Welcome to the Episcopal Church

How does one become a member of the Church? This is at once a simple and a complex question. The most basic answer is through Baptism. The Book of Common Prayer states the following:

Holy Baptism is full initiation by water and the Holy Spirit into Christ's Body the Church. The bond which God establishes in Baptism is indissoluble. (p. 298)

The Catechism in the Book of Common Prayer offers the following statements:

1. The Church is described as the Body of which Jesus Christ is the Head and of which all baptized persons are members. (p. 854)

2. 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. (p. 858).

In the former Episcopal prayer book (1928) the following questions and answers appeared in the "Offices of Instruction":

  • Question: When were you made a member of the Church? Answer: I was made a member of the Church when I was baptized.
  • Question: What is the Church? Answer: The Church is the Body of which Jesus Christ is the Head, and all baptized people are the members. (p. 290)

Well that seems simple enough. Anyone who is Baptized is a full member of the Church. It doesn't matter how old you were at your Baptism or how old you are now. It doesn't matter the denomination in which it took place. It doesn't matter if it was by dunking (a.k.a. immersion), pouring or sprinkling. It doesn't even matter if the one administering the Baptism was a priest. Anyone who is Baptized with water in the Name of the trinity is a member of the Church. That is why all Baptized persons are welcomed at our family table for the Eucharist. That is why Baptized persons may participate in almost all of the activities of the Church.

Almost...

Hold on there. Did you just say ALMOST?

'Fraid so!

It depends on what you mean by "member," by "Church," and by "participate." As was stated above, anyone who is Baptized is a member of the Church that is, counted among the hundreds of millions of people who are Christians around the world. But if you mean, by member, someone on the roles of a particular Communion (Anglican, Roman Catholic, Lutheran, etc.) or denomination (e.g., the Protestant Episcopal Church in the United States of America) or with a particular congregation then the answer is slightly different (and, of course, more complicated). This is a different meaning for the words member and Church. There are different kinds of membership within the Episcopal Church with different "privileges" and responsibilities.

  • BAPTIZED MEMBER Any Baptized person who wishes to do so may request that they be considered a Baptized member of this parish.
  • CONFIRMED MEMBER Confirmation is a sacramental rite of the Church which serves two purposes, as far as membership is concerned:

    1. Those baptized at an early age are expected, when they are ready and have been duly prepared, to make a mature public affirmation of their faith and commitment to the responsibilities of the Baptism and to receive the laying on of hands by the Bishop. (BCP p. 412)

    2. Those baptized as adults, unless baptized with laying on of hands by a bishop, are also expected to make a public affirmation...in the presence of a bishop and to receive the laying on of hands. (Ibid.)

    Confirmation of persons Baptized in other denominations also signifies the acceptance of the doctrine, discipline and worship of the Episcopal Church as symbolized in the laying on of hands by a bishop, who represents the larger Church.

    Once Confirmed, that person is enrolled as a Confirmed Member of the congregation from which he or she was presented to the bishop, and will remain on the rolls of that congregation until a transfer to another parish is requested.

  • COMMUNICANT The Canons of the Episcopal Church define a Communicant as anyone, baptized or Confirmed, who has communicated (i.e., received Communion) at least three times during the preceding year. (Title I, Canon 17, Sec. 2a)
  • COMMUNICANT IN GOOD STANDING A Communicant in Good Standing is defined as follows by the national Canons:

    All communicants of this Church who for the previous year have been faithful in corporate worship, unless for good cause prevented, and have been faithful in working, praying, and giving for the spread of the Kingdom of God, are to be considered communicants in good standing. (Title I, Canon 17, Sec. 3)

  • ADULT (REGISTERED) CONFIRMED COMMUNICANT IN GOOD STANDING Up until now there has been no restriction for participation in the sacraments, worship or other activities of the church whether one is a Baptized Member or Confirmed or a Communicant in Good Standing. The Constitution and Canons of the Diocese of East Tennessee do however make the following requirements for persons to vote at parish meetings and elections, serve on the parish Vestry, serve as a delegate from a parish to diocesan convention, or serve in many capacities on boards or as officers of the diocese. These requirements are necessarily reflected in a number of places in our own parish bylaws. The requirements are that one has reached the age of 16 (adult status in the Church), be Confirmed (or "Received into") the Episcopal Church, be on the rolls of the parish (that is, having been Confirmed or Received there or having transferred in), and be a Communicant in Good Standing.
  • SO WHAT DO I REALLY HAVE TO DO TO BECOME A MEMBER? If you are not already so, be Baptized. If you are an adult, plan to attend adult Inquirers' classes in preparation.

    If you are Baptized (or Confirmed in another Communion), be Confirmed (or Received into the Episcopal Church). If you are a teenager, who will be 13 years of age, attend Confirmation Classes. If you are an adult, attend the same Inquirers' classes mentioned above.

    If you are a Confirmed member of the Episcopal Church but not a registered Confirmed Communicant of this parish, transfer into the parish by using the form which the office will provide you. If you prefer, we would be happy to make the request to your former parish on your behalf. Just let us know.

    If you would like to be a Communicant in Good Standing of St. Martin's, worship regularly, receive Communion at least thrice annually (How about once a week?), and work and pray and give for the spread of God's kingdom in this place.

    If you have any questions, don't hesitate to ask for help.

Fr. Gary Callahan