Who can become a member?

Who can become a member? 

St. Paul’s has two definitions of membership: Communicants in Good Standing and Active Members.

Communicants in Good Standing: Any baptized person can become a member of St. Paul's Church. Members age 16 and older whose baptism has been registered with an Episcopal Church and/or has been confirmed and/or received into the Episcopal Church, and has attended worship and received Eucharist at least three times in the past year, is considered a voting member of the congregation, and is eligible to participate in the leadership of the church. Communicants in Good Standing are eligible to create member accounts in our database. 

Active Members: Those who regularly participate in the life of the church and are not baptized and/or confirmed or received in the Episcopal Church and have attended worship at least three times in the past year are considered Active Members of St. Paul’s. Active Members do not need to be Episcopalian or even Christian. Active Members are welcome to vote and are eligible to participate on committees, but cannot serve on the vestry, as an officer or as a diocesan representative. Children under the age of 16 are considered Active Members. Active Members are eligible to create member accounts in our database. 

Expectations of Communicants in Good Standing and Active Members include Participation, Community Care, and Financial Commitment. For more information, click here.

What do you mean by baptism?

Baptism means initiation by water and the Holy Spirit in the name of the Trinitarian God (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit). It is the first Biblical sacrament, an outward and visible sign of an inward and spiritual grace. Baptism is the beginning of a committed journey of Christian faith, welcoming the baptisand (person being baptised) into a loving community of faith. Many people are baptised as infants, but anyone can be baptised at any age. 

To learn more and discuss details, please reach out to our rector to schedule a time to meet and talk.

I would like to be baptised (or have my child baptised) at St. Paul's. How do I do that?

Congratulations! We are delighted that you would like to be yourself or have your child received into the household of God through the sacrament of Baptism. To learn more and discuss details, please reach out to our rector to schedule a time to meet and talk.

I am not baptised and I am not ready to do that right now. Can I still come to church?

Yes! Of course! You are always welcome to attend worship, community events, children's worship, etc. We are so glad you are here. 

I was baptised in a different kind of church or denomination. How do I become a member of the Episcopal Church?

Those who have been baptised and/or confirmed by an Episcopal bishop are considered members in the Episcopal Church.

If you were confirmed in another denomination (such as Roman Catholic or Lutheran) we strongly encourage you to be received into the Episcopal Church by one of our bishops. To learn more about confirmation and reception please contact our rector.

I was a member at a different Episcopal Church and I want to become a member at St. Paul's. How do I do that?

Prospective new members meet with Rev. Tuesday to talk about what membership means at St. Paul's. The next step is that a letter of transfer is requested from the clergy of the previous congregation. Once the letter is received by St. Paul's, the new members are added to the church rolls.