Membership at Prairie
Being a Member of the Church is first and foremost about being a follower (or disciple) of Jesus Christ.
Becoming a member of a local congregation is a way of recognizing that a life devoted to Jesus Christ IS a life lived in community with other Christians, witnessing to the to the grace and love of God that is shared in our relationships.
Becoming a member of a congregation is not about getting certain privileges. It is a way of publicly declaring your commitment to Christ and Christ’s Church in a local setting. It is our way of saying we care about one another, that our fellowship is important, and that we are a distinct community of faith, with Christ as our strength and guide.
To be a member, one must:
Believe in God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit as described in the Apostles’ Creed.
have a desire to walk in God’s ways and a willingness to seek the peace and welfare of the Church.
A member is someone who:
Has professed their faith in God.
Faithfully attends and participates in the worship of God, including participation in the Lord’s Supper, within the fellowship of the Church.
Seeks to support, encourage and respect their ministers and members of the Order of Diaconal Ministries.
Prayerfully listens to and recognizes the leadership and authority of the session (that is, the elders that make decisions about the church).
Seeks to live out a spirit of caring for those within and outside the congregation.
Takes a lively interest in all that concerns the welfare of the whole church.
Contributes generously, and graciously, as the Lord enables them, for the furtherance of Christian ministry and mission.
Manifests a Christian spirit in all the relationships of life.
Members have the right to vote at congregational meetings (and often non-members are extended the privilege of voting at meetings). Only members may be elected as elders and/or vote in elder elections.
Membership in the Presbyterian Church in Canada (PCC)
When someone becomes a member of Prairie, they are automatically a member of the Presbyterian Church in Canada. This means that you belong to a wider Church community in addition to the local congregation; we belong to a Presbytery, a Synod and a national Denomination. As part of the PCC we support international ministries, and national initiatives. As part of the Presbytery we support important local initiatives such as Winnipeg Inner City Missions.
Our National Church and Presbytery support Prairie by offering prayer, guidance, and accountability. As part of the PCC we also have opportunities to gather with other people who share common beliefs and basic way of organizing ourselves as the Church. The Presbyterian system of Church governance is an important way that we are distinct from other Christian denominations.
If you are interested in becoming a member or would like more information about membership, please contact the minister, Rev. Matt Brough at matt@prairiechurch.ca
more About Presbyterians
Prairie Presbyterian Church is part of the Presbyterian Church in Canada. Our Denomination has some great online resources. A collection is found below...
Presbyterian Church in Canada Website
Who We Are as Presbyterians? - A good summary of our beliefs and our structures with links to more information.
PCConnect - get latest news in your inbox from the Presbyterian Church in Canada
Presbyterian World Service & Development - Responding to those in need around the world.