MEMBERSHIP IN ST. JOHN’S EPISCOPAL CHURCH

Welcome to St. John’s.  Whether you are new to the faith or a lifelong Episcopalian, the following questions and answers are intended to provide you with the information you need to join our congregation.

Q:     I have never been a member of a church.  What do I need to do in order to join?

A:      To join any Episcopal Church, including St. John’s, you must be baptized with water in the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.  If you have never been baptized, or if you wish to have your child baptized, you may talk with the Rector to make necessary arrangements.

Q:     What is baptism?

A:      Holy Baptism is the sacrament by which we are adopted as God’s children and made full members of Christ’s Body, the Church, and inheritors of the Kingdom of God.  At baptism in the Episcopal Church, we publicly renounce evil, accept Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior, and are welcomed into the church community.  Young children are baptized in order to bring them to full membership in the church family, with parents and sponsors making the necessary promises in their behalf.

Q:     I have been baptized in a church other that the Episcopal Church.  How do I become a member of St. John’s?

A:      By filling out a simple form that registers your wish to join our church and affirms the fact of your baptism, you can become a baptized member of St. John’s.  If you wish to become a confirmed member of our church, you can speak with the rector about joining the next class and make a reaffirmation of your faith in the presence of the Bishop at his next official visit to us.

Q:     I am a member of another Episcopal Church.  How do I join St. John's?

A:      Fill out our membership form and ask your current church to send a letter of transfer to St. John’s.  Once you have signed our form, you are considered a member.

Q:     What does the Episcopal Church understand to be the responsibilities of a Christian?

A:      The Book of Common Prayer tells us (page 856) that the duty of all Christians is to follow Christ; to come together week by week for corporate worship; and to work, pray, and give for the spread of the Kingdom of God.

Q:     How are members of St. John’s expected to respond to this duty?

A:      Members of St. John’s are expected to attend the Holy Eucharist weekly and to help build God’s Kingdom in the church and the world through regular Christian service, personal prayer, and financial contributions.

Q:     Who was St. John?

A:      St. John, Apostle and Evangelist, is the author of the fourth Gospel, a mystic who experienced the visions recounted in the Book of Revelation.  His gospel is often called the “spiritual” or “theological” gospel to distinguish it from the three “synoptic” gospels.  St. John is the patron saint for whom this parish was named.  The eagle is his symbol.