membership

Imago Dei takes church membership very seriously. It is not merely about signing on a dotted line and being added onto a role sheet. True Church membership is about joining a family that is united in belief and purpose in order to share Christ with the world and with each other. Members at Imago Dei are united theologically. We have a common belief about God and his word. We are also united in values, which stem from our theology. Finally, our values lead us to be united in our mission to Portland and to the world. It is critical to us that we are united, without division, in order to faithfully live out our faith together. Membership is our pathway to unity.

Many times Church membership is seen as limiting rather than unleashing. It is seen as exclusive rather than inclusive. We see active membership as just the opposite. It is a way of creating more room to include people. It provides more stability to help people grow in their faith and service. It creates a solidifying relationship that allows us to authentically journey together in Christ. It stretches us to be a diverse community, and to love those who are not like us. It provides accountability for the leadership, and for the people they serve. It also destroys the American idol of the autonomous self which, left to itself, will practice an individualized private faith which we see as highly contrary to the New Testament model of Christian community.

Being a member at Imago Dei includes additional benefits. It frees you up to fully participate in our mission by entering into leadership. Membership is a prerequisite to leadership at Imago Dei. We also have a member's only website with many unique features including members' news, profiles, classifieds, and discussion forums.

To become a member at Imago Dei Community you must attend the Church & Gospel class through our School of Theology. Then you must sign a member's covenant. The Imago Dei Membership Covenant is a stated commitment that we are living in community together and seeking to embody unity through the beliefs, values, and mission of Imago Dei through active expressions of love and service.