Join the Society

Join a Church

The Society is open to all Christians—lay or ordained—in good standing with their local church. If you are not currently a member of a local church, your first step is to join one. The Society accepts Christians from any denomination who can affirm our Purpose. However, what will be necessary to join a local congregation will depend on the tradition and the locality. If you’re looking for a local church, check back with us as we’ll have resources for that soon.

Find a sponsor

Membership requires sponsorship by a professing member. These sponsors help people interested in membership to craft a rule of life per the principles of the Purpose of the Society and will act as a mentor during probationary membership. Since you will need to be able to attend regular collegium meetings, your best bet is reach out to the collegium that meets at the time most convenient for you. Current collegia meetings and contacts are:

2nd Monday of the month, 2 - 3:30 pm eastern
Contact Martin, martinrgeiger@gmail.com

1st Friday of the month, 12 - 1:30 pm eastern
Contact Nathan Durham.  jnathandurham@gmail.com

Become a Probationary Member

Once you have found a professing member who will sponsor you and you begin working on your individual rule of life, you will be invited to join a collegium (local society small group) as a probationary member. During this probationary period, you will attend monthly collegium meetings, which will offer you accountability and encouragement in your spiritual growth. You will also refine your rule of life and live into it while you discern whether you want to become a professing member. During this time, your sponsor and local collegium will also be discerning whether it makes sense for you to take the next step of becoming a professing member. Probationary membership must be at least three months and the times when people can take vows as professing members only happens once every quarter. Thus, your individual probationary membership may be anywhere between three and six months.

Become a Professing
Member

If you, your sponsor, and your collegium agree that professed membership is the right next step, you will be invited to take a yearlong vow as a professing member. This is not a lifelong vow because the Society believes it is important for people to be in constant discernment about what aids in growth toward holiness. Every year, professing members will have to decide whether the Society continues to serve them in their growth toward holiness and choose to reaffirm their membership or not. Once you become a professing member, you will also be expected to pay your annual dues. These are either 0.25% of gross income or $50, whichever is more. Professing members must attend the annual meeting of the whole Society at least every other year. Professing members are the only ones eligible to vote at annual meetings, although both professing and probationary members are welcome to attend. Three years of professed membership will make you eligible to serve as a convener or associate convener.