Thank you for your interest in becoming a member of Calvary Chapel Chelmsford. Scripture, which is our guide for all faith and practice, teaches that all those who repent of their sins and express faith in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, by God’s grace are saved, justified by faith, and adopted into the Body of Christ.
The Body of Christ is both universal and local. Salvation brings the believer into the universal Body of Christ and the Holy Spirit guides that believer into a relationship with a visible expression of the Body of Christ— a local church.
Our membership is open to all those who confess Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. Our expectation is that every member engages in a lifestyle which gives witness to the Lordship of Jesus Christ and the priority of Scripture in all faith and practice.
Biblical Principles
1. God the Father made Jesus Christ “the head of the body, the church” (Col 1:18). Through the Holy Spirit, he carries out God’s purpose and mission for his people. The Christian community is ultimately governed by Christ rather than a pastor and/or board.
2. The church is made up of everyone who professes faith in Christ. The New Testament refers to Christians as “brothers” and “sisters” because they are a spiritual family, with God as their Father. They are individually different, yet they work together in harmony (Rom 12:4–5). As family members they share each other’s burdens, rejoicing with those who rejoice and weeping with those who weep (1 Cor 12:26). Rather than a creed or discipline, God’s love binds them together. As the “cornerstone” (Eph 2:20), Christ maintains the unity of believers (Eph 4:2–3). Christian unity leaves no room for preferential treatment, age discrimination, or racial prejudice, for we are equal members of the household of faith (Gal 3:26–28).
3. Christians are led by the Holy Spirit (John 10:27) in determining which local expression of the body of Christ one is called to be a participant in. As individual members of the body (1 Cor 12:27), God arranged each one of us as he chose (1 Cor 12:18). We are placed where we can serve according to the gift that God has given us (Rom 12:6). The church has a variety of ministries where we can exercise the gifts entrusted to our care (Eph 4). Early church members demonstrated four common characteristics. Together, they practiced fellowship (Acts 2:46), leadership (Acts 6:1–6), discipleship (Acts 2:42), and stewardship (Acts 4:32).
Membership Requirements
1. A profession of faith in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. Our membership is in both the universal and local church, because we are united in Christ with “one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all” (Eph 4:5–6).
2. Engage in New Testament practices of membership by regular participation in fellowship (worship and small groups), leadership (exercising gifts and talents), discipleship (growth and accountability), and stewardship (tithes and offerings).
3. Agreement with our Statement of Faith
4. Fill a Connect Form and indicate you have decided to make Calvary Chapel your home church. If you have additional questions, please feel free to speak with one of our church elders or leaders after a weekend worship service, or you can send us a note at info@chapelchelmsford.com