Membership at Loving Savior

Transfer

If you are a Baptized and/or Comminicant member of a Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod congregation and have been worshipping at Loving Savior ask the Pastor of your home congregation for a "Letter of Transfer." You will also be asked to complete an "Application for Membership."

Once the "Letter of Transfer" and the "Application for Membership" have been received by Loving Savior Lutheran Church the Pastor(s) of Loving Savior will ask Loving Savior's Board of Elders to approve your Transfer. Upon the approval of that Transfer you will be formally received into the congregation (usually in a Sunday morning worship service).

Profession of Faith

If you are a Baptized and/or Comminicant member of a Christian congregation that is currently not in Fellowhip with the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod or if you currently do not hold membership in a congregation and you have been worshipping at Loving Savior ask the Pastor of your home congregation for a "Release of Membership," or let the Pastor(s) of Loving Savior know that you wish to join Loving Savior. You will also be asked to complete an "Application for Membership."

Once the "Release of Membership" and/or the "Application for Membership" have been received by Loving Savior Lutheran Church and you have had conversation with Loving Savior's Pastor(s) regarding your intent to join Loving Savior our Pastor(s) must be convinced that you have sufficient understanding of Lutheran doctrine. The Pastor(s) of Loving Savior will then ask Loving Savior's Board of Elders to approve your "Membership by Profession of Faith." Upon the approval of that "Profession of Faith" you will be formally received into the congregation (usually in a Sunday morning worship service).

Confirmation

"Confirmed Membership" is bestowed on those baptized persons who have received instruction from the Pastor(s) of Loving Savior Lutheran in the basics of the Christian faith using the Bible and Luther's Small Catechism. Confirmed membership entitles you to participate in the Lord's Supper.

Junior Confirmation instruction, conducted by the pastor(s), is for children in the 5th and 6th grades. This 2 year program, using Luther's Small Catechism, covers the "Six Chief Parts," namely: the 10 Commandments, the Apostles Creed, the Lord's Prayer, Baptism, the Lord's Supper, and the Office of the Keys. 5th & 6th graders receive their instruction by the Pastor(s) on weekday afternoons during the school year. After the 2 years of study Junior Confirmands are Confirmed as a class during a Sunday worship service.

Adult Confirmation instruction, conducted by the Pastor(s), is for teens and adults. The same course of study that the Juniors receive is offered in aproximately twelve 1-1 1/2 hour sessions in a "New Member Class." A "New Member Class" is convened when sufficient numbers of people indicate an interest in this class. It is usually offered once or twice per year on a day and time that is most convenient for the students. After completion of the class, the Adult Confirmands are Confirmed in a Sunday morning worship service.

Voting

Confirmed (Communicant) members, 18 years of age and older, of Loving Savior Lutheran Church become voting members by signing a postcard (indicating they have received and read a copy of Loving Savior's Constitution and By-Laws). This signed postcard must be received in the church office at least 30 days before a Voters' meeting in order for that person to vote in that Voters' meeting or to participate in voting for Elders.