We are so excited to know that you are considering committing to Northside through membership. We hope the following information helps you understand what it means to be a member of Northside, and that you feel the freedom to ask any questions you may have as you go through it.

Why Membership Matters

Membership is an expression of your desire to make Northside Church your “home” Church.  As such, it carries particular significance in the following ways:

• It speaks of your commitment to pray for and seek God’s best for Northside. 

• It is a public commitment indicating your desire to be actively involved in the ministry of Northside. 

• It expresses the desire to follow Jesus as well as the importance of being a part of His family. 

• It promotes the sort of agreement and relationship within the Church that we believe the Bible calls us toward. 

• It is a genuine encouragement to the Church body and leadership when someone joins the Church in this way.

• It allows you (if you are 16 or older) to vote on some of the most important aspects at Northside as outlined in Northside’s bylaws. 

• It shows your agreement with the major beliefs and priorities of Northside (please see essential truths (northside-albany.com/about). 

Requirements of Membership

Membership means we share a common faith and have basic agreement on the beliefs, practices, philosophies, and direction of Northside. We hope the following requirements for membership help you understand key values we believe Northside members should hold in common. 

• A Personal relationship with Jesus Christ by faith. We believe that members should always be considering these five areas of their relationship with Jesus. 

  • Understanding our need for Jesus. This means having an accurate understanding of what sin is and does in our lives as well as understanding that it is what Jesus has done that leads us to true forgiveness, restoration, and reconciliation with God. 

  • Inviting Jesus into our everyday lives. This means growing in our desire and ability to allow Jesus to be the Lord of our life, giving Him the proper authority in our lives. 

  • A desire to grow in our relationship with Him. We believe that investing in our relationship with Jesus is important. Northside provides several resources that can help, but we as individuals should take on the appropriate ownership of our faith. 

  • Learning more and more about what it means to follow Jesus as the Lord of our life. 

  • Growing in our understanding of God’s Word and the role it should play in the life of a believer. We don’t simply hear God’s word, we strive to obey it. 

• Baptism by Immersion. We believe that this is the biblical precedent and that it embodies significant symbolism intended by God both for the benefit of those being baptized and for those who are there in support. If you have not yet been baptized by immersion, this does not preclude you from becoming a member, providing you commit to being baptized at an upcoming Baptism Sunday. 

• Belief that the Bible is the Word of God. We believe that the Bible is wholly and completely the Word of God and is God’s revelation to us. 

• The willingness to make a membership commitment at Northside Church. This happens after a season of attending Northside (allowing you to get to know the Church and the Church to know you). It involves reading through the membership document, and statement of faith, and having a conversation with a Northside staff member. We also would love to put up a picture of you/your family before or after a service to share with the Church the great news of your membership with the Church body. 

We believe that God created and designed us to live within a relationship with Him and that so much of what God has for us is not just on the other side of this life, but lived out in the here and now. No one does it perfectly. But we believe that in seeking Him, God uses those struggles to shape and form us more into His likeness. Our desire is that Northside is a place that is safe to honestly seek God, where it’s okay to ask honest questions from honest hearts, and where we honestly seek His direction/design for our life.  

Responsibilities of a Member

Northside's membership responsibilities are not intended to be taken as a rigorous code of conduct. Rather, we believe this leads to and reflects the fullness and freedom that God has desired for us from the very beginning. These are not just things God expects from us, but things that God desires FOR us. We believe these responsibilities are rooted in scripture and are given for your personal benefit, the benefit of His Church, and of the world around us. As part of your desire to follow Jesus and to be a part of His Church (body/bride), we would expect members to agree to the following:

• A commitment to spiritual growth.

  • “But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.” (2 Peter 3:18)

• A commitment to respect and speak well of Northside’s leadership.

  • “Obey your leaders and submit to their authority. They keep watch over you as men who must give an account. Obey them so that their work will be a joy, not a burden, for that would be of no advantage to you.” (Hebrews 13:17)

• A commitment to regular attendance.

  • “Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another — and all the more as you see the Day approaching.” (Hebrews 10:25)

• A commitment to service as the Lord directs inside and outside of the Church.

  • “Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others.” (1 Peter 4:10)

• A commitment to speak well of the Church to others.

  • “Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.” (Ephesians 4:29)

• A commitment to Christian principles of life.

  • “Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ.” (Philippians 1:27)

• A commitment to support the Church financially as God directs.

  • “Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.” (2 Corinthians 9:7)

• A commitment to encourage others to be a part of the Northside family and to welcome those who do come to Northside. 

  • “Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God.” (Romans 15:7)

• A commitment to live our lives on mission wherever we are. 

  • “Devote yourselves to prayer with an alert mind and a thankful heart. Pray for us, too, that God will give us many opportunities to speak about his mysterious plan concerning Christ. That is why I am here in chains. Pray that I will proclaim this message as clearly as I should. Live wisely among those who are not believers, and make the most of every opportunity. Let your conversation be gracious and attractive so that you will have the right response for everyone.” (Colossians 4:2–6) 

Northside’s Purpose

Northside exists to help people experience all that God has for them by helping them identify and take steps in what we believe are three of the most important relationships we have. 

• Our relationship with Christ

• Our relationship with His Church

• Our relationship with our community (and beyond)