Revision #8827
Church Membership Register
Localized for English-speaking readers (msgbatch_01GvFKF6zaroxwZ2RCatyoPp)
Status: approved
Changes from the previous English revision
= ## Definition and Meaning
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- **Gyojeok** literally means "church family register." The term refers both to the fact that a person is registered as a member of a particular church and to the record of that registration. The book in which these records are compiled is called the **membership register** (*gyojeokbu*). A membership register usually lists the member's name, date of birth, address, family relationships, date of registration, dates of baptism and confirmation, church office, and any history of transfer from another church. In everyday speech, people say such things as "I registered at the church" or "I transferred my membership." A *gyojeok* is solely an internal church record and has no connection to the civil records kept by the state.
+ A **church membership register** records that a person is enrolled as a member of a particular church. The term can refer both to the membership status itself and to the written record of it. A register usually lists the member's name, date of birth, address, family relationships, date of enrollment, dates of baptism and confirmation, church office, and any transfer from another church. People commonly speak of "joining a church" or "transferring membership." A membership register is solely an internal church record and has no connection to the civil records kept by the state.
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+ In Korean Protestant usage, membership status is called *gyojeok*, and the register is called *gyojeokbu*.
+
= ## Biblical and Historical Background
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- The term *gyojeok* does not appear in the Bible. However, Acts 2:41 and 2:47 record that believers were added to their number, and 1 Timothy 5:9 mentions a widow being "taken into the number" of those under the church's care. Churches cite these passages as evidence that the early church also kept track of its members. Since the Reformation, Protestant churches have maintained membership rolls along with records of baptisms, marriages, and funerals. Korean churches are likewise known to have kept rolls distinguishing catechumens from baptized members from the earliest years of missionary work.
+ The Bible does not use a term for a church membership register. However, Acts 2:41 and 2:47 record that believers were added to the church, and 1 Timothy 5:9 speaks of a widow being "taken into the number" of those under the church's care. Churches cite these passages as evidence that the early church also kept track of its members. Since the Reformation, Protestant churches have kept membership rolls along with records of baptisms, marriages, and funerals. Korean churches are reported to have kept rolls from the earliest years of missionary work, distinguishing catechumens from baptized members.
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= ## Practice in Korean Churches
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- A first-time visitor fills out a registration card and is registered as a new believer. Many churches enroll a person as a full member only after he or she has completed a new members' class. When members move to another church, they go through the process of transfer of membership: the original church issues a certificate of transfer, and the new church receives it and takes over the membership record. Depending on the church, members who have not attended for a long time may be removed from the register or placed in a separate category. In recent years, a growing number of churches have begun obtaining consent for the collection of personal information.
+ In Korean Protestant churches, a first-time visitor fills out a registration card and is enrolled as a new believer. Many churches enroll a person as a full member only after he or she has completed a new members' class. A member who moves to another church goes through a transfer of membership: the former church issues a certificate of transfer, and the receiving church accepts it and takes over the membership record. Depending on the church, members who have not attended for a long time may be removed from the register or placed in a separate category. In recent years, a growing number of churches have begun asking members to consent to the collection of their personal information.
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- The significance of membership varies according to a denomination's form of church government.
+ The meaning of membership varies with each denomination's form of church government.
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- - Presbyterian churches, in their church constitutions, divide members into applicants for membership (those who have newly registered but have not yet been baptized), members baptized in infancy, and baptized members (communicant members). Baptized members who are not under church discipline are entitled to membership in the congregational meeting.
- - The Korean Methodist Church, in accordance with its Doctrines and Discipline, classifies members as inquirers, baptized children, communicant members, and so on.
- - Baptist churches follow congregational polity; members who have been baptized and registered become voting members who decide church matters at the church business meeting (a general meeting of the membership).
+ - Korean Presbyterian churches classify members in their church constitutions as applicants for membership (those who have enrolled but have not yet been baptized), members baptized in infancy, and baptized members (communicant members). Baptized members who are not under church discipline have the right to take part in the congregational meeting.
+ - The Korean Methodist Church classifies members under its Doctrines and Discipline as inquirers, baptized children, communicant members, and other categories.
+ - Baptist churches follow congregational polity. Members who have been baptized by immersion and enrolled become voting members who decide church matters at the church business meeting, a general meeting of the membership.
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- The membership statistics published by denominations are compiled from the membership registers of individual churches. For this reason, some have pointed out that these figures may exceed the number of people who actually attend, or may count the same people at more than one church. "Canaan believers," who maintain their faith without registering at any church, are frequently cited as believers who stand outside the membership rolls.
+ The membership statistics that Korean denominations publish are compiled from the registers of individual churches. Critics note that these figures may exceed the number of people who actually attend, and that the same people may be counted at more than one church. The so-called "Canaan believers," Christians who keep their faith without enrolling at any church, are often cited as believers who stand outside the membership rolls.
Gyojeok refers to a person's status as a registered member of a particular church, or to the record of that member's personal details and history of faith.
A church membership register is the record of a person's status as an enrolled member of a particular church, together with that member's personal details and history of faith; the term can also refer to the membership status itself.
Full revision
A church membership register is the record of a person's status as an enrolled member of a particular church, together with that member's personal details and history of faith; the term can also refer to the membership status itself.
Definition and Meaning
A church membership register records that a person is enrolled as a member of a particular church. The term can refer both to the membership status itself and to the written record of it. A register usually lists the member's name, date of birth, address, family relationships, date of enrollment, dates of baptism and confirmation, church office, and any transfer from another church. People commonly speak of "joining a church" or "transferring membership." A membership register is solely an internal church record and has no connection to the civil records kept by the state.
In Korean Protestant usage, membership status is called gyojeok, and the register is called gyojeokbu.
Biblical and Historical Background
The Bible does not use a term for a church membership register. However, Acts 2:41 and 2:47 record that believers were added to the church, and 1 Timothy 5:9 speaks of a widow being "taken into the number" of those under the church's care. Churches cite these passages as evidence that the early church also kept track of its members. Since the Reformation, Protestant churches have kept membership rolls along with records of baptisms, marriages, and funerals. Korean churches are reported to have kept rolls from the earliest years of missionary work, distinguishing catechumens from baptized members.
Practice in Korean Churches
In Korean Protestant churches, a first-time visitor fills out a registration card and is enrolled as a new believer. Many churches enroll a person as a full member only after he or she has completed a new members' class. A member who moves to another church goes through a transfer of membership: the former church issues a certificate of transfer, and the receiving church accepts it and takes over the membership record. Depending on the church, members who have not attended for a long time may be removed from the register or placed in a separate category. In recent years, a growing number of churches have begun asking members to consent to the collection of their personal information.
The meaning of membership varies with each denomination's form of church government.
The membership statistics that Korean denominations publish are compiled from the registers of individual churches. Critics note that these figures may exceed the number of people who actually attend, and that the same people may be counted at more than one church. The so-called "Canaan believers," Christians who keep their faith without enrolling at any church, are often cited as believers who stand outside the membership rolls.