Explore Membership at First Baptist
This could be your church home.
Membership at First Baptist is not about joining a club or signing a contract. It is about making a home — choosing a community to belong to, to be known by, and to be accountable to over time. It is the difference between attending a congregation and being part of one.
We are a Baptist congregation in the heart of the nation's capital, and we know that life in Washington is transient by nature. Careers move people here and move them on. We hold that reality honestly. But we also believe that while you are here — whether for two years or twenty — you deserve a genuine spiritual home. And we would be honored to be that for you.
— Romans 12:5 | "So we, who are many, are one body in Christ, and individually we are members one of another."
WHO MEMBERSHIP IS FOR
A covenant, not a transaction
Membership at First Baptist is for those who consider this their primary church home and are ready to enter fully into the covenant life, mission, and leadership of this congregation. That is a meaningful commitment — and it is also an invitation into something genuinely rich.
People come to us at different stages of their faith journey and with different histories. Some arrive with deep roots in another tradition. Some are returning to church after years away. Some are exploring Christian community for the first time. Wherever you are, you are welcome here — and if you are ready to call this home, we are ready to welcome you as a member.
Membership is not a prerequisite for belonging. You can participate fully in worship, small groups, and the life of this community before you ever become a member. But for those who are ready, membership is a meaningful next step — a public, communal expression of commitment to this particular body of Christ.
HOW TO JOIN
Three paths to membership
New members are welcomed into the life of First Baptist by any of the following paths. All are equally valid expressions of faith and commitment.
PATH ONE
Profession of faith and baptism
For those making a first public commitment to follow Jesus. First Baptist baptizes new Christ-followers by immersion during a Sunday worship service.
PATH TWO
Transfer of letter
For those who are already members of another Christian church and wish to transfer their membership to First Baptist.
PATH THREE
Statement of previous baptism
For those who have been baptized previously and wish to unite with this congregation on the basis of that prior commitment. First Baptist welcomes all forms of baptism as a sign of faith.
New members are received through congregational affirmation — ordinarily by a public welcome during Sunday worship. We also introduce new members through the weekly newsletter and other communication channels, so the whole congregation can celebrate with you.
WHAT MEMBERSHIP MEANS
The calling of a member
Membership is not primarily about what you receive — it is about what you give. Members of First Baptist are called to:
Uphold the church covenant — the shared commitments that bind us to one another and to God
Participate fully in the life of the congregation — in worship, community, and service
Support the mission and ministry of the church through time, gifts, and financial resources
Participate in congregational discernment and decision-making, including our congregational meetings
These are not burdens — they are the practices that make a community real. We invite you into something more than attendance.
A NOTE ON DC LIFE
Ties you don't have to relinquish
We understand the particular rhythm of life in Washington. People arrive from somewhere, build lives here, and — sometimes — move on. We also know that the bonds formed in a faith community don't simply dissolve when someone moves away.
Membership at First Baptist does not require you to formally relinquish ties to a previous congregation in another state or country. We honor the relationships and roots you carry with you. What we ask is that while you are here, you are present, invested, and part of this community's life and work.
FULL PARTICIPATION
Every member, without exception
First Baptist DC welcomes people of every race, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, marital status, age, physical and mental ability, national origin, economic station, and political ideology to full participation in the life of this community — including all the ordinances, blessings, and responsibilities of membership.
That means communion, baptism, marriage, ordination, parent and child dedications, and all offices and positions of leadership are open to every member, without exception. We mean that. Fully.
NEXT STEPS
Ready to explore?
The first step is simply a conversation. We invite anyone interested in membership to meet with one of our pastors or attend a gathering for newcomers. These are not membership classes in disguise — they are honest conversations about faith, community, and whether First Baptist might be home for you.