Unfortunately, many of our churches still view success and health of a church by how many members they have in church.

I, personally, don’t like it when someone says, “Our church has a membership of 800. And an worship attendance of 200.”

Isn’t the 200 more accurate number of the church rather than 800?

Recently, I started wondering if it is important for a church goer to join the church they attend.

Is officially becoming a member of the church more important to the church or to the people joining?

Is joining a church — becoming a member — still an important part of church life and the lives of Christians today?

Being part of a church, a faith community, is a huge deal but does one feel, these days, that joining a church (going through its membership class) is an important part of their journey?

Does church membership benefit the church more or the new member?

Is becoming a member as important as it was 10, 15, 20 years ago?

If not, how does that change how we, as churches (particularly UMC’s) keep our records? Would it change how we would assess and evaluate a pastor and her/his ministry?

I have no idea what the answers to these questions are. And am in no way qualified to answer these questions.

I was just curious.