b1. Membership
b1.1. The true Church is composed of persons who are regenerated by the Holy Spirit through saving faith in Jesus Christ, are united together in the Body of Christ of which He is Lord and Head and are commissioned for the God-given task of proclaiming the Gospel to every person. Only those who are thus members of the true Church shall be eligible for membership of the Nairobi Baptist Church.
b1.2. A member of the Nairobi Baptist Church shall confess personal faith in Jesus Christ as Saviour and Lord and commit himself to this body of believers by accepting the responsibilities of membership and entrusting himself to its spiritual care and counsel.
b1.3. A Junior Member, who attains the age of eighteen, will become an Ordinary Member upon notifying the Honorary Secretary, in writing, of their attainment of the age of eighteen, provided that such member demonstrates evidence of the regenerating work of the Holy Spirit and participates in the life of the Church.
b1.4. In joining the membership of the Church, a member joyfully and solemnly enters into a covenant with other members to:
b1.4.1. Walk together in Christian love and watch over one another by the power of the Holy Spirit; remember one another in prayer and aid one another in sickness and distress.
b1.4.2. Strive for the advancement of this Church, in knowledge, holiness, witness and service; promote its prosperity and spirituality; grow its worship and uphold its discipline and doctrines; contribute cheerfully and regularly to the support of the work and expenses of the Church.
b1.4.3. Maintain family and personal devotions; seek the salvation of family members, neighbours, colleagues and acquaintances; be just in their dealings, faithful to their commitments, and exemplary in their conduct; be zealous in their efforts to advance the Kingdom of our Saviour and Lord.
b1.5. Members shall:
b1.5.1. Receive and approve the Strategic Plan, annual plans, policies, audited accounts and budget of the Church.
b1.5.2. Appoint the auditor, Church Trustees, Call Committee and be responsible for the calling of the Senior Pastor at an appropriately convened Church General Meeting.
b1.5.3. Be responsible for the appointment of Elders, the Honorary Secretary, the Honorary Treasurer, Board Chairpersons and members and Committee Chairpersons, and ratification of the appointment of Associate Pastors.
b1.5.4. Receive new members at the Sunday worship services soon after approval by the Elders on the recommendation of the Membership Committee.
b1.5.5. Approve the acquisition and disposal of all immovable assets.
b1.5.6. Approve all unbudgeted expenditure in excess of 10% of the annual budget per annum.
b1.5.7. Be responsible for providing feedback to the Elders and the Pastorate.
b1.6. Membership may be terminated by:
b1.6.1. Transfer: any member who wishes to affiliate with another church may, at the discretion of the Elders on the recommendation of the Membership Committee, be granted a Letter of Recommendation upon request by the church with which he desires to associate. The letter will be forwarded by the Honorary Secretary.
b1.6.2. Request: any member who requests termination of membership for whatever reason will be granted that request. If there are unresolved issues between the requesting member and the Church and/or (an)other Church member(s), efforts will be made by the Elders to reconcile and resolve any points at issue prior to the granting of the request.
b1.6.3. Disciplinary Action: should any member of this Church be found to be flagrantly negligent in living the Christian life, the Church reserves the right to administer biblical forms of church discipline, as outlined in its Discipline Policy. Should faithful efforts by and through the Elders render no promise of reform or manifest no spirit of repentance on the part of the member in question, membership may be terminated by the Elders, whose decision in this respect shall be final. The Elders shall then inform the membership accordingly. A member removed from fellowship by disciplinary action may be reinstated only by means of the procedure of admission to membership in Article c5 on Membership.
b1.6.4. Inactivity: a member known to be absent from Church life for twelve consecutive months, without having notified the Honorary Secretary in writing, shall be deemed to have resigned from membership.
b1.6.5. Death.
