Ministry restrictions for non-members?

Normally, we only allow members to serve in the areas that you mentioned. We have allowed exceptions for student interns and guest speakers/groups.

Andy

 

Non-members cannot vote or hold office. Beyond that, it's at the discretion of the Pastor, the Deacons, and the director of the particular program. However, I don't know of any non-members in positions of a higher level such as teaching.

 

Our church is similar to Dr. Bob's, for the most part. We have had guest musicians and speakers in, though, that haven't been members.

 

I'm not yet a member of our church and I play the piano, sing special music, teach Chidren's Church, work the nursery, etc, etc, etc....

 

Hey SaltCity,

we go one step further and require all the school KIDS to be from families of church members.

we would not have anyone as a teacher in the school who is not a member of our church, just like we wouldnt have a non-member teaching anywhere on Sunday at church.

 

I have a lady who does not believe in "church membership" as such. She is a regular attender, tithes and then some, and is a faithful prayer warrior. She does not join ecause she believes that church membership is a result of salvation and baptism, not by the members accepting a candidate. We are honored to have a gifted teacher like her teaching a ladies Bible study and I am thankful that the Lord answered prayer with her.

However, ordinarily, I try to use members for ministry. The church has no official policy and I believe that each situation needs prayerful consideration.

 

Non-members can sing in the choir and play in the orchestra. All other areas of ministry require the workers to be members. If they work with children, a police background is required.

 

There is a legal issue about non-members working with children/youth. If you haven't screened your workers and they are not members, and God forbid (this happens on a weekly basis) some indiscretion happens, the church is liable because they let a non-member loose and exposed the church to public ridicule and a courtroom drama where lawyers go wild.

Barring special events, no non-member should be allowed to hold an office. Any activities must come under the purview of a team/ministry leader.

As for churches that require their teachers to be members, about 95% of the ones I have been affiliated with do so because they have a shoddy view of their sister churches or are looking to pick up a few easy members. It's a practice I disagree with. Adherance to a Statement of Faith should suffice. If not, fire them. Hard to fire a person who's a member.