21 & 22 Mar 2026 (Pastoral Page) MEMBERSHIP AND ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING (AGM)

by Snr Ps Beh Soo Yeong

Once a year, the church holds our AGM, where registered members of the church are asked to gather to examine the affairs and vote on various matters of the church. As a society registered in Singapore, our registered members are those who were baptised in the Bible Church or chose to transfer their membership to us. As a legally registered society, the AGM is a church business meeting that is required by the laws of the land.

Does this mean that those who are not registered members are non-members and hence have nothing to do with the church? Well, the answer is absolutely, no. As understood from Scriptures, all who are committed to regular attendance in this church or call this your home church are spiritual members of this local body of Christ. Every one of us are thus called to pray, give, serve, etc as members of this body, even if you are not a registered member with voting rights.

Therefore, I trust and pray that everyone of us, even if you are not a registered member (of this society), will continue to live out your calling as disciples and members of this local body of Christ and be equally concern about the well-being and mission of the church.

Of course, you are encouraged to also become a registered member as a tangible expression of your commitment to this local community. As registered members, we are given the privilege and duty of voting at general meetings, or electing church leaders. As such, I would like to exhort us to attend the AGM with the appropriate attitudes or posture.

Clearly, we must not attend the church AGM like any other corporate AGMs. Many shareholders who attend corporate AGMs do so to hold the management accountable for the running of the company, in particular, to be profitable to enhance shareholders’ value. As members of the church however, we are all part of this local body of Christ. Besides hearing from our church leaders what God has been doing in and through the church, we must get behind the vision that God has directed us to and be faithful in our roles and calling. Hence, more than just holding the leaders accountable, we are holding ourselves accountable to God. While the leaders are called to lead as Christ directs them, have we followed well and faithfully? We are all in this together, and it must never be a case of “I pay” (your salary) or “I vote” (you in) and you must deliver the results.

So, for our AGM next week (29 March), what positive attitudes can we bring? May I ask that you bring PEACE:

1.      Pray. Pray for the leaders and ourselves. Pray that we will be responsive to how God is leading us. Pray for humility to listen and submit to one another as unto the Lord. Pray for gentleness and kindness, even in the midst of the proceedings. Pray that we will honour God throughout the AGM.

2.      Engage. Engage with the leaders, be attentive and listen. Understand what God has been doing and what challenges we face. Empathise with the concerns and heartaches of one another. Read up and ask questions if you need but do so in a way that will lift others up and not tear down. Ask in a way that will bless and not stumble.

3.      Attend. Perhaps this is obvious, but I like to remind members to make it a point to attend the AGM, however mundane or immaterial you may think it is. Better still, attend and seek to encourage.

4.      Contribute. Contribute ideas, solutions, not just at AGM, but also after. Contribute your time, energy and money to seek solutions to our common problems.

5.      Encourage. Last but not least, encourage one another, especially the leaders that the Lord has placed over us, who have spent time and energy to serve in this role. Encourage one another in our common discipleship journey. Encourage the younger to take ownership, encourage the older for their exemplary, albeit imperfect, lives.

Naturally, this PEACE extends well beyond the AGM participation. Whether we are registered or spiritual members, let us fulfil our role and calling as members of this local body of Christ.