Membership At St. Barts
Becoming a member of St. Barts is pretty easy to do.
In many ways, membership is about keeping good records. We're not a club, and sometimes getting more involved just means a lot more responsibility.
You start where you are. As you desire more responsibility in the church, we'll probably spend more time talking about theology and what the church means to you.
We have three modes of membership. They are not "levels."
*Episcopal member - you're a baptized, confirmed or received Episcopalian. You have pledge envelopes. These people can preside in the church and can participate at a diocesan level.
*Christian member - Christians who have not been received into the Episcopal Church but are baptized Christians (this includes Catholics and Orthodox). You've got your name in our book as a member, but you have been baptized or confirmed elsewhere. You can still vote for vestry members or become a vestry member.
*Christian Friend - Baptized Christian, but you're too lazy to give us your baptismal records. We'll still give you pledge cards, don't worry.
*Friends - non Christians, who participate in some church activities. You can be, for example, a skeptic, Jew, or Pagan. Or all three. You dig the Rector's sermons or find church an easy place to work for justice. You give part of your year-end bonus to the soup kitchen or our after school program because we do a good job.
Here's what you should do.
If you are already an Episcopalian: give the parish secretary the name of the church you were baptized or confirmed in and we’ll transfer membership. You can even email her your information and we'll take care of it. Presto! A member of St. Barts.
If you are baptized in the Lutheran, Catholic or Orthodox tradition, tell us the name of the church you were baptized in, and we’ll transfer membership. Presto! A member of St. Barts.
If you are baptized in any other Christian Tradition. Just tell us you’d like to become a member and we’ll put you in the book. Give us the date of your baptism and fill out a form. You'll be under "baptized members." Presto! A member of St. Barts.
If you are NOT baptized, you can become a friend and still participate in all church activities. If you want to become baptized, just talk to the rector. The rector will still invite you to parties and ask you for money. For mission.
During this process you will:
• Meet with the rector over a cup of tea or a martini; He'll buy the first drink, unless he forgets his wallet.
• Take one orientation class, offered three or more times a year;
• Come to a welcoming dinner or cocktail party, offered twice a year;
• Introduce yourself when we welcome new members during the service;
• Get on the email list for announcements; It's not spam.
• Find one small group you'd like to participate in;
• Get pledge envelopes.
We encourage baptized Episcopalians to reaffirm their baptismal vows at some point after becoming a member of St. Bartholomew’s Church. This is to keep people aware of new ways theologians and scholars are talking about the Christian faith. We offer one five hour class or three two hour classes before an Episcopal Visitation.
We encourage members of other mainline denominations to become confirmed or received into the Episcopal Church. A class will include central questions of Christianity, a basic introduction to church history and to the polity of our denomination. This will consist of one five hour or three two hour classes.
Wardens are canonically required to be confirmed or received in the Episcopal Church.
Orientation classes are scheduled for February and May and September.
Baptism and Confirmation Classes are scheduled for January, March, May and October.
You will get:
• A gift for as a symbol of our welcome;
• Envelopes for your commitment;
• A subscription to Episcopal Life and the Episcopal New Yorker.
Members in Good Standing at St. Bartholomew’s Church must
• Worship 3x a year (preferably during Holy Week);
• Fill out information and pledging form.
• Invite the rector over for dinner once every three years. This is to keep the level of cooking in the parish high.
So there you go! Membership at St. Barts. Not hard. But if you are still a bit cagey about religion, Christians or Episcopalians, just hang out for a couple years. We're not going anywhere.
Blessings, etc.