That’s a Serious Question
“By the grace of God given you,
will you uphold this congregation
of The United Methodist Church
with your prayers, presence, gifts, service and witness?”
It’s the question whenever anyone joins.
It’s a serious question.
It’s a commitment.
It’s a commitment to this particular part of the Body of Christ. It’s a commitment to one another.
This week, let’s take some time and think together about some of what it means.
Today I’m simply very thankful to be part of a community of faith that takes our membership vow seriously.
I hope you know that same joy and contentment, because wow — it makes a huge difference!
joescheets 
If only we made those vows a priority.
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Janet, agreed. Sure is good when it works. Or when we work it. Or when we “let go and let God” work thru us. Etc.
All I know is that I sure like being a part of y’all.
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Oh my. When was “witness” added? Prayers, presence, gifts and service are familiar to me, but not “witness”!
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According to http://www.gbod.org/site/apps/nlnet/content3.aspx?c=nhLRJ2PMKsG&b=5657895&ct=7778669
Paragraph 217.6 had become the United Methodist membership mantra: “prayers, presence, gifts and service.” In some of our congregations, these words became the only “membership vows” many of our people knew, despite the fact that our Discipline names all the vows of the baptismal covenant as requirements for professing membership (see the entirety of paragraph 217). When the Association of Annual Conference Lay Leaders submitted its proposal to GBOD, our Board agreed that the vows of “prayers, presence, gifts and service” were primarily “inwardly” focused and institutional in character. They offered little insight or inspiration for disciples of Jesus Christ to engage in God’s mission of transforming the world. Though in an earlier vow those seeking professing membership promise to be “Christ’s representatives in the world” (UMH 34, paragraph 6), there was no reflection of that baptismal promise in the vows of membership in a local congregation. Adding “and witness” to the list (“prayers, presence, gifts, service, and witness”) may help our members, new and old, to recognize their responsibilities not only to “show up,” but to “show forth” God’s saving love in all that we do.
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Wow! How excellent!
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