Expert: Rev. Robert Woods - 4/26/2009

Question
In view of Chapter 2 of Acts where it says that God adds people to the church, where do the Baptists get the authority to "vote"  people in the church?

Answer
Blessings and thank you for your question.

In general, Baptist churches have different procedures for bringing people into church membership.  

1.  Voting - some Baptist churches do vote in a person into the fellowship.  They do not deny people the right to be saved or to be baptized.  So they are really denying anyone the right to be part of the body of Christ which we all become part of at salvation.  Most baptists vote members into their body because they want to make sure each individual has given their lives to Christ, repented and are a "new creation."  In the past, "voting in" was wrongly used by some to keep people out of a local church for racial, political, ethnic and economic reasons.  However today, I believe this rarely happens.  While some may still see this as wrong, Baptists have been able to use "voting" as a way to keep people out of a local body who refuse to give up sinful lifestyles like adultery, homosexuality ect.  

2.  Counsels - in my church, a prospective canidate for church membership must sit down with myself, someone on my staff, or one of our church elders before they are admitted into the church membership.  We make sure that this person is ready for membership.  
We have never denied anyone membership into our church.  


Membership in our church is not just saying amen.  You have duties, commitments and responsibilities in order to join our church.  We want to make sure you understand that before you "join."  But, anyone can come to worship, bible studies or fellowships without being a member for as long as they like.