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When a person has been baptised at a young age and decides that they want to belong to a different denomination than the one they were brought up in, they can go through a reception into membership ceremony.

Most Christian denominations have a service of reception.

The service is usually simple and includes the following:

• a greeting and opening prayer
• readings from the Bible
• a statement of faith, either through the baptismal vows or the Apostles’ Creed
• an acceptance of the teachings of the new denomination
• a form of confirmation
• celebration and reception of Holy Communion

Because reception comes after a period of reflection on their choice in religion, most people who have been received try to live committed lives by being an active participating member of their new church.

In the Baptist Church, becoming a member is particularly important due to Baptists' understanding of church government. In the Baptist Church all members have a vote on how the church should be led.

Normally a person who wants to be a member will be interviewed by the pastor or church elder. As well as this, the person will need to have been baptised as a believer (rather than through infant baptism).

Church members will usually have a members’ meeting once every three months. As part of this meeting, would-be members are discussed. Then the church members will vote on whether or not to accept the people who have applied for membership.

On the following Sunday, any person who has applied and been accepted as a member will be formally welcomed and given the right hand of fellowship - ie a handshake to show acceptance into the church.