Joining St. Matthew
Connecting with God, Caring for Others, Creating Transformative Change
For some, church is a place to worship on Sundays. For others, it becomes a spiritual home—a place where faith is nurtured, friendships are formed, and lives are transformed. Becoming a member of St. Matthew UMC is more than adding your name to a list; it’s entering into a covenant relationship with God and with this community of believers.
Why Become a Member?
Membership is a way of saying, “This is my spiritual family, and I’m committed to growing in Christ with these people.” It’s a public declaration of your faith in Jesus Christ and your desire to live out that faith through the ministries of this church. As a member, you become part of something larger than yourself—joining in God’s mission in our community and around the world.
What Does Membership Mean?
In the United Methodist Church, members promise to uphold the church with their prayers, presence, gifts, service, and witness:
Prayers – supporting the church, its leaders, and its mission through regular prayer.
Presence – participating in worship, studies, and fellowship.
Gifts – giving of your financial resources in proportion to your ability.
Service – using your time and talents to serve God and others.
Witness – living out your faith in daily life and sharing God’s love with others.
Presence – participating in worship, studies, and fellowship.
Gifts – giving of your financial resources in proportion to your ability.
Service – using your time and talents to serve God and others.
Witness – living out your faith in daily life and sharing God’s love with others.
Membership also means you have a voice in the decisions of the church, such as electing leaders, serving on certain committees, and discerning ministry direction.
You can read the official United Methodist membership vows at https://www.umc.org/en/content/book-of-discipline-217-membership-vows.
Who Can Join?
Anyone seeking to follow Jesus Christ is welcome. Membership is open to those who have not previously been baptized, as well as those transferring from another United Methodist or Christian church, and those returning after time away from a church. We honor the baptism of all Christian traditions.
What’s Involved in Becoming a Member?
The process is simple and meaningful:
Conversation with the Pastor – to talk about your faith journey and answer your questions about the church. Depending on how many people may be interest, Pastor Ann may schedule a class for new members so they can better understanding what it means to be United Methodist, and so new members can get to know each other and begin forming the relationships that truly define what it means to be the church.
Baptism (if needed) – for those who have not yet been baptized.
Profession of Faith or Transfer of Membership – during a Sunday worship service, where you will be welcomed and blessed by the congregation.
Why Now Might Be the Time
If you’ve been worshiping with us for a while, perhaps God is nudging you to take the next step. Membership is not about having all the answers—it’s about committing to walk this journey of faith together. In a world that often feels fragmented and isolated, belonging to a church family is a powerful way to grow in faith, serve others, and be part of something that makes a difference.
If you are interested in becoming a member, please speak with Pastor Ann or contact the church office. We would be honored to welcome you into the covenant of membership and the joy of shared ministry!
...And If It Isn’t
There are many reasons you might not want to make the commitment right now. And THAT’S OK. You can have a healthy relationship with God and St. Matthew without formally joining the church, and you are welcome to worship with us and participate in all of our ministries for as long as you like without taking that step. And if you do join and decide later to withdraw your membership, that is easy to do. There are enough sources of stress and anxiety in society; we want to offer relief from them, not add to them.
Whether or not you decide to join officially, we want you to consider yourself an ongoing member of our St. Matthew family, where there will always be a place for you!
Page updated 8/23/25
Rev. Ann Lyter, Senior Pastor
2540 West Baseline Road
Mesa, AZ 85202
(480) 838-7309
Office hours M-F 9 a.m.-noon
Office hours M-F 9 a.m.-noon
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