How to Join
You may join Hendersonville First United Methodist Church in one of the following ways:
By Baptism
The sacrament of baptism marks you as Christ’s own and initiates you into the family of Christ. In baptism, you accept the gift of God’s love and the new life that God has been yearning to give you. Classes to discuss the meaning of baptism for yourself or your child are scheduled several times a year to help you understand the step you are taking. To sign up for Baptism Class and schedule your baptism, contact Rev. Amanda Diamond at 824-8725, ext. 1033 or amanda.diamond@hfumc.org. Adults and children who are old enough to make this decision for themselves will profess their faith in Jesus Christ and his church at the time of their baptism. Parents will answer for infants baptized in our church.
By Profession of Faith
(or Reaffirmation of Faith)**
If you have never publicly professed your faith in Jesus Christ, we encourage you to do so. If you have not previously been baptized, you will also receive that sacrament at the time you profess your faith and join the church. One of our pastors will discuss this with you before scheduling a time in one of our worship services to commit your life to Christ and join our congregation.
**If you have been away from church for some time, you may want to publicly reaffirm your faith with a fresh start.
By Transfer
We accept your baptism from any Christian church and do not repeat this sacrament. You will simply be asked to respond to the following vows during one of our worship services:
From another Christian denomination:
“As a member of Christ’s universal church, will you be loyal to The United Methodist Church, and do all in your power to strengthen its ministries?”
From another denomination or another United Methodist Church:
“As a member of this congregation, will you faithfully participate in its ministries with your prayers, your presence, your gifts, your service and your witness?”
Commonly Asked Questions
Do I have to be baptized?
In the sacrament of baptism you accept the gift of God’s self-giving love and the new life that God has been yearning to give you. Baptism marks you as Christ’s own and initiates you into the family of Christ. In baptism you receive God’s call on your life. If you haven’t previously been baptized, you will receive this sacrament when you join our church.
Who do we baptize?
We baptize infants, children and adults. We do not baptize persons who have already been baptized because we believe that God is the main actor in baptism and God’s work does not need to be redone. We do provide the opportunity to reaffirm our baptismal vows.
May I join privately?
Becoming a member of this congregation is a commitment to a spiritual family. With it comes belonging and pledges of mutual love and support. For that reason, the act of joining your new church family is a public one, in their midst.
If you have other questions, feel free to talk with any of our pastors. Please don’t be hesitant. We welcome you with open arms.