Membership Covenant LWUMC
Although membership is not required to be a part of our church community, by being a member, it indicates that you have made a commitment to not only upholding the ministry of LWUMC but to your own personal spiritual growth and development.
When you choose to join Living Water United Methodist Church, we will ask you two questions. These questions are at the heart of our mission and ministry.
The first question relates to a very important understanding of our congregational life. We believe that life is a dynamic journey and our understanding of the faith, scripture and our church life should reflect that dynamic nature. Our approach to ministry, our reading of scripture, the integration of faith and life and our perspective on the world is never static. Our quest is to move forward in the spirit of love, embraced by God’s love and opening our lives to embrace one another. To be part of this community is to understand that we are ever evolving and open to the nurturing, challenging and ever-present Spirit of God’s love.
Secondly, our life of faith is not limited to our church life; rather, the church is called to help nurture our lives of discipleship in the world. Our lives of discipleship are encouraged and supported by our faith; at the same time, our faith is strengthened and shaped by our faithful witness in the world.
With this understanding, the first question of church membership is this:
As a Christian community, we hold that the life and teachings of Jesus are central in our conduct, discipleship and community life. We further believe that our walk with God is indeed a journey and there is great benefit in traveling that journey together. Will you share your journey of faith and your walk with God in the community called Living Water United Methodist Church?
The second question of church membership has been asked in one form or another for more than 200 years:
Will you support the ministries of Living Water United Methodist Church by your prayers, your presence, your gifts, your service and your witness?
Although the intent is usually to join a local congregation, a United Methodist is by identity and design a part of the larger denomination. Our covenant is with Jesus the Christ and with the church (local and denomination) seeking to be Jesus’ disciples in the world. Although each individual must decide how he or she will live out this covenant, we try to create an environment of invitation, nurture, challenge and mutual accountability, as we together grow in our discipleship.
Book of Discipline References to Membership
¶ 217. When persons unite as professing members with a local United Methodist church, they profess their faith in God, the Father Almighty, maker of heaven and earth; in Jesus Christ his only Son, and in the Holy Spirit. Thus, they make known their desire to live their daily lives as disciples of Jesus Christ. They covenant together with God and with the members of the local church to keep the vows which are a part of the order of confirmation and reception into the Church:
1. To renounce the spiritual forces of wickedness, reject the evil powers of the world, and repent of their sin;
2. To accept the freedom and power God gives them to resist evil, injustice, and oppression;
3. To confess Jesus Christ as Savior, put their whole trust in his grace, and promise to serve him as their Lord;
4. To remain faithful members of Christ’s holy church and serve as Christ’s representatives in the world;
5. To be loyal to Christ through The United Methodist Church and do all in their power to strengthen its ministries;
6. To faithfully participate in its ministries by their prayers, their presence, their gifts, their service, and their witness;
7. To receive and profess the Christian faith as contained in the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments.
¶ 218. Growth in Faithful Discipleship—Faithful membership in the local church is essential for personal growth and for developing a deeper commitment to the will and grace of God. As members involve themselves in private and public prayer, worship, the sacraments, study, Christian action, systematic giving, and holy discipline, they grow in their appreciation of Christ, understanding of God at work in history and the natural order, and an understanding of themselves.
¶ 219. Mutual Responsibility—Faithful discipleship includes the obligation to participate in the corporate life of the congregation with fellow members of the body of Christ. A member is bound in sacred covenant to shoulder the burdens, share the risks, and celebrate the joys of fellow members. A Christian is called to speak the truth in love, always ready to confront conflict in the spirit of forgiveness and reconciliation.
¶ 220. The Call to Ministry of All the Baptized—All members of Christ’s universal church are called to share in the ministry which is committed to the whole church of Jesus Christ. Therefore, each member of The United Methodist Church is to be a servant of Christ on mission in the local and worldwide community. This servanthood is performed in family life, daily work, recreation and social activities, responsible citizenship, the stewardship of property and accumulated resources, the issues of corporate life, and all attitudes toward other persons. Participation in disciplined groups is an expected part of personal mission involvement. Each member is called upon to be a witness for Christ in the world, a light and leaven in society, and a reconciler in a culture of conflict. Each member is to identify with the agony and suffering of the world and to radiate and exemplify the Christ of hope. The standards of attitude and conduct set forth in the Social Principles (Part IV) shall be considered as an essential resource for guiding each member of the Church in being a servant of Christ on mission.
Living Water United Methodist Church,
Glenpool
Congregational Covenant
Grace, Love, Hope
Living Water United Methodist Church is an inclusive, Christ--centered community of faith, a
worshipping community that seeks to honor God by welcoming, loving, encouraging, and
serving others. We meet people where they are in their spiritual journey. We are a welcoming congregation and all persons are invited to participate in our holy work as messy people. This grace, so freely offered by Jesus, is abundant.
Living Water United Methodist Church seeks to help all persons grow in their love for God and each other understanding that this love extends to a broken and hurting world in which we live. We recognize that we are not perfect and that we will not always agree alike but that we can love alike. This community is full of laughter, thoughtful conversation, prayer and study. We understand that the church is the community not the building and that worship is a way of life and a celebration that strengthens our faith.
Living Water United Methodist Church recognizes the need to offer hope to the world through our daily walk, mission opportunities and our individual commitment to using our talents and gifts in our neighborhoods. We recognize that how our community will be judged will be by how we interact with our world and that the love and hope that Jesus offers should be shared with everyone we encounter.
We covenant to…
Pray– pray for each other, the world, our community and for those we may never know
Be Present- we will attend our worship celebrations at least twice a month and support opportunities to offer hope to the world. We will be part of a Covenant Discipleship Group that meets regularly and supports each other.
Give of our Gifts- we will share from God’s blessing our talents with the church and our tithes. We will be working towards giving a tithe each year if we are not there yet.
Serve– we will find a place to serve the church and participate in the joy of working together. We will serve in our community as a witness to the grace, love and hope that we are given through our relationship with Jesus.
Witness- we will share our faith with those we encounter and invite others to our celebrations, service and fellowship. We will nurture our spirit by participating fully in the life of the church and engaging in ways of grace, love and hope.
by 
