Oregon City
United Methodist Church
18955 S South End Rd, Oregon City, OR 97045
503-656-3433
United Methodist Membership
Is membership required to participate in the ministries of The United Methodist Church?
Membership is not required to be involved in the ministries of our local congregation of The United Methodist Church. Many in our congregation are non-member regular attenders who receive nourishment from our worship, from the fellowship in the congregation, and from our ministries. Volunteering and participation in ministries is welcomed and encouraged for all who wish to offer their time and talents.
How do I join The United Methodist Church?
Full Membership is for those who wish to be, or have been baptized, and made a profession of faith in Jesus Christ, and wish to formally and fully unite with a local congregation. Full membership enables you to participate in the leadership of the church and qualifies you for any office held by a lay person in a local congregation. It also opens the door to potential participation in district or conference leadership.
You may become a full member by:
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baptism
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confirmation (if you are a youth who has been baptized)
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profession of faith
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transfer of membership
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restoration of membership
Speak to the pastor if you would like to join our church.
Baptism:
Baptism, a ritual of going under the water and emerging from it, is the outward and visible sign of an inward transformation. In other words, baptism is a public declaration that we feel the movement of the Holy Spirit in our lives, believe in the truth of God's
love for the world, and want to dedicate our lives to living by the teachings of Jesus of Nazareth, the Christ, our Lord and Savior.
In The United Methodist Church, infant baptism is our regular practice. The decision to have an infant baptized is one that is made by the parents of a child without pressure from the pastor or the congregation. We understand there are differing beliefs around when to be baptized and are open and accepting of parents' decision to postpone a child's baptism until they are older.
United Methodists baptize persons by sprinkling, pouring, or immersion. The most common mode of baptism in our denomination is by sprinkling. If you have been baptized, your baptism, by whatever mode, will be accepted and affirmed by our church.
Confirmation:
When parents do decide to have their infant or very young child baptized, the child enters into provisional membership in the church. A baptized child, at the proper age (usually during middle school), will take part in a confirmation class designed to teach
them about Christian faith, The United Methodist Church, and the local congregation of which they are a part. At the completion of the class, youths are given the opportunity to decide for themselves if they will profess their faith in Jesus Christ and confirm their baptism.
Profession of Faith:
Profession of faith is an acceptance of Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior and the acknowledgment of your faith before members of a local congregation. It is also a commitment to participate in the
ministries of the church by your prayers, your presence, your gifts, your service, and your witness. If you have never been baptized, your profession of faith will include a baptism.
Transfer of Membership:
Transfer of membership is when your official church membership is moved from one congregation to another. We accept transfers of membership from all Christian denominations. In order to transfer
your membership to Oregon City UMC, we need the name and address of the church where you were most recently a member.
Restoration of Membership:
Restoration of membership is when a person who once held membership in a local congregation has fallen away, for whatever reason, and wishes to be a member of the congregation again. An individual can restore their membership with the original congregation, or, if it has been a substantial period of time and distance, their membership in The United Methodist Church can be restored in a different congregation through profession of faith.
Other Types of Membership:
Affiliate Membership is for those who are residing temporarily in our community and wish to participate as a member of the congregation while maintaining their permanent, full membership in a United Methodist congregation in another location. As an affiliate member, you are entitled to full participation in our church, except in offices that would allow you to vote in United Methodist bodies other than our local church. If you decide to join as an affiliate member, we will need the name and address of the church in which you hold permanent membership so we can notify that congregation of your relationship with us.
Associate Membership is for those who are residing temporarily in our community and wish to participate as a member of our congregation while maintaining their permanent, full membership in a church of another denomination in another location. As an associate member, you are entitled to full participation in our church, except in offices that would allow you to vote on our Church Council or United Methodist bodies beyond our local church. If you decide to join as an associate member, we will need the name and address of the church in which you hold permanent membership so we can notify that congregation of your relationship with us. As an associate member, you will be expected to affirm your commitment to support The United Methodist Church by your prayers, presence, gifts, and service.