Westminster welcomes all persons who respond in trust and obedience to God’s grace in Jesus Christ and desire to become part of the membership and ministry of Westminster Presbyterian Church. Westminster affirms and accepts each person as created with a unique combination of qualities: cultural heritage, color, talents, sexual orientation, abilities, and diverse interests.
You may enter into active membership of Westminster in the following ways:
- Profession of faith: Persons make their public profession of faith in Christ and receive Baptism after appropriate instruction and examination by the Session.
- Reaffirmation of faith: Persons who have previously made a profession of faith and been an active member members in another church and are unable to secure a certificate of transfer will, after appropriate instruction and examination by the Session, make a public reaffirmation of their faith and accept responsibility in the life of the Church.
- Certificate of transfer from another church: Persons who have made a public profession of faith and were active members in a particular church may be received by the Session upon receipt of a certificate of transfer from the church in which they have most recently been members.
Those interested in joining the church should contact one of the pastors. New member classes are offered during the year and prospective and new members are strongly encouraged to attend these classes. Prospective members will appear before the Session and then be publicly recognized by the congregation.
At Westminster a faithful member accepts Christ’s call to be involved in the ministry of the church by:
- sharing God’s love and proclaiming the Good News
- taking part in the common life and worship of the church
- praying and studying Scripture and the faith of the Christian Church
- supporting the church through the giving of money, time, and talents
- participating in the governing responsibilities of the church
- demonstrating a new quality of life within and through the church
- responding to God’s activity in the world through service to others
- living responsibly in the personal, family, vocational, political, and cultural relationships of life, and
- working for justice, freedom and peace so that all of God’s children experience life abundantly
New Member Classes
Westminster periodically offers a four-week class for new and prospective members. The class, led by the pastor, usually meets during the church school hour on Sunday mornings.
A typical class begins with a conversation about our individual experiences of grace and exploring our faith roots, before moving on to considering current needs and interests for spiritual growth. Our individual life and faith experiences are viewed through the “spectacles” of the Presbyterian Church’s traditions, beliefs, and practices. The format of the class includes ample time for conversation, discussion, and questions and (hopefully!) answers. The topics for the class include:
- Our faith experiences: from there to here
- Why and how we worship; the sacraments
- Presbyterian Church history and mission
- Presbyterian beliefs and government and current issues in The Presbyterian Church (USA) and at Westminster
This class is also open to Westminster members who want to reflect on their faith and to get acquainted with the newest participants in the Westminster community.
For more information, contact info@westminsterva.org.