(Stephen M Young is a missionary living in Brazil. He blogs at “Beyond Outreach” and has a personal blog as well. I appreciate him sharing this post with us.)
I am interested in the opinions here on SBC Voices. Can someone be a member of two local churches simultaneously? (Let’s keep the hypothetical to SBC churches.) I am putting the question out as a general question, but have added some examples to think it through.
Case 1:
A missionary who, being sent as a member of his home church, joins with a local church in the country in which he is working.
A missionary who, being sent as a member of his home church, joins with a local church in the country in which he is working.
Can he be a member of USA Baptist and Overseas Baptist at the same time?
Case 2:
A college student goes to a city about 5 hours away. He comes home every other weekend. He wants to join the church near his university, and also stay a member at his home church.
A college student goes to a city about 5 hours away. He comes home every other weekend. He wants to join the church near his university, and also stay a member at his home church.
Can he be a member of University Baptist and Hometown Baptist at the same time?
Case 3:
Bob and Mary were each members of their own respective churches before getting married. Bob, a member of Central Baptist, and Mary a member of First Baptist. They struggle to choose which church to join.
Bob and Mary were each members of their own respective churches before getting married. Bob, a member of Central Baptist, and Mary a member of First Baptist. They struggle to choose which church to join.
Can they simply join both churches?
Case 4:
John is a member of FBC. He is commissioned by the church to help start a daughter church. The church becomes strong and can now function autonomously. John loves his brothers and sisters at both churches.
John is a member of FBC. He is commissioned by the church to help start a daughter church. The church becomes strong and can now function autonomously. John loves his brothers and sisters at both churches.
Can he be a member of both his home church and the church he helped plant?
Why or why not?