SECRETARIAT MEMBERSHIP AUDIT G. T. Ng, PhD General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists
S ECRETARIAT MEMBERSHIP AUDIT G. T. Ng, PhD General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists.
Dec 17, 2015
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SECRETARIAT
MEMBERSHIP AUDITG. T. Ng, PhD
General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists
SECRETARIAT
Why is it that we have financial auditors but never membership auditors?
SECRETARIAT
WHY SHOULD MEMBERSHIP AUDIT BE CONDUCTED?
Church membership record has become bloated through the years. There is great disparity between membership and attendance.
SECRETARIAT
WHERE SHOULD MEMBERSHIP AUDIT BE CONDUCTED?
At the local church level, only.
SECRETARIAT
WHO IS SUPPOSED TO DO MEMBERSHIP AUDIT?
The primary person responsible for membership audit is the local church clerk with help from the church pastor.
SECRETARIAT
HOW IF THE LOCAL CHURCH CLERK DOESN’T KNOW HOW TO DO MEMBERSHIP AUDIT?
The local church clerk and the pastor must first be trained.
SECRETARIAT
WHO IS TO TRAIN CHURCH CLERKS AND PASTORS?
The conference/mission/section/field executive secretary.
SECRETARIAT
WHAT IF THE CONFERENCE/MISSION/SECTION/FIELD SECRETARY DOESN’T KNOW ABOUT MEMBERSHIP AUDIT?
The union executive secretary needs to train him.
SECRETARIAT
WHAT IF THE UNION EXECUTIVE SECRETARY KNOWS NEXT TO NOTHING ABOUT MEMBERSHIP AUDIT?
It is the responsibility of the division executive secretary to train him.
SECRETARIAT
HOW OFTEN SHOULD CHURCH MEMBERSHIP BE AUDITED?
At lease once a year.
SECRETARIAT
IS IT TRUE THAT MEMBERSHIP AUDIT IS AN EASY PROCESS?
It is a deceptively simple but long and painful process.
SECRETARIAT
WHAT IS THE REAL PURPOSE OF MEMBERSHIP AUDIT?
The ultimate goal is to redeem missing and lost members.
SECRETARIAT
WHY THE GNASHING OF TEETH IN MEMBERSHIP AUDIT?
1. Administrative resistance2. Secretariat fatigue3. Indifference4. Failure to read the Church
Manual
SECRETARIAT
WHAT IS THE BASIC ISSUE IN MEMBERSHIP AUDIT?
Leadership integrity.(members tend to snicker when they look at membership figures)
SECRETARIAT
IS MEMBERSHIP AUDIT AN EXERCISE IN FUTILITY?
No, not at all. Almost all divisions have done it and are continuing to do so. It is an ongoing process.
SECRETARIAT
WHEN WILL MEMBERSHIP AUDIT END?
It will end when Jesus comes.
SECRETARIAT
HOW TO BEGIN MEMBERSHIP AUDIT?
1. Begin with prayer. Pray for grace and endurance.
2. Study the Church Manual.
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SECRETARIAT
CHURCH MEMBERSHIP
SECRETARIAT
CHURCH MEMBERSHIP
1. Church membership should be entered seriously. It involves “serious, solemn obligations.”
SECRETARIAT
CHURCH MEMBERSHIP
2. “Only those giving evidence of having experienced the new birth, and who are enjoying a spiritual experience in the Lord Jesus, are prepared for acceptance into church membership.
SECRETARIAT
CHURCH MEMBERSHIP
3. Candidates should be given “thorough instruction in the fundamental teachings and related practices …before being baptized and received into church fellowship.” (CM, 29)
* They should be carefully instructed. (CM, 30, 31, 32)
SECRETARIAT
CHURCH MEMBERSHIP
4. Baptism is a prerequisite to church membership (CM, 29)
* “Baptism is a most solemn renunciation of the world.” (6T, 91-92)
SECRETARIAT
CHURCH MEMBERSHIP
5. Candidates should be examined before church board or board of elders. (CM, 31)
SECRETARIAT
CHURCH MEMBERSHIP
6. Candidates should affirm their acceptance of the baptismal vow.
SECRETARIAT
STANDARD BAPTISMAL VOW
1. Do you believe in God the Father, in His Son Jesus Christ, and in the Holy Spirit? 2. Do you accept the death of Jesus Christ on Calvary as the atoning sacrifice for the sins of men, and believe that through faith in His shed blood men are saved from sin and its penalty? 3. Renouncing the world and its sinful ways, have you accepted Jesus Christ as your personal Saviour, and do you believe that God, for Christ's sake, has forgiven your sins and given you a new heart? 4: Do you accept by faith the righteousness of Christ, recognizing Him as your Intercessor in the heavenly sanctuary, and do you claim His promise to strengthen you by His indwelling Spirit, so that you may receive power to do His will?
SECRETARIAT
STANDARD BAPTISMAL VOW
5. Do you believe that the Bible is God's inspired word, and that it constitutes the only rule of faith and practice for the Christian? 6. Do you accept the Ten Commandments as still binding upon Christians; and is it your purpose, by the power of the indwelling Christ, to keep this law, including the fourth commandment, which requires the observance of the seventh day of the week as the Sabbath of the Lord? 7. Is the soon coming of Jesus the blessed hope in your heart, and are you determined to be personally ready to meet the Lord, and to do all in your power to witness to His loving salvation, and by life and word to help others to be ready for His glorious appearing?
SECRETARIAT
STANDARD BAPTISMAL VOW
8. Do you accept the Biblical teaching of spiritual gifts, and do you believe that the gift of prophecy in the remnant church is one of the identifying marks of that church? 9. Do you believe in church organization, and is it your purpose to support the church by your tithes and offerings, your personal effort, and influence? 10. Do you believe that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit and that you are to honor God by caring for your body, avoiding the use of that which is harmful, abstaining from all unclean foods, from the use, manufacture, or sale of alcoholic beverages, the use, manufacture, or sale of tobacco in any of its forms for human consumption, and from the misuse of, or trafficking in, narcotics or other drugs?
SECRETARIAT
STANDARD BAPTISMAL VOW
11. Knowing and understanding the fundamental Bible principles as taught by the Seventh-day Adventist Church, is it your purpose, by the grace of God, to order your life in harmony with these principles? 12. Do you accept the New Testament teaching of baptism by immersion, and do you desire to be so baptized as a public expression of your faith in Christ and in the forgiveness of your sins? 13. Do you believe that the Seventh-day Adventist Church is the remnant church of Bible prophecy, and that people of every nation, race, and language are invited and accepted into its fellowship? Do you desire membership in this local congregation of the world church?
SECRETARIAT
ALTERNATIVE BAPTISMAL VOW
1. Do you accept Jesus Christ as your personal Savior and Lord, and do you desire to live your life in a saving relationship with Him?
2. Do you accept the teachings of the Bible as expressed in the Statement of Fundamental Beliefs of the Seventh-day Adventist Church and do you pledge by God’s grace to live your life in harmony with these teachings?
3. Do you desire to be baptized as a public expression of your belief in Jesus Christ, to be accepted into the fellowship of the Seventh-day Adventist Church, and to support the church and its mission as a faithful steward by your personal influence, tithes and offerings, and a life of service?
(The alternative baptismal vow was introduced in 2005. It originated with the South Pacific Division branch of the Biblical Research Committee.)
SECRETARIAT
CHURCH MEMBERSHIP
7. Candidates should be given certificates of baptism following baptism. (CM, 34)
SECRETARIAT
CHURCH MEMBERSHIP
8. The church body votes their acceptance into the church, subject to baptism. (CM, 35)
SECRETARIAT
CHURCH MEMBERSHIP
9. The church clerk records the names of the baptismal candidates on the church record book.
SECRETARIAT
WHEN A MEMBER MOVES…
SECRETARIAT
WHEN A MEMBER MOVES…
1. When a church member moves to a different area, the clerk of the church holding the membership record should write to the secretary of the relevant conference/mission/field and request that a pastor in the new locality make a pastoral visit to the individual. (CM, 36)
SECRETARIAT
WHEN A MEMBER MOVES…
2. The visiting pastor should facilitate membership transfer.
3. A church member who moves from one locality to another for a period of longer than 6 months should make immediate application for a letter of transfer to a church near his/her new home. (CM, 36)
SECRETARIAT
WHEN A MEMBER MOVES…
4. If the new home is in an isolated area with no church within a reasonable distance, the member should apply to join the conference/mission/field church. (CM, 36)
SECRETARIAT
HOW TO TRANSFER
MEMBERSHIP?
SECRETARIAT
HOW TO TRANSFER MEMBERSHIP?
A. The member writes to the church clerk of the church he desires to join.
B. The church clerk sends the request to his home church clerk.
C. Upon receiving the request, the home church clerk brings the request to the pastor who brings it to the church board. (CM, 36)
SECRETARIAT
HOW TO TRANSFER MEMBERSHIP?
D. The pastor brings the recommendation to the church: first reading & second reading.
E. If voted, the church clerk prepares a letter of transfer and forwards it to the church clerk of the new home church.
F. The clerk of this church passes the letter to the pastor who brings it to church board.
SECRETARIAT
HOW TO TRANSFER MEMBERSHIP?
H. When voted, two things should happen:
*The clerk of the new home church adds the member’s name and date on the church membership record.*The clerk of the old home church deletes the member’s name and date on the church membership record.
SECRETARIAT
CAUTIONS
SECRETARIAT
CAUTIONS
1. Church letters of transfer are granted only to members who are in regular standing.
2. The membership of a member who is under discipline should not be transferred.
SECRETARIAT
CAUTIONS
3. The church board does not have the authority to transfer membership.
4. The pastor does not have the authority to transfer membership.
SECRETARIAT
CAUTIONS
5. Membership transfer should not be done without the consent of the individual concerned.
SECRETARIAT
GENERAL PRINCIPLES
SECRETARIAT
GENERAL PRINCIPLES
1. Each church should keep a membership record.
2. Each church should have but one membership list.
3. The church record should contain the names of all members.
SECRETARIAT
GENERAL PRINCIPLES
4. Each name should have a serial number which does not change.
5. Names should be added to church record only on the vote of the church by profession of faith, baptism, or letter of transfer.
6. Names may be deleted through death, dropped, or missing as voted by a church business meeting.
SECRETARIAT
PROCESS
1. Distribute membership list to church members and have them identify missing members. 2. Members return with information of the whereabouts of individuals on the list. 3. Redistribute the list 3 months later. Clerk rechecks clues. 4. Pastor organizes teams of elders and deacons to get in touch with missing members through:--Personal visits--Telephone, e-mail--Personal letter
SECRETARIAT
5. When all attempts fail to locate missing members, the pastor recommends the names to the church board. No person may be dropped or transferred in or out of the local church membership by the church pastor. 6. The church board recommends the list to the church business meeting. No church board can drop, or transfer any name but should recommend action to the church in business session 7. The church business meeting votes to delete names. The meeting should be duly called and have quorum. 8. The church clerk sends the updated list to the mission/conference.
SECRETARIAT
2003 2004 2005 2006 20070
100,000
200,000
300,000
400,000
500,000
600,000
349,724 363,040
476,351
268,154
341,109
WORLD DROPPED AND MISSING2007 Membership: 15,660,347
SECRETARIAT
0
100,000
200,000
300,000
400,000
500,000
600,000
700,000
199,683
9,09633,842
215,584
81,727
12,408
459,401
35,673
113,293
21,036
578,567
4,10533,984
DIVISION DROPPED AND MISSING5-Year Total 2003-2007
SECRETARIAT
2003 2004 2005 2006 20070
10,000
20,000
30,000
40,000
50,000
60,000
ECD DROPPED AND MISSING2007 Membership: 2,376,903
SECRETARIAT
2003 2004 2005 2006 20070
500
1,000
1,500
2,000
2,500
EUD DROPPED AND MISSING2007 Membership: 176,047
SECRETARIAT
2003 2004 2005 2006 20070
2,000
4,000
6,000
8,000
10,000
12,000
ESD DROPPED AND MISSING2007 Membership: 137,676
SECRETARIAT
2003 2004 2005 2006 20070
5,000
10,000
15,000
20,000
25,000
30,000
35,000
40,000
45,000
50,000
IAD DROPPED AND MISSING2007 Membership: 2,958,485
SECRETARIAT
2003 2004 2005 2006 200713,000
13,500
14,000
14,500
15,000
15,500
16,000
16,500
17,000
17,500
NAD DROPPED AND MISSING2007 Membership: 1,062,189
SECRETARIAT
2003 2004 2005 2006 20070
1,000
2,000
3,000
4,000
5,000
6,000
NSD DROPPED AND MISSING2007 Membership: 590,684
SECRETARIAT
2003 2004 2005 2006 20070
20,000
40,000
60,000
80,000
100,000
120,000
140,000
160,000
180,000
200,000
SAD DROPPED AND MISSING2007 Membership: 2,617,706
SECRETARIAT
2003 2004 2005 2006 20070
2,000
4,000
6,000
8,000
10,000
12,000
SPD DROPPED AND MISSING2007 Membership: 399,979
SECRETARIAT
2003 2004 2005 2006 20070
5,000
10,000
15,000
20,000
25,000
30,000
SID DROPPED AND MISSING2007 Membership: 2,187,125
SECRETARIAT
2003 2004 2005 2006 20070
2,000
4,000
6,000
8,000
10,000
12,000
14,000
16,000
SUD DROPPED AND MISSING2007 Membership: 1,345,615
SECRETARIAT
2003 2004 2005 2006 20070
50,000
100,000
150,000
200,000
250,000
300,000
SSD DROPPED AND MISSING2007 Membership: 902,394
SECRETARIAT
2003 2004 2005 2006 20070
200
400
600
800
1,000
1,200
1,400
TED DROPPED AND MISSING2007 Membership: 107,050
SECRETARIAT
2003 2004 2005 2006 20070
2,000
4,000
6,000
8,000
10,000
12,000
14,000
WAD DROPPED AND MISSING2007 Membership: 798,494
SECRETARIAT
2003 2004 2005 2006 20070
100,000
200,000
300,000
400,000
500,000
600,000
349,724 363,040
476,351
268,154
341,109
WORLD DROPPED AND MISSING2007 Membership: 15,660,347
SECRETARIAT
0
100,000
200,000
300,000
400,000
500,000
600,000
700,000
199,683
9,09633,842
215,584
81,727
12,408
459,401
35,673
113,293
21,036
578,567
4,10533,984
DIVISION DROPPED AND MISSING5-Year Total 2003-2007
SECRETARIAT
0%5%
10%15%20%25%30%35%40%45%50%
9.74%5.35%
23.02%
9.41%8.30%
2.42%
22.08%
9.86%6.97%
3.07%
46.31%
4.50%5.17%
DIVISION DROPPED AND MISSING RATE
5-Year Total 2003-2007
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