All persons are welcomed into membership who sincerely desire to be saved from their sins through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and show the same in life and conduct,and who seek to have communion with Christ Himself and His people by taking up the duties and priviledges relating to membership in the Methodist Church. MSCA Laws and Discipline para 3.2
WHAT METHODISTS BELIEVE.
Methodism has its place in the family of Christian Churches throughout the world. It shares the basic tenets of the faith common to Christians and in its professions of faith found in the Laws &Discipline of the Methodist Church of Southern Africa (11th Ed) it states:-
METHODISM AND THE CHURCH UNIVERSAL
The Church is the company of the disciples of Jesus,consisting of those who confess Him as their Saviour and Lord,love one another and unite with those who serve the coming of His Rule on earth. These constitute the family of the redeemed children of God,who in the New Testament are described as ‘Believers’,‘People of God’ and ‘Christians’.
The Methodist Church throughout the world confesses the Headship of our Lord Jesus Christ,acknowledges the Divine revelation recorded in Holy Scriptures as the supreme rule of faith and practice,rejoices in the inheritance of the Apostolic Faith,and loyally accepts the fundamental principles of the historic Creeds and of the Protestant Reformation.
As can be seen from the above there is no laissez – faire,believe as you please attitude in our Church.
We believe that humankind is lost in sin and selfish indulgence,we believe that the Triune creator God loves his creation and is not content to leave His creation in this lost state and that (He) has created a way out of the quagmire of sin through the sacrificial work of Jesus on the Cross of Calvary. All who trust in and believe on his finished work of salvation shall not die eternally but have everlasting life.
John Wesley insisted that the people called Methodist be Homo Unius Libri – People of one Book – The Bible. Such people do not question and endlessly debate the existence of a tri-une creator God. Such people do not question and endlessly debate on the fallibility or inspiration of Scripture. Such people do not argue about the probability of the Virgin birth,or the sex of God. Such people have had for the last three hundred years a burning zeal for lost souls,a desire to uplift the poor and downfallen,and to be an instrument of Scriptural Holiness in the world. These are our Methodist roots,and woe to us if we forget them….
At our meeting in January 2010 the leaders agreed that we adopt the following procedure for those wishing to join this church:-
Membership enquiry forms are available in the foyer. We ask for these to be filled in and handed in at the office. A leader will contact you,at one of the phone numbers you provide us with,to set up an appointment at a time that suits you both. They will provide the necessary forms and details of the orientation classes to be attended. We are holding 2 two hour sessions three times in the year and at the conclusion of this course we will recognise new members at the Sunday service.
This procedure will be strictly adhered to. Please note that only members can avail themselves of the privileges of membership.
