Members
St. Mark’s Lutheran Church congregation acknowledges three types of membership: baptized, confirmed, and voting.
- Baptized members are those baptized in the name of the Triune God, the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, and who are under the spiritual care of the church, including children who have not yet been confirmed, and those transferring from another Christian church where they were baptized.
- Confirmed members are those baptized members who have been instructed in the Lutheran faith, accepted the confessional standard, have completed the required instruction, and are not members of organizations whose principles and conduct conflict with the Word of God.
- Voting members are confirmed members who have reached the age of 18 years, have been received as confirmed members, and are not members of organizations whose principles and conduct conflict with the Word of God.
- Membership in this congregation shall be terminated as follows:
Membership shall be terminated by transfer to a sister congregation, by joining a congregation outside the fellowship of this congregation, by self-exclusion, by excommunication, or by death. Confirmed members who conduct themselves in an un-Christian like manner shall be admonished according to Matthew 18: 15 – 20. If they remain impenitent after proper admonition, they shall be excommunicated. In all disciplinary cases, the congregation will follow its stated and adopted guidelines for all disciplinary measures.
