FAQ on NEC Membership
Is membership required at NEC?
Membership is not required. Everyone is welcome here. Everyone is family here. We’re like your best friend’s house when you were growing up. The family always greeted you with a smile, let you help yourself to anything in fridge, made you feel like you belonged there. That’s us. Our doors are always open. You are family.
What does membership mean at NEC?
In a sense it means, you become a homeowner. You invite people into our collective home, make them feel welcome and help them discover and embrace God's love just as you have. You help the home run by being an active part of our community through service, prayer, wisdom and loving God and others.
I'm not sure about becoming a member. How should I think this through?
Does NEC feel like home to you? Do you have a desire to call NEC your church home? To become family?
Do any of these apply to you?
- You've attend a 'Get to Know NEC' session and you like what you heard OR you've been attending for more than a year - you kind of know us by then!
- Your faith is growing (by the way there is no end destination!)
- You are beginning to experience what it feels like to be part of the NEC community
- You want to officially name NEC as your church. This not only connects you with others, memberhsip opens up certain levels of 'in-house' communications and leadership opportunities
We encourage you to pray about this and reach out to one of the pastors so we can answer any questions you may have for us.
What are the requirements of a member?
Membership is an organizational term that simply means you want to officially be a part of our community. We are excited about that! NEC owes its success and effectiveness to its community members. To help care for and protect the NEC community we make the following commitments to each other.
Agreeing with the mission of NEC to experience, embrace and express the love of Christ, we committ to live out faith together promising that:
- I will love (part 1). I will share in the loving culture of this community by welcoming new people and showing kindness to everyone.
- I will love (part 2). I trust that God is love, therefore as I seek to love him, I will also seek to love others. Specifically, I promise to protect the unity of the church by refusing to gossip about others and by expressing my concerns and complaints directly to the person involved.
- I will grow. I realize faith and life are not destinations but journeys. I commit to continually learning and growing; allowing God deeper access to bring out the best in me.
- I will serve and support. I recognize that the services and programs and building that does so much good takes both time and money. I pledge both to support and serve NEC.
As an NEC member, you will continue to be surrounded in love and friendship and, in addition, have greater and deeper access to church leadership and volunteer leadership positions, be invited to vote when voting is deemed the appropriate action by church leadership and experience deeper levels of community.
I've been attending NEC for a long time and already give and volunteer. Is membership necessary?
No, it is not. That's entirely up to you. If you feel drawn towards this invitation, please consider attending the Belong class and you can decide from there.
Um, I'm not entirely sure if I am a member or not?
We get this question a lot so do NOT feel bad. The membership process was on hiatus for quite some time due the pandemic. Let me ask you this, do you remember sharing your faith jourrney (either in person or in written form) with one of the pastors? That's the final step in becoming an official member. If you don't remember that, consider entering the process. If you do remember this and are being contacted about being a member, then our database has it wrong. Just email Heather and she will update it all. Thank you!