Radical Inclusivity, Thoughtful Spirituality, Caring Community
Thank you for considering membership in the Church at Ponce & Highland! Membership may seem old-fashioned in an era when people move all the time and you can join or follow with the click of a button.
Yet, there is something powerful about feeling like you belong somewhere and will always be cared for, especially when we’re constantly pulled in a thousand directions. Belonging to a community frees us up to love more fiercely and follow Christ more devotedly.
Membership in the Church at Ponce at Highland consists of three commitments:
Our church is a community of imperfect people that care for each other and the world. Members are the ones who guide, serve, and support the church and our neighborhood. In our Baptist tradition, members literally run the church!
We’d love to talk with you more and answer your questions! There is more information below and all around our website. If you have questions, you can email me at mimi.walker@dhbc.org or email Pastor Colin at colin.holtz@dhbc.org.
Sincerely,
Rev. Mimi Walker
Senior Pastor, The Church at Ponce & Highland
Click here to download this information as a PDF:
Church Covenant
We are a congregation open to all persons who are seeking to know Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord and who desire to pattern their lives after the life and teachings of Jesus. Recognizing that we are all “one in Christ Jesus” (Galatians 3:28) we affirm our equality in the family of God and in this congregation regardless of social status, education, race, age, gender identity, sexual orientation, mental ability, physical ability, position, or any other distinction.
We believe that we have been created by God to live in community and led by the Spirit to join with this congregation. Together we affirm, practice and celebrate these historic Baptist principles, including:
As a member of this fellowship, I will seek to live out the following commitments:
Ways to get involved
Many members merely want to make a commitment to belong to a community. If you would also like to get more involved, there are a number of ways to do so:
Teams
Teams provide opportunities to participate in the life of the congregation. Anyone is welcome to join these teams at any time, and one may serve on multiple teams and/or if they are on a standing committee.
If you would like to volunteer for a team please email Pastor Colin at colin.holtz@dhbc.org.
Local and Global Missions Team: Help make God’s dream for the world a reality. Volunteer to serve our local people experiencing homelessness; help the Mayan Intercultural Seminary in Chiapas, Mexico educate, connect and protect indigenous communities; and support the growth of cooperative businesses in Chiapas and here in Atlanta.
Hospitality Team: Provide opportunities for intergenerational interaction within our congregation for the purpose of fostering rich, nurturing relationships that promote family connections.
Choir: Love to sing or play music? Join the choir, participate in choral concerts, or find other ways to bring your gifts to the church.
Committees
In the Baptist tradition, the church is autonomous and not subject to any denomination, pastor, or outside authority. Committees handle church business. Committee terms are for 3 years, and committee members must be church members.
There are three standing committees:
The Finance Committee is responsible for planning the annual operating budget, initiating the church-wide Stewardship Emphasis each year and overseeing the use funds from the endowment investments. Additionally, the Finance Committee meets monthly to review a Financial Report provided by the church book keepers..
The Personnel Committee is responsible, working with the Pastor, for hiring any new Ministry Team (Staff) members. In some cases, the Personnel Committee will function as a Search Committee, depending on the position. The Personnel Committee also conducts an annual review of the performance of each Ministry Team member and makes recommendations to the Finance Committee during the budget preparation period regarding compensation. The Personnel Committee can also function as a consulting body for Pastor and other Ministry Team leaders when necessary.
The Trustees are the group within the church most directly responsible for decisions related to the maintenance, repair and general operation of the physical plant and related properties, such as the parking lot, grounds, and vehicles. The Trustees also function as the official legal representatives of the church, with the Chair of the Trustees as the designated signatory for legal documents and contracts.
Deacons
Deacons at The Church at Ponce & Highland partner with the pastors and church ministry team to perform the pastoral ministry work of the church. Election and ordination as a deacon is not just an “honor,” but a call from God. Just as the pastor and other ministers are called by and are accountable to the church, so too are the deacons.
To serve effectively in the ministry work of C@P&H, deacons should be persons who demonstrate the following:
Acts 6:1-7 is a Biblical text that describes the origin and purpose of the office of deacon. In the fall of each year, the church body is asked to participate in the deacon nominating process by suggesting names of individuals believed to be good candidates for service as deacons.
This list of expectations should prove helpful for individuals considering answering the call to service as a deacon.