7
Conditions for Membership

in NCCG & MLT Second Edition (December 2009)

1. A person wishing to become a member of the New Covenant Church of God/B'rit Chadashah Assembly of Yahweh must apply to the Pastor of a local colony/assembly, a traveling evangelist or apostle if there is no fully organised assembly/colony in his region, and fulfill the following conditions:

• 1. He must have been truly born again of the Ruach haQodesh/Holy Spirit (Jn.3:3-8; 1 Pet.1:23), accepting Yah'shua the Messiah/Jesus Christ as his personal and only Saviour (Ac.13:23; Eph.5:23; Phil.3:20; 1 Tim.1:1; 2 Tim.1:10; Tit.1:4; 2:13; 2 Pet.1:11), and have a fixed and immovable desire to walk in obedience to all the commandments (Mt.5:19; 19:17; Jn.14:15) and live in the holiness of the Master Yah'shua/Jesus (Rom.6:22; 1 Cor.1:30; 2 Cor.1:12; 7:1; Eph.4:22-24; 1 Tim.2: 2,15; Heb.12:10,14);
• 2. He must have repented of - and be in the continuous daily lifestyle process of repenting of - all known transgressions against the Torah/Law of Messiah (Mt.3:2; Mk.1:15; 6:12; Lk.13:3,5; 15:7; 17:4; Ac.2:38; 3:19; 17:30; 26:20; 2 Cor.12:21; Rev.2:5,16; 3:3,19; 9:21) and made whatever restitution he can for wrong-doing to others (Ex.22:3,5-6,11-12,14; Lev.5:16; 6:5; 24:18; Num.5:7-8);
• 3. He must be baptised into the Master Yah'shua the Messiah/Lord Jesus Christ and into the New Covenant of Messianic Israel (Mk.16:16) by full immersion in water (Jn.3:23; Mt.3:6,16; Ac.8:36-38) by the Pastor, one of the Zaqenim/Elders of the local Colony, an Evangelist, his local Bishop, or the local Apostle, who shall, dressed in white clothing (if possible) (Rev.3:4,18; 6:11; 7:9,13-14; 19:14), first pray to the Lord and then:
  • 3.1. Address the candidate before the witnesses present, and ask: "Have you truly repented of all your sins?" If the candidate replies, "Yes", with a pure conscience, a broken heart and a contrite spirit, the Zaqen/Elder shall ask: "Are you willing to take upon yourself the Name of Yah'shua the Messiah/Jesus Christ, having a determination to serve Him to the end?" (1 Pet.4:14; 1 Thes.1:9; Mt.24:13; Heb.6:11; Rev. 2:26) If the candidate replies, "Yes", he will be invited to bear his testimony of the Messiah Yah'shua and of his call to be a covenant part of Messianic Israel before the congregation. The congregation will then be invited to receive the candidate into fellowship as a baptised member by a simple show of hands. If there is any objection, a discrete enquiry will be made until all are satisfied. If there are no objections:
  • 3.2. The administrating Elder shall stand in the water with the candidate, and with upraised right hand, say: "Having been commissioned by Yah'shua the Messiah/Jesus Christ, I baptise you into the Messiah Yah'shua and into the New Covenant of Messianic Israel in the Name of the Father Yahweh, and of the Son Yah'shua, and of the [Sevenfold] Ruach haQodesh/Holy Spirit. Amen" (Mt.28:19), and then fully immerse the candidate (NC&C 135);

• 4. He must have reached the age of accountability, be able to discern between good and evil, and be able to make a conscious decision for Messiah/Christ (NC&C 295; Phil.1:10). Children less than 8 years old who are capable of making a reasoned decision for Messiah/Christ shall not normally be accepted as baptismal candidates without a special dispensation from the local Bishop or, in his absence, the local Apostle (NC&C 185).
• 5. Baptisms by immersion performed by ministers of other denominations shall be considered as valid baptisms into Christ and into the covenants of that part of the Body of Christ into which they were formerly baptised, but such baptisms shall not be considered valid for membership in Messianic Israel which also requires a covenant to be Torah-obedient (observing the weekly solar Sabbath, Seven Annual Festivals, to wear tzitzit (men) and head-coverings (women), Yahweh's Kashrut dietary laws, etc.).
• 6. In common with the practice of the sub-apostolic Assembly of Yahweh/Church of God, when the Body of Messiah/Christ was no longer one owing to various schisms, a candidate shall not be admitted to the ordinance of baptism until he has acquired a basic knowledge of the Gospel (Mt.13:11; Phil.1:9; Col.1:10; 1 Tim.2:4; 2 Tim.2: 25; 2 Pet.1:5; 3:18) and has obtained a testimony from the Ruach haQodesh/Holy Spirit that he has been called into this part (NCCG/MLT) of the Messianic Community (Jn.3:11; 1 Jn.5:9).
  • 6.1. Those earnestly seeking to do these things may be admitted as catechumens or investigating members (the first of three stages of membership) by enrolling in the School of Goyim {Catechumens} where they are taught the tenets of the Apostles' Creed (see §D). The duration of instruction will depend on their individual backgrounds and understanding.
  • 6.2. The ordinance of baptism represents the second stage of membership in Messianic Israel as a fellowship, covenant community and organisation, and is the seal of the covenant of discipleship, which is that the candidate shall take upon himself the Name of Messiah/Christ and seek to be obedient to all of Messiah's/Christ's commandments (New Covenant Torah) with all his mind, might and strength.

• 7. The ordinance of confirmation or Chrism (which follows baptism) (Ac.8:14-17; 19:1-6) and the sacrament of the Lord's Supper (Ac.2:42; 20:7) are not administered immediately after baptism but are subject to the fulfilment of other conditions that follow;
• 8. The candidate must make a public declaration of his faith in, and commitment to, the Master Yah'shua the Messiah/Lord Jesus Christ, testify that Yahweh has personally called him into this part of Messianic Israel (NCCG/MLT), and promise to uphold the latest edition of the Constitution, be obedient to its statutes and his Pastor, his local Bishop, the Local Apostle responsible for his colony, and directives given by the Patriarchate, as a condition of his membership;
• 9. He must remove his name from the records of all other church or religious organisations (i.e. cancel his membership therein) and give his whole allegiance to NCCG/MLT (Ac.20:28);
• 10. A child or youth under the government of his parents who are in opposition to his being baptised should carefully weigh up all considerations and act according to the commandments, his conscience, and the personal revelation of Yahweh to him (Ac.11:14; 16:15,31,33; 18:8; 1 Cor.1:16; 16:15).
• 11. Any man or woman complying with these requirements shall be considered a probationary (baptised) member of this Messianic Community in good standing.

A person wishing to become a full member of NCCG/MLT by being confirmed (chrismed) and by actively participating in the Lord's Supper (NC&C 135), and thus qualify for eventual Priesthood Ordination must fulfil the following requirements:

• 1. He must demonstrate that he has been walking in holiness (set-apartness) and purity before Yahweh and the members of his local Colony for a minimum of one year from the time he became a regularly enrolled as an active catechumen, and have set a good example as a Christian to the world (NC&C 201; Heb.12:14);
• 2. He must be able to demonstrate that he has made good progress in mastering his senses and passions, treating his body like a Temple of Yahweh (1 Cor.3:16-17, 19; Gal.5:24; Tit.2:12; 3:3), in that:
  • 2.a. He has not smoked tobacco for one year;
  • 2.b. He has not drunk alcohol for one year (NC&C 9);
  • 2.c. He has not drunk caffeinated tea or coffee for one year, and is not addicted to other caffeinated substancess like cola or chocolate ("tea" does not include non-addictive herbal teas);
  • 2.d. He is not addicted to any drug or chemical substance and has been free from them for a minimum of one year;
  • 2.e. He has been morally clean and chaste and has lived a sexually pure life for a minimum of one year, being true to his marriage covenants in thought and deed, or being celibate in heart and body if he is single (Mt.5:8; 2 Cor.11:2; Phil.1:10; 2:15; 4:8; Tit.1:15);
  • 2.f. He is trustworthy, holding peoples' confidences, is not a gossipper (i.e. shuns Lashon Hara), and does not talk indiscriminately to others about sacred matters or about others' private lives (Ex.18:21; Prov.13:17; Lk.19:17; Rom.1:29; 2 Cor.12:30; 1 Tim.3:11; 5:13; NC&C 269);
  • 2.g. He has been a good steward over his resources, giving generously to Yahweh's treasury and is willing to faithfully live the Law of Tithing (2 Cor.9:7; Ps.37:26; 112:5; Prov.11:25; 22:9; 2 Cor.9:11; 1 Tim.6:18; Mk.12:41-44);
  • 2.h. He must be seen to be a true and faithful servant to the local Assembly/Colony of which he is a member, supporting and upholding those in authority over him in love (Lk.2:51; Ac.6:7; 2 Cor.2:9; 7:15; 10:5; Phil 2:8; Tit.3:1; 1 Pet.1:14);
  • 2.i. He must be seen not to be contentious and argumentative, but meek and humble in all things (Mt.5:5; 11:29; 18:4; 23:13; Eph.4:2; Phil.2:8; Jas. 4:10; 1 Pet.3:8; 5:5-6);
  • 2.j. He must accept all the Laws of Zion, including her strict courtship and marriage laws and practices, which follow a three-fold unfolding called Dedication (NC&C 197; 284) (equivalent to "engagement", which is a declaration of intent), Betrothal (binding marriage contracts without sexual contact -- NC&C 174) and Full Marriage (NC&C 78);
  • 2.k. He must complete, if physically and mentally able to, the School of Israel course, Foundational Studies of the Bible, understand and accept all the principles therein, be firmly grounded in its doctrine, and be able to show his pastor his completed work booklets (2 Tim.2:15);
  • 2.l. If a woman, she must have consistently observed the apostolic regulation to wear a head-covering in public meetings when praying or prophesying and generally in public (NC&C 6; 1 Cor.11:1-16) (received by girls at the age of 12 at Bat Mitzvah) as a sign of her submission to her husband (whether she wears this at home shall be decided by her husband) or father (if she is unmarried); if a man, he must have consistently observed the Torah regulation to wear tzitzit (tassels) in public (received by boys at the age of 12 at Bar Mitzvah) as a sign of his submission to Yahweh's Torah (Num.15:37-41; Dt.22:12; Mt.9:20; 14:36) and to his father before he is married;
  • 2.m. He must have demonstrated cleanliness in mind, heart, and body, having also a clean and orderly home (NC&C 30; Rev.15:6; 19:8,14);
  • 2.n. He must have observed the apostolic regulations governing hair (NC&C 71; 1 Cor.11:6,14-15) and dress (NC&C 5; 1 Tim.2:9; 1 Pet.3:3-5);
  • 2.o. He must have satisfied his teacher(s) in the Sabbath School(s) of which he is a member that he has a mature doctrinal understanding of what confirmation (Chrism) and partaking of the Lord's Supper means (NC&C 135; 1 Tim.4:16; 6:3-4; 2 Tim.4:3; Tit.1:9; 2:1);
  • 2.p. She, if married, must be submissive to her husband in Torah-righteousness (1 Pet.3:5-6; Eph.5:22-23) and he, if married, must show respect for his wife (1 Pet.3:7) and love her (Eph.5:25,28,33);
  • 2.q. If he has children, he must demonstrate that he is teaching them to obey him in Torah-righteousness (Eph.6:1; Col.3:20; 1 Tim.3:4);
  • 2.r. He must demonstrate that he is living in harmony with his brethren and sisters in Messiah/Christ in mutual submission to the truth in compassion and humility (1 Pet.3:8; Eph.3:18; Col.3:12-14);
  • 2.s. He should be bringing forth an important fruit of Christian discipleship, viz. a loving and warm heart mingled with generosity of spirit (NC&C 298; Heb.13:1; 2 Cor.8:2; 9:11);
  • 2.t. He must have obtained the spirit of hospitality, being eager to share the fellowship of his home with his brethren and sisters in the covenant (Rom.12:13; 1 Tim.5:10; 1 Pet.4:9; NC&C 342; 3 Jn.1:8; Ac.16:15);
  • 2.u. In short, he must have been a probationary member in good standing in his local assembly/colony for a minimum of one year since the day he enrolled as a catechumen (1 Thes.3:8; 1 Pet.5:9).

• 3. A probationary member having fulfilled these conditions may approach his Pastor for an interview. He will be interviewed by his local Pastorate. If the Pastorate judges him worthy, he will (if possible) be referred to his Bishop where he will be interviewed again by the Bishopric (1 Cor.3:13; 1 Tim.3:10; Rev.2:2; 2 Cor.2:9; 8:8; 13:5-6; Gal.6:4). If found worthy, he will be called to give a further public testimony and may then be confirmed (chrismed) by the laying on of hands (Ac.8:18-19; 1 Tim.5:22; 2 Tim.1:6; Heb.6:2) by his local Bishop before an assembly of his local colony and participate in the weekly (or monthly) Lord's Supper. (In the absence of a Bishop he will be confirmed by an Evangelist, Apostle, Missioner, or local Pastor, depending on the organisational status of the Colony of which he is a member).

Note: MLT (Mischpachah Lev-Tsiyon) is distinguished from NCCG/BCAY (New Covenant Church of God/B'rit Chadashah Assembly of Yahweh) as a voluntary fellowship under higher covenants living together having all things in common in proto-Firstborn communities separated from the world - members of NCCG/BCAY live in their own homes in cities, towns and villages in the world under their own private economic management. Membership in an MLT community is not normally granted until adequate testing has taken place in an NCCG/BCAY local assembly/colony to determine worthiness over an extended period of time. A minuimum requirement for entry is usually that an applicant from NCCG/BCAY has served faithfully for a minimum of on year as a Deacon or Deaconess, possesses a pastoral recommendation and has served for a probationary period (usually a minimum of one year) in an MLT community.

Further Reading

{1] How Do I Join ME? Advice for Seekers after Truth