How to join Plow Creek Fellowship

Plow Creek Mennonite Church | home site outline

Generally the process for joining the fellowship is a longer process than joining the church. When an individual or a couple is interested in joining the fellowship they become intentional neighbors and the elders arrange for one or two mentors to walk with the person or couple through the membership process.

People do not become part of our common purse until they become full fellowship members, usually a year or longer. We depend on each family within the fellowship to bring in enough income to support themselves and help with church ministries.

The membership process is individualized for prospective member(s). Generally the mentor will go over the information in this booklet, discuss community life, and answer questions that arise while the prospective members are intentional neighbors. Mentors and the intentional neighbors may share their life stories as a way to deepen trust on the journey to membership.

When intentional neighbors are ready to make a commitment to the community they become sharing neighbors as a final testing before becoming members. Prospective members are sharing neighbors for at least six months. After six months the sharing neighbors and mentors review their readiness to become members.

When a mentor senses the sharing is ready to join the fellowship, the mentor contacts the elders who will arrange a time for the joining ceremony.. The public ceremony includes sharing membership commitments, a candle lighting ceremony accompanying the reading of Acts 4:32-35, a breaking of bread ceremony accompanying a reading of Acts 2:42-47, and a meal. Afterwards PCF members gather privately for a time of sharing and renewing our membership commitments.

Commitments to Plow Creek Fellowship include:

1. Do you reaffirm your commitment to Jesus as Lord and the commitments you made when you joined Plow Creek Church?

2. Do you commit yourself to a life of communal companionship in the Lord with your brothers and sisters who are part of Plow Creek Fellowship?

3. Do you commit yourself to common, Spirit-directed decision-making with your brothers and sisters who are part of Plow Creek Fellowship?

4. Do you commit yourself to trusting the Lord in our communal finances?

5. Do you commit yourself to send and support members in mission and to receive people as part of the mission of Plow Creek Fellowship?

In 2006 Plow Creek Fellowship began an Intern Program for those who wanted to explore communal living