I have been attending a Reformed church for a few months. My change was motivated by theological studies; after much study, I decided to join this church, and I am fascinated by the level of knowledge and the quality of each sermon.
Since then, I have attended all Sunday services and taken communion with them. Twice a year, this church opens the membership process, and I decided to apply at the beginning of 2026. I completed all the classes and memorized the confession of faith, the Apostles’ Creed, and the other confessional standards. However, after finishing the course, an interview is required, followed by a public profession of faith that takes place on a specific day.
The issue is that after completing the course, I was not called for any interview, and I will not make the public profession because the church requires members to participate in a small group (a small gathering in a member’s home), and I do not attend any of them. I am not completely introverted or antisocial, but I am not the type of person who easily approaches new places with new people, and although I attend all Sunday services, the church is large enough that I am rarely noticed.
My question is: I will continue attending all the services, but I may not become an official member or make a public profession of faith. So how important is this? In the end, I believe it may be purely institutional, or is it something I should put more effort into?