Covenant Membership Overview
This page provides an overview of what it means to be a covenant member at The Table NYC. Membership at our church is not just about attendance—it’s a commitment to growing in faith, living in community, and participating in the mission of Jesus.
1. What is Membership?
A Commitment to Belonging
Membership at our church is a commitment to be part of a spiritual family—a local expression of the body of Christ where we worship, grow, serve, and live out the mission of Jesus together.
First, we want to acknowledge that stepping into Covenant Membership is a meaningful and important decision. It’s not simply about attending The Table NYC—it’s about committing to a spiritual family, a shared life of discipleship, and an intentional way of living out the mission of Jesus together.
Acts 2:42-47 gives us a picture of the early church:
"They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer... And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved."
The early church wasn’t just a gathering—it was a way of life. Membership at The Table NYC reflects this model, where we take responsibility for one another in community.
Why Membership Now?
As an Affiliate church within the Christian and Missionary Alliance (C&MA), The Table NYC is at a pivotal moment in its development. Membership clarifies who is committed to growing, serving, and leading together as we advance the mission of the church.
Matthew 28:18-20 reminds us of our mission:
"Then Jesus came to them and said, ‘All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.’"
2. Shared Theology: Rooted in the C&MA
The Christian and Missionary Alliance
The C&MA is a Christ-centered movement of over six million people worldwide, committed to bringing the good news of Jesus to neighborhoods and nations.
Acts 1:8 outlines this mission:
"But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth."
The Fourfold Gospel
Jesus as Savior
Romans 10:9 states:
"If you declare with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved."
Salvation is a gift from God that calls us to repentance and transformation.
Jesus as Sanctifier
1 Thessalonians 5:23-24 reminds us that God is actively sanctifying us:
"May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ."
At The Table NYC, sanctification means committing to ongoing growth, walking in spiritual disciplines, and allowing Christ to refine us.
Jesus as Healer
James 5:14-15 highlights God’s power to heal:
"Is anyone among you sick? Let them call the elders of the church to pray over them and anoint them with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well."
We believe Jesus meets us in our brokenness, offering wholeness and renewal.
Jesus as Coming King
Revelation 22:12 states:
"Look, I am coming soon!"
This hope shapes our mission, reminding us that our lives are part of God’s greater redemption story.
3. Shared Leadership: Contributing to the Mission
Leadership Structure at The Table NYC
Leadership at The Table NYC is not about hierarchy—it is about equipping and empowering every believer to step into their role in the body of Christ.
The church is currently led by our pastors and is moving toward a shared eldership model as it grows.
Leadership is not top-down—it is collaborative and participatory.
Members play a vital role in supporting the mission, providing feedback, and ensuring accountability.
What Membership Involves
As a member of The Table NYC, you commit to:
Spiritual Growth & Discipleship: Being formed in the way of Jesus through teaching, prayer, and study.
Serving & Generosity: Using your time, talents, and resources to build up the church and serve the city.
Engaging in Decision-Making Conversations: While members do not vote on denominational matters (since we are an Affiliate church), they contribute to the direction and health of the church.
Holding Leadership Accountable: Ensuring that the church remains biblically faithful, missionally engaged, and relationally healthy.
While membership does not require total agreement on all doctrinal matters, leadership at The Table NYC does require a level of theological alignment—particularly in areas of teaching, pastoral care, and discipleship.
Elders, pastors, and other leadership positions require:
Commitment to the theological convictions of The Table NYC and the C&MA.
A willingness to teach, shepherd, and lead in ways that align with those convictions.
A life of spiritual maturity and integrity, consistent with biblical leadership qualifications.
Affiliate Church Distinctions
The Table NYC is an affiliate church plant of the Christian & Missionary Alliance.
This means:
We align with the C&MA’s theological framework, including the Fourfold Gospel (Jesus as Savior, Sanctifier, Healer, and Coming King), but operate with local governance.
We participate in the mission of the C&MA, particularly in global missions and leadership development.
We receive support, accountability, and spiritual covering through our pastoral licensing with the C&MA (Our pastors—Macho & Erica—are licensed with the C&MA).
Members do not vote on district or denominational matters but contribute locally.
At the same time:
The Table NYC manages our day-to-day decisions and retains its individual church culture and community ethos.
Membership at The Table NYC is distinct from membership in the C&MA. Becoming a member of The Table NYC is you committing to this local church community.
4. Shared Practices: Living in Rhythm Together
At our church, faith is lived out through three key rhythms:
Communion (with God)
John 15:4-5 reminds us:
"Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me."
We cultivate Communion through:
Sunday Worship: A space for teaching, prayer, and worship.
Spiritual Practices: Prayer, fasting, Sabbath, and Scripture engagement.
Community (with Others)
Ephesians 2:19-22 speaks of being "members of God's household." We live this out through:
Sunday Dinner: A shared meal where relationships are deepened.
Shared Life & Hospitality: Practicing generosity and relational health.
Commission (with Neighbors)
Jeremiah 29:7 urges us to seek the peace and prosperity of the city. We engage in:
Serve Sundays & Outreach: Meeting practical needs in our community.
Global Mission: Supporting international workers through the C&MA’s Great Commission Fund.
5. Shared Ethics: Walking in Integrity
Faithfulness in Relationships
Ephesians 4:2-3 calls us to:
"Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love."
Generosity
Acts 4:32 describes the early church:
"No one claimed that any of their possessions was their own, but they shared everything they had."
We live generously with our time, talents, and resources.
Tithing & Financial Generosity
Malachi 3:10 teaches us to bring the tithe to the storehouse, trusting God to provide.
Matthew 23:23 reminds us that generosity must be accompanied by justice, mercy, and faithfulness.
Giving supports the church’s mission, local outreach, and global efforts.
Servanthood
Mark 10:45 reminds us:
"For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many."
6. Next Steps: Covenant Process & Final Commitments
Membership Covenant
Membership at our church means committing to:
The Fourfold Gospel and our shared theology.
Living in the rhythms of Communion, Community, and Commission.
Walking in integrity, generosity, and servanthood.
Supporting and contributing to the mission of The Table NYC.
Final CONSIDERATIONS
We recognize that people in this church will hold different perspectives on certain issues. The Table NYC seeks to be a place where people of different perspectives can engage in discipleship, wrestle honestly with faith, and belong meaningfully in community.
Membership at our church is not a contract of theological agreement—it is a covenant of commitment to life together.
The early church was made up of people from diverse backgrounds and perspectives, yet they were unified by their devotion to Christ and their commitment to shared life.
Membership does not require that you personally affirm every theological position of the C&MA or The Table NYC—rather, it asks if you can live in covenant relationship with this community despite any areas of tension.
We ask each potential member to consider:
Do I align with the overall theological and missional vision of The Table NYC, even if I hold different views on certain secondary issues?
Am I able to commit to the rhythms of Communion, Community, and Commission, even where I wrestle with questions?
Can I engage in this church with humility, honesty, and a willingness to journey together, rather than requiring absolute agreement?
If you find yourself answering yes to these questions, we encourage you to take the next step toward Covenant Membership at The Table NYC. This commitment isn’t about having everything figured out—it’s about intentionally walking together in faith, growing in community, and living out the way of Jesus for the sake of the world.
Next Steps
If you believe The Table NYC is your church home, we invite you to take this next step into Covenant Membership, trusting that unity does not require uniformity, and belonging does not require full agreement.
Fill out the form below.
A pastor will connect with you to schedule a conversation.