New Member Assimilation Page 1 of 2 C-30

“Assimilation” is the process of affirming the church's doctrines and family in its care to help them feel responsibility. Of course,
bringing people into the life of a in participating in worship, but also in welcome. “everybody's responsibility” can
group. When new members are accepting and being part of the total New members quickly discover the easily become nobody's, or only the
assimilated into your church, they life of the community of faith. smaller groups within churches where pastor's. Few newcomers leap into the
feel a part of the church and begin to Assimilation occurs not when people interaction, service, common interest unknown easily. You must provide
experience the church's traditions are attend church services and events, nor and belonging seem to occur: choirs; entry points. Here are some
their own. They feel the ties that bind even when they join the church by boards; committees; teams and suggestions of ways to do that:
them in the common identity of your confessing or reaffirming a organizations of women, men, youth, • Assigning to one group or
church, and old members accept and commonly held faith. It happens couples and singles; or devotional committee the responsibility of
appreciate them. For people to be when they feel that they belong, and and study groups. Such small groups planning ways to assimilate new
truly assimilated, both the old and the become fully accepted and active can be major positive factors in members.
new members of the church must feel parts of the body. This is an ongoing assimilation. Sometimes they become • Assigning to one group or
that the new members “belong”. All and dynamic process and may take principal deterrents, because it is committee the responsibility of
members are then bonded together in different forms. It once took place difficult for new people to break into assuring that visitors are welcomed,
their commitment to Christ and by the because people grew up in a church, these close-knit small groups. Some helped to feel comfortable, and
traditions of your church. and its traditions were their traditions. churches have discovered that one encouraged to return.
Today, because people move way to help people feel they belong is • Giving new membership kits with
frequently, reaching out, recruiting to have them share in a task. The information on the history, beliefs,
History and and receiving new members is church's mission becomes their own mission and opportunities for
essential. Then new arrivals must be as they work toward it. One task in study, service and companionship
Background woven into the fabric of the church's which some churches involve new in the church.
The assimilation of members into the community. members is ushering where they meet • Preparing a brochure or flyer with
Christian community has been a many members. information for visitors about the
challenge from the beginning. Paul You can begin discovering how church.
chastised the Corinthians for their Common Practices well people are assimilated in your • Conducting orientation sessions for
divided loyalties and failure to “be Some churches feel that a friendly church by considering whether there new or prospective members with
united in the same mind and the same greeting to first-time visitors or new are any people who have joined the the church's staff and a wide range
purpose” in the company of Christ (1 members is all it takes. It is then up to church in the last year who attend of committed lay leaders, who
Corinthians 1:10-17). Through much the newcomers to keep on coming worship services, but aren't otherwise share their dreams for the church.
of the church's history people were involved in the church's life. Are
considered assimilated by being of
and to participate. Most churches do • Matching each new member or
more. They have guest books or there people who have joined, but family with a sponsor from within
“the same mind and judgment” attendance cards for newcomers. who really never became active? It
doctrinally and by participating in the the congregation who invites and
Many churches place an attendance may be that these people have a sense brings the new member to church
worship and rites of their tradition sheet in each pew for everyone to of belonging from their participation
without deviating into heresy. activities, checks on and tries to
sign, hoping that newcomers will get in worship, but if that is a pattern, meet the new person's needs or
In the recent American Protestant to know the names of other members people probably aren't feeling fully
tradition, however, the church has family's needs, and is on hand at
too. They may use name badges for apart of the church’s life. church activities for introductions.
emerged as an organization with
education, service and programs of
all who attend. Some churches have a • Posting photographs and
plan for telephone calls and visits by biographical sketches of the new
ministry extending far beyond its members. Some have a plan for Responsibilities people for others to see.
central life of worship. So members familiar with the church's Helping new members become part
assimilation comes not only in activities to take a new member's of the church's life is everybody's
 New Member Assimilation Page 2 of 2 C-30
• Using the newsletter as a way to and a way to match skills with 800 537-3394. See also resources participation without making
introduce new members to the positions. for Congregational Vitality. people feel it is mandatory?
church family. • Designing and sustaining small • Read Assimilating New Members • Our churches have people from
• Using nametags for all church groups for nurture through study, by Lyle Schaller (Nashville, TN: diverse religious backgrounds.
activities. prayer and personal sharing. Give Abingdon, 1978) for practical How can people be assimilated into
• Nominating new people to boards everyone an opportunity to be part ideas. belief systems as well as activities
and committees. of a small group, not just those who • Find out what the fastest-growing and worship? How might you
• Using photograph albums of the can sing or play sports. churches in your conference do. modify worship or activities to be
church family as a way for new- • Making certain that announcements • Remember what it was like to be more broadly inclusive while
comers to put names with faces. are easily understood. Especially be new and what helped you most. maintaining the core traditions of
• Planning a time at each church wary of using abbreviations and • Learn what experiences others have your congregation?
function for community building first names only, which can make had and build on them, too. • What are some of the challenges
activities that help everyone know new people feel left out. associated with assimilation of
one another better. • Making sure people don't feel left diverse traditions and cultures into
• Planning activities that focus on out because of barriers preventing Issues Facing the the life of your church? How might
new members: a new member at access by people with disabilities they be overcome?
each table at a potluck meal, an or barriers caused by racism, Church
open house where representatives sexism, ageism or cultural • The purpose of assimilation is not
of organizations explain their assumptions, such as speaking as if to make new people just like others Questions
purpose, or recognition of new everyone is part of a nuclear in the church. How can your church • What is assimilation?
members at an annual meeting. family. incorporate people into its • How can you tell whether members
• Providing position descriptions • Providing opportunities for new traditions, yet be open to new are well assimilated into your
telling duties, accountability, members to serve ex officio on any ideas? church?
training available, and support for board for one year. • Not only visitors and new members • What does your church do now to
each volunteer position in the • Periodically bringing people need assimilation. Sometimes help people become part of the
church. While people who have together and asking what people whose situation has church family?
been around a while may know all membership means and how their changed, such as newly widowed • What is one thing your church
the ropes, your ways of doing experiences could be strengthened. or divorced person, someone who could start doing that it isn't doing
things may not be so clear to new marries a non-member or one who now?
has new religious beliefs, find they
members. • Did these suggestions give you any
• Keeping a card on new members Ways to Increase need to become a part of the whole
ideas of ways you could improve
through their first year in the in new ways. How can you
Skills, Knowledge and the way old members feel they
congregation, recording recognize these people and make
belong? If so, what might you do?
participation in worship, groups Effectiveness them feel they belong?
• Not every church member wants to
and special activities, expressed or • Use Evangelism and Membership
revealed needs and how the church be part of everything, but some
Growth Resources from the
met them. churches may give the impression
Evangelism Ministry Team of
• Having a volunteer ministry that members and friends are not
Local Church Ministries. See
program that includes a way to fully apart of the church unless
resources at www.ucc.org; order © 2005, Parish Life and Leadership Ministry
discover skills, knowledge and they participate in certain Team of Local Church Ministries, a
from United Church of Christ
ways people want to participate, “standard” ways. How can you Covenanted Ministry of the United Church of
Resources. Telephone, toll-free, Christ
make certain doors are open for