New Member's Classes

DISCOVERY/MEMBERSHIP 2010 CLASS SCHEDULE

Discovery is a four-week class, held on Sunday mornings at 9:30 a.m. in Classroom A (lower level main church building). It is followed by a ten-week Membership class. Discovery doesn’t obligate an individual to pursue membership, but Discovery is a prerequisite for the Membership class—Discovery is the “entry point” for all newcomers (non-members) of Central. (And if an individual chooses not to take the Membership class following Discovery, there are other options—an “Exploring Christianity” class, for one.)

The purpose of Discovery is for newcomers to “discover” what Central is about, for us at Central to get to know newcomers, and as a springboard either to Membership or Exploring Christianity (or to simply continuing to visit). Discovery is designed to help someone answer the question, “Do I want to explore membership in Central Presbyterian Church?” And the four classes, after the first introductory one, will be directed at these three questions:

  • Am I a believer in Christ? (the gospel)
  • What are the theological foundations of Central? (brief distinctives)
  • Would Central be a good church home for me? (brief who-what-why-where-when-how of Central Church)

Discovery will be team-taught by Robbie Griggs and Bob Mark.

Membership will be eight weeks of more in-depth teaching on theological distinctives of Central, followed by two weeks for membership interviews and joining the church. Membership will be taught by Robbie Griggs.

Each Discovery class starts with a Friday evening dinner preceding the first Sunday morning class, and there will be a good bit of fellowship/discussion built in to the four weeks of Discovery; Membership will involve some discussion time during each class period. The Discovery class periods will also include a short personal testimony given by one of the people involved in the Discovery/Membership/Discipleship ministry.

The next sessions will be as follows:

Fall 2010 class
Friday August 27--Discovery dinner, 6:30 p.m., parlor
Sunday morning Discovery classes--August 29, September 12, 19, 26
Membership Sunday mornings--October 3, 10, 17, 24, 31, November 7, 14, 21, December 5, 12 (no class November 28--Thanksgiving)
Membership dinners of eight--Saturday October 16, 6:30 p.m., in member-host homes
Discipleship by Design presentation--Sunday morning November 21 (Membership 8)
Elder interviews--Saturday morning December 4
Joining Sunday--December 12 (Membership 10)