Membership in the local church is essential for personal growth and for developing a deeper commitment to the will and grace of God. As members involve themselves in private and public prayer, worship, the sacraments, study, Christian action, systematic giving and holy discipline, they grow in their appreciation and understanding of God at work in the world through Jesus Christ. We encourage and invite you to be moving toward membership in the Pearl River United Methodist Church family.

Becoming a Member

There are a number of ways to become a part of the congregation of Pearl River United Methodist Church. The two most common forms of membership are by Transfer of Letter or by Profession of Faith.

Transfer of Letter means that you are currently a member of another church and want to place your membership at PRUMC. We accept the rich heritage of faith you bring with you. If you are coming from another United Methodist Church, or any other Christian denomination, you do not have to be rebaptized. We ask all persons transferring their membership one question of church loyalty.

• Will you uphold the church with your prayers, your presence, your gifts, and your service?

Profession of Faith is for persons, whether baptized or not, who have never belonged to a church. We ask persons who seek membership through profession of faith these questions.

• Do you truly and earnestly repent of your sins and accept Jesus Christ as your Savior?

• Do you believe in God, the Father Almighty, maker of heaven and earth; and in Jesus Christ his only Son our Lord; and in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life?

• Do you promise, according to the grace given to you, to keep God’s holy will and commandments and to walk in the same all the days of your life?

Entrance into the church is acknowledged in Baptism and may include persons of all ages. Baptism is understood by the United Methodist Church as the act of God through the church in which a person is claimed as God’s own and is initiated into the family of God. Adults who wish to be baptized on profession of faith, or parents who wish to present their children for baptism, are invited to call the church office and arrange a meeting with our minister.

There are two other categories of membership called Affiliate and Associate members. If you are a United Methodist from a distant community who is going to be in our community for an extended time, you may affiliate with PRUMC without actually transferring membership from your home church. Associate membership offers this same courtesy to those who are members of other denominations under the same conditions.

Members are received at PRUMC during the 10:30 am worship service. Simply contact the church office or our minister to express your desire for membership.

When persons unite with Pearl River United Methodist Church, they make known their desire to live their daily lives as disciples of Christ. They covenant together with God and other members to keep the vows which are a part of the church universal.