Church Membership

It is assumed that the kind of faculty members attracted to Bethel will soon become active members of local churches. It is sometimes easy for those engaged in professional Christian service of a general nature to lose their sense of responsibility to a local church. At Bethel, we believe that we can make our best contribution to the total Christian cause by identifying ourselves actively with a local church and practicing good churchmanship. This should include some area of specific service, whenever possible, as well as regular worship. Our daily work, even when performed in a Christian institution, cannot substitute for that any more than the daily work of other Christians.

Full-time teachers at all campuses of Bethel Seminary are required to hold membership in churches of the Baptist General Conference/Converge Worldwide, unless exception is granted by the Executive Committee of the Board of Trustees, upon recommendation of the President. Greater latitude is practiced in the College of Arts & Sciences, College of Adult & Professional Studies, and Graduate School, but all Baptist teachers are urged strongly to consider affiliation with one of the churches of the Baptist General Conference/Converge Worldwide. This not only strengthens the school’s relationship to its supporting constituency but also makes it easier for Bethel's influence to be felt directly in the churches and the denomination.

Office of the Provost