Membership Class
Please fill this out to register for our next membership class
Held Saturday July 25, 9 am - noon in the DPC Church Hall.
Christianity is not a solo project. The New Testament knows nothing of a Christian who is not a vital part of a local church.
While our salvation is by faith alone, our faith is never meant to remain alone. Membership is the biblical pattern for how we live out our faith in Christ.
It is impossible to be shepherded if you are a stranger. Biblical membership defines who the pastors are responsible for, and who the church body is responsible to care for. It provides the safety of accountability, ensuring that when you stumble, there are brothers and sisters committed to helping you stand again.
God grows His children through specific gifts He gave to the church: the preached Word, Baptism, and the Lord's Supper. Membership is a commitment to prioritise these things—to place yourself regularly in the path of God's grace so that you might grow into the likeness of Christ.
The Holy Spirit has given every believer gifts to build up the body. Membership is the avenue through which we steward those gifts. It is saying, "I am a part of this body, and I am ready to do my part for the glory of Christ."
Baptism is first and foremost God's sign to us, not something we do to prove ourselves. In baptism, God gives a visible promise—that through Jesus our sins are forgiven, that we belong to Christ, and that we are welcomed into God's people.
When someone comes to trust in Jesus, baptism is the joyful and public way God marks that belonging. It doesn't create faith, but it points us to what Christ has already done for us by grace, and reassures us of God's promises.
At Donvale, we practise 'family' or 'covenant' baptism. Baptism is given to believers and their children.
The pathway:Before being baptised, we want you to be clear about the gospel and confident in what God is promising you in Christ. You'll take part in our Christian Doctrine course, a relaxed space to explore the basics of the Christian faith, ask honest questions, and understand what it means to follow Jesus. Once that's done, we'll celebrate your baptism together in a Sunday service.
If you were baptised as a child, God's sign was given to you as a child. Your parents made promises in faith, trusting God's grace and committing to raise you in the Christian life.
A Profession of Faith is your chance to respond to those promises. It's your public way of saying, "This faith is now my own. I trust in Jesus Christ, and I want to follow him as part of his church."
The pathway:Because this step marks a move into adult responsibility in the life of the church, we want to support you well. You'll take part in the Christian Doctrine course to strengthen your understanding of the Christian faith. You will have the option of sharing your Christian testimony publicly, or privately (sharing with a pastor or an elder).
If you're already a baptised and professing Christian from another church, transferring membership is about committing to live out your faith in this local church.
The pathway:You'll attend a Membership Class, a short introduction to our church's vision, values, and community life. It's designed to help you decide whether this is the right place for you to belong and serve.
Think of this less like a classroom and more like laying foundations. Whether you're preparing for baptism or profession of faith, the course focuses on the essentials—who God is, what he has done for us in Jesus, and how we live in response to his grace. The aim isn't to turn you into a theologian, but to help you make public commitments with clarity, confidence, and joy—grounded in the gospel.
Please fill this out to register for our next membership class
Held Saturday July 25, 9 am - noon in the DPC Church Hall.