Frequently Asked Questions About Membership
You will hear around St. Mark’s the phrases “You can belong before you believe” and “All guests who present themselves are to be welcomed as Christ.” We work hard to make certain our doors are open wide and that those who are new to us feel a warm welcome and know they are invited to partake in the total life of this community. We believe this to be an expression of the love and openness modeled after the way in which Christ lived his life. Our hope also is that you receive a sense of the Sacred in this place and will want to explore deeper. If you decide to take the next step and move from a welcomed guest to becoming a member of our church family, know that we are ready to welcome you as a member.
If you have other questions, do not hesitate to contact our Interim Rector, the Reverend Joanna Graham at 908-766-0510 or revjoannag@verizon.net.
1. Why go to St Mark’s or any other church?
2. What is a member?
3. How do I become a member?
4. What is expected of me as a member?
5. If I can enjoy most everything about the church as a guest, why
would I want to take on the responsibilities of being a member?
6. Is there anything beyond baptism?
7. I heard that if I become a member I could not only refer to
myself as an Episcopalian but also as an Anglican. What is an Anglican?
8. What if I am a member of another church, can I belong here too?
9. If I want to learn more before I decide to become a member, what
can I do?
1. Why go to St Mark’s or any
other church? One way to think about this is ordinary and human: it
is much easier to make it in the world as part of a community/family. Belonging
to a community is a basic human need. Here you share a purpose, ways of behaving
toward one another, traditions and a sense that someone knows and cares about
you. The other way is religious or spiritual. For Christians, specifically,
there is a story: God in Christ lived his life to give us freedom, loving us so
that we might love others and thereby saving us from ourselves—meaning from
false choice—by giving us better and deeper choices. We call it the Good News.
The movement that spreads this news is called the church, and it’s radically
welcoming to all who come.
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2. What is a member?The Rev. Joanna
Graham will be happy to meet with with you to talk about what church membership is.
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3. How do I become a member?
When you tell us that you wish to be a member, we, from that moment, consider
you a member. So the best way to let us know you wish to become a member is to
write a note, make a phone call, send an email (stmarks.br@verizon.net) or speak
to the Rev. Joanna Graham who will then record you as a member. If you’re a
member of another church, you can contact that church (or ask us to do it) and
ask that a Letter of Transfer of membership be sent from that church to St.
Mark’s Church. If you are baptized here, confirmed or received by the Bishop,
you become a member. Providing us your baptismal information (date & place)
is requested.
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4. What is expected of me as a member? We expect that you want to be among us for the primary purpose of worshipping God in joy and power. That you commit to worship as regularly as possible in your life. That you believe that God gives us all that we have and are, and that the people of God, including you, learn how to be a giver—to the church for its work, and to the needs of others. That life and church, are not about being right, but about being open. Members commit to rethink and re-do when they fail, and God is open to such “repentance” again and again. That you help spread the Good News of God in Christ whenever and however possible for you. That you join with others not only in prayer, but in working for justice and peace in the human family. That you respect the dignity of every human being. In other words:
- Worship regularly
- Return and rethink when you fall away
- Give in proportion to what you have
- Spread the Good News of God’s love and serve others
5. If I can enjoy most everything
about the church as a guest, why would I want to take on the responsibilities of
being a member? When you go to someone’s home for dinner, hopefully you
enjoy a warm welcome, a generous meal, and fellowship with your friend and their
family. But, there is a difference between being a guest at the table and a
family member. Some say it is merely the common blood that flows through the
family’s veins. But those who are adopted or married know that it is something
more. In a healthy family unit, there is a bond present. A commitment to take
care of one another, to support one another through the good and the bad. This
unspoken understanding generates an ease and freedom to be yourself, to be who
God created you to be, safe in the knowledge that they are a part of you and you
a part of them no matter what. The church word for this bond is “covenant.” We
who are baptized are united, adopted into the family of God. And not only in
this life, but also in the life to come. Baptism is our way of expressing this
commitment formally and publicly to God and to one another. Becoming a member of
a local community of faith is the way we live out our baptismal covenant as
found on Page 304 in the Book of Common Prayer.
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6. Is there anything beyond
baptism? The whole of the Christian life lies beyond baptism. The Book
of Common Prayer describes baptism as “full initiation by water and the Holy
Spirit into Christ’s Body, the Church.” In this sense, there is nothing further
required for membership in the church. However, at different stages in one’s
life there are other means of affirming one’s faith. Confirmation is an
opportunity to make a mature affirmation of one’s faith in the presence of a
bishop. All baptized persons are encouraged to do this, and it is especially
appropriate for those who were baptized as infants. If you were confirmed in
another tradition/church, you can be received into this tradition.
Reaffirmation is available for those previously baptized and confirmed who would
like to reaffirm their faith before a bishop. Confirmation, Reception and
Reaffirmation all take place when one of our bishops visit, which usually
happens once a year. Rev. Joanna would be happy to talk with you about upcoming
confirmation dates and ways to prepare.
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7. I heard that if I become a
member I could not only refer to myself as an Episcopalian but also as an
Anglican. What is an Anglican? The Episcopal Church is part of the
Anglican Communion. In its simplest understanding, it is all the churches in the
world that trace their roots back to the Church of England. There are over 70
million Christians who are a part of the Anglican Communion worldwide.
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8. What if I am a member of
another church, can I belong here too? All are welcomed to our church
at all times; however, if you are a member of another church, you cannot be
recorded as a member of St. Mark's.
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9. If I want to learn more before I decide to become a member, what can I do? There are several ways for people to discover what it would mean to be a part of this community:
- Worship with us. Our Christian faith lived out in the Episcopal tradition is often summed up as “What we pray is what we believe.” The best way to find out if you feel God calling you to be a part of this community is to live with us for a while.
- Talk with us. We honor the questions that people bring. You should feel completely comfortable to ask other members of St. Mark’s Church questions about our church and the way we live out our faith. Coffee Hour, following the 10am worship service, is a great time to do that. If you would like to meet with the rector do not hesitate to contact the church office directly.
- Study with us. Throughout the year there are different opportunities offered to learn and grow, including bible studies. We also provide newcomer classes for those wishing to learn more about how we live out the Christian faith. These are great places to ask questions. The parish office and our website can provide more information.
- Serve with us. There are many volunteer opportunities at St. Mark’s Church, including opportunities for participating in worship and reaching out to those in need in our community. Relieving the suffering of others is a primary ministry of the Church. St. Mark’s Church offers many opportunities to help the poor, the hungry and homeless.
- Play with us. Come join us for parish suppers and other ways we gather together as a parish family. Newcomers and seekers are always welcome.
