Membership Information

The Meaning of Church Membership

In Jesus Christ, God calls people to faith and to membership in the Church, the body of Christ. Baptism is the visible sign of that call and claim on a human life and of entrance into the membership of the church. The baptism of children witnesses to the truth that God’s love claims people before they are able to respond in faith. The baptism of those who enter the covenant of membership upon their own profession of faith in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savor witnesses to the truth that God’s gift of grace calls forth a response of faithfulness. Thus, the triune God, incarnate in the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ gives to the church not only its mission but also its understanding of membership.

Welcome and Openness

Our congregation shall welcome all persons who trust in God’s grace in Jesus Christ and desire to become part of the fellowship and ministry for his Church. No person shall be denied membership for any reason not related to profession of faith. The Gospel leads members to extend the fellowship of Christ to all persons. Failure to do so constitutes rejection of Christ himself and causes a scandal of the Gospel.

Why Become A Member?

Being a Christian isn't easy. Ordinary life has so many demands and pressure on our time, talents and funds that, at times, our priorities shift or become misaligned.

Joining First Presbyterian Church of Kalispell offers you:

A safe place to explore your faith, offering food for the mind and spirit.
An opportunity to demonstrate your commitment, and reaffirm the priorities in your life to God and his people.

Member Responsibilities

The First Presbyterian Church of Kalispell community is vibrant and alive as we challenge members to practice their faith through our shared mission and ministry. This includes worship, service and community. There are many ways to actively explore your faith and demonstrate your faith and commitment to God.

Active church members are responsible for:

Proclaiming the good news.
Taking part in the common life and worship of a particular church.
Praying and studying Scripture and the faith of the Christian church.
Supporting the work of the church through the giving of money, time, and talents.
Participating in the governing responsibilities of the church.
Demonstrating a new quality of life within and through the church.
Responding to God’s activity in the world and through service to others.
Living responsibly in the personal, family, vocational, political, cultural, and social relationships of life.
Working in the world for peace, justice, freedom, and human fulfillment.

Membership Process

Discovering First Presbyterian Church is a class offered three times a year to orient people to membership possibilities. Following completion of Discovering First Presbyterian Church, the Session (our governing body) meets to welcome new members. The new members are formally received by the congregation on a Sunday scheduled with the new members.

Individuals are received into membership in one of three ways:

Public profession of faith, made after careful examination by the Session in the meaning and responsibilities of membership. If not already baptized, the person making profession of faith shall be baptized.
Certificate of transfer, when a person is a member of another Christian church at the time of transfer.
Reaffirmation of faith for persons previously baptized in the name of the triune God and having publicly professed their faith.

When persons baptized as infants reach an age when they are ready to make public their profession of faith and accept their responsibility in the life of the church, the Session will invite, encourage, and help them prepare for their responsibility as active church members.