Membership

One does not have to be a member in order to attend St. Andrew's. We become members of the Church in Holy Baptism. Our Catechism reads, "Holy Baptism is the sacrament by which God adopts us as his children and makes us members of Christ's Body, the Church, and inheritors of the kingdom of God" (Book of Common Prayer, page 858).

Inasmuch as Holy Baptism is often administered to infants or young children, the church provides a rite of Confirmation which gives the baptized an opportunity to express a mature commitment to Christ. Customarily this rite follows a period of preparation including study, and prayer. Individuals who have done that in another congregation could have their membership transferred here by letter.

How To Become a Member of the Episcopal Church

THE ANSWER depends on what one means by the phrase "become a member." It can mean to different people:

1) "to become a Christian" in a publiclicly recognized way.

2) "to belong " to the Episcopal Church in a general sense,

3) "to join" a local congregation, or even

4) in a legal sense, to obtain the rights and privileges of a communicant (a contributing and voting member).

All membership rests finally on a public affirmation of faith by you, or, in the case of small children, by Godparents, and incorporation into the church through the sacrament of Baptism.

1. The Episcopal Church recognizes as Christians all persons who have been baptized with water in the name of the Holy Trinity. They are members of the universal Body of Christ, as arms and organs are "members" of a physical body.

2. There are two ways to become a member of the Episcopal Church: by Baptism in an Episcopal congregation or by reception or transfer as a baptized person from another communion.

3. If the Baptism takes place in an Episcopal church, the person is a member of that particular parish until death or until his or her records are transferred to another parish. If Baptism took place elsewhere and the person arranges for the fact to be recorded in an Episcopal church register, that person is thereby a member of our church.

The requirements for the meaning of Baptism are contained in the words of the liturgy for Holy Baptism found on pages 298-314 of the Book of Common Prayer.

If you'd like to become a member or transfer your membership, please call 763-7636.