In my years as a parish priest, I have been asked from time to time what membership is in the Episcopal Church. The answer is complicated in some respects, but the bottom line is simple. According to the canons of the Episcopal Church, “[a]ll persons who have received the Sacrament of Holy Baptism with water in the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, whether in this Church or in another Christian Church, and whose Baptisms have been duly recorded in this Church, are members thereof” (Canon 17.1.a).
Although Baptism is the basis of membership in the Episcopal Church, there is also an expectation stated within our Church canons “that all adult members of this Church, after appropriate instruction, will have made a mature public affirmation of their faith and commitment to the responsibilities of their Baptism and will have been confirmed or received by the laying on of hands by a Bishop of this Church or by a Bishop of a Church in full communion with this Church” (Canon 17.1.c). Some of us were confirmed in other traditions and then received into the Episcopal Church by a bishop. Others were never confirmed. Whatever the case, intentional adult formation gives baptized adults an opportunity to fully embrace and claim the promises of baptism that were made on their behalf, often at a very young age.
I have already written about our Pilgrims in Christ formation process. If you are seeking a way to publicly affirm the faith into which you were baptized, I hope you will consider participating in Pilgrims. Or if you have already been confirmed but desire official reception into the Episcopal Church by a bishop, Pilgrims will prepare you for that as well. It is true that Pilgrims is a major commitment. That commitment is not intended to be inflexible, but instead, a way of claiming the rigors of Christian discipleship. The first part of Pilgrims consists of six classes, most of which focus on an Episcopal/Anglican understanding of Christianity. These first classes are introductory. If you find that a nine-month commitment is too much for your schedule, you may wish to participate only in the first six classes as a way of orienting yourself to the Episcopal Church, especially if you are seeking to be received into the Episcopal Church. Indeed the structure of Pilgrims is intended for people to periodically assess whether they intend to commit to going deeper in the process. Stopping after six weeks bears no shame. However, I assure you that you won’t regret committing to nine months! There is much to cover in Pilgrims, and six weeks is only a drop in the bucket.
But for some of you, preparing for Confirmation or Reception into the Episcopal Church may be a moot point. You may have come to Good Shepherd from another parish in the Episcopal Church or even another non-Episcopal congregation, having already been confirmed or received. If so, you may wish to make Good Shepherd your parish home. And this involves more than simply attending Mass regularly. There is a formal process for claiming membership in this parish.
Early in each new year, I begin compiling an official parochial report, which is submitted to the national Episcopal Church and includes statistics on membership and other aspects of parish life. To be counted as an “active baptized member” at Good Shepherd, your name must be enrolled in our parish register, either 1) by baptism, 2) by letter of transfer from another parish, 3) upon request (if a letter can’t be found), or 4) by Confirmation or Reception by a bishop. Additionally, to vote in parish elections, where we elect vestry members and conduct official parish business, you must officially be a member (which ensures that you are not voting or participating in parish elections in another place!).
So, as dry as all this sounds, parish membership is important. It officially marks you as a contributing member of this particular corner of the Church. As we begin a new program year, so that we can maintain accurate parish records and so that you can claim your place in this particular parish, please do let me know if you wish to be (officially) a member of the Church of the Good Shepherd. If you are interested in Pilgrims in Christ in order to be baptized or affirm the faith made on your behalf in baptism, please contact me.
Membership is by no means a definition of Christian discipleship, but at some level, it assumes commitment and an intentional marking of that commitment. I pray that all of our commitments to Christ, while perhaps starting with official membership, may blossom beyond that into something deeper. Indeed, this Sunday’s Gospel reading notes the rigors of Christian discipleship, where daily, through choices, intentions, and actions, we take up our cross and follow Jesus.
Yours in Christ,
Father Kyle