Becoming a Member
Belief and Practice
St. John’s is a parish of the Anglican Catholic Church, the Anglican expression of the “one holy, catholic and apostolic church” of the Creed, “the Universal church of Christ throughout the world . . . the blessed company of all faithful people” (BCP 1928, p. 83). The church maintains the Holy Eucharist as the central act of Christian worship. We teach the historic faith with the 1928 Book of Common Prayer as the standard of worship and accept the bible as the word of God. Pamphlets are available describing in more detail the beliefs and practices of the Anglican Catholic Church.
Involvement
The first step to membership is involvement in parish life. Regular attendance at church services indicates sincerity in responding to God’s call. New members are officially received into the church through
1. Transfer – Baptized and confirmed Episcopalians or Anglicans
who have been communicants in other churches may transfer membership to this parish.
2. Reception – Baptized Christians who have been confirmed by a bishop in Apostolic Succession (for example the pre-1978 Episcopal) as well as members of the Roman Catholic, or Orthodox churches may after a brief review of church teachings be received into this parish by the bishop or rector in a Rite of Reception.
3. Confirmation – Confirmation is the laying on of the bishop’s hands to strengthen the person in the gifts of the Holy Spirit. It is the adult reaffirmation of baptismal vows.
Time, Talent, and Resources
Membership in the Anglican Catholic Church and at St. John’s is a commitment to the service of our Lord Jesus Christ in tangible ways. There are many opportunities to participate in the ministry of the parish through offering your personal time, talent, and financial resources. A formal pledge card along with the envelopes for financial giving may be obtained from the parish treasurer.