Psalmist, in Psalm 92:13, articulates an encouraging metaphor, “those... planted in the house of the Lord, will flourish in the courts of our God.” Being planted in a faith community plays an integral role in one’s flourishing, and we believe that membership provides the soil for that. If you want to formally make GCC your home church and have already attended Welcome to Grace, membership is the next step!
““Those [...] planted in the house of the Lord, will flourish in the courts of our God.””
WHY NOW?
We have taken significant steps to reevaluate past efforts to establish membership at GCC and have incorporated insights to ensure a more thorough process and thoughtful experience for aspiring members.
We believe the church is in a pivotal season, moving towards a stage of greater rootedness and maturity. Identifying individuals deeply planted at GCC this season allows our church to play its part in fulfilling God’s mission more effectively.
What does the membership process look like?
“I’M NEW TO GRACE CAPITAL CITY. IS MEMBERSHIP FOR ME?”
Yes, membership is for everyone! If you’re new, we recommend you join us at one of our newcomer’s gathering called Welcome to Grace. This meeting is designed for you to learn more about the story, vision, and values of GCC, empowering you to make a more informed decision about becoming a member. Staff will be there to shake your hand and answer any questions you may have. Click below to see when the next meeting is and mark it on your calendar!
FAQs about membership
What does membership entail?
Membership entails a mutual exchange of commitments to establish practices that foster health, engagement, and accountability.
What's the difference between a member and an attendee?
All people are invited to attend, get involved, and make GCC their spiritual family at whatever level they feel comfortable. Membership, specifically, is for those who desire a greater level of commitment and input to the life of GCC. Members will be asked to make specific commitments to the church and each other while being offered more opportunities to shape and inform the future of our church.
Are there member-only meetings and gatherings?
There will be several member-only spaces for vision-casting, dissemination of essential information, voting, and connection throughout the year.
Do all leaders in Grace Capital City have to be members?
For those in ‘Pastoral’ leadership roles, we would ask that these leaders, especially those with a sense of rootedness in the DMV area, make plans to become members.
Pastoral leadership roles include but are not limited to:
Leadership Council
House Church Leaders
Justice Ministry Leads
Sunday Service Team Leads
Discipleship Leads
How do members participate in the direction of the church?
Members will vote on the following critical decisions:
Annual budget
New leadership council members
Purchase of new property
Lead pastor transition (when necessary)
What about volunteers?
Volunteers are not required to become members, but they are invited to enter the process if they seek to commit to GCC in a greater capacity!
Aspiring Pastoral leaders will be asked to make plans to become members within a year of starting to lead. We recommend this step for three primary reasons: care, access, and example.
Care
Membership will become a critical filter helping to identify levels of commitment as we seek to become more strategic with extending care and discipleship.
Access
Membership will provide rhythmic access not only to information on the direction of our body but also to deeper levels of relationship with others who have expressed commitment to the vision and values of Grace Capital City.
example
Pete Scazzaro once mentioned, "as goes the leader, so goes the church or ministry," meaning your example matters in the overall health and direction of the area you lead. If you have yet to make those steps yourself, it will be challenging to advise those you lead to become members.
