Membership

At St. John’s, membership is about active life in real community, with others who come from all walks of life with the common goal of living in the light of Christ.

At St. John’s, we strive to be a place of grace. We also believe that the Christian journey is something that is hard to do alone. We need each other. By being a member of St. John’s, or any church, we know that we are part of a larger community in which we get to support others and be supported, and in which we can know the strength of the Holy Spirit which binds us together.

How do I become a member?

Becoming a member is simple. The primary requirement of membership is recording your baptism information and other basic information with us—and if you are not yet baptized, taking our baptism class and being baptized in the name of the Trinity.

To begin the membership process at St. John’s, please fill out our Membership Form or contact the Rev. Eric Bailey with any questions.

What is the Inquirer’s Class, and why should I take it?

We invite all prospective members to take the Inquirer’s Class, which we offer twice a year. It is taught by the Rector and meets over the course of two Saturdays, and by taking the class you will learn about the core teachings of the Christian faith, how to fruitfully read the Bible, why we do what we do on Sundays, and much more. 

The Inquirer’s Course is a requirement for those who seek to be confirmed, or to have their children baptized at St. John’s.

Why is pledging important?

There are two important reasons to make a pledge.

First, without the financial support of our members, St. John’s would not be able to do the work of ministry that it currently does. We rely on annual pledge gifts to set our budget for each year, and every gift makes a difference. 

Second, making a pledge is a spiritual practice. It is a way of practicing generosity. Making a pledge is an act of taking the blessings we have received and dedicating a portion to give back to God. All members are encouraged to make a pledge and to join with the many others who do the same. (Note: pledges are made in good faith but from time to time, circumstances change, such as job losses or other surprises in life. We understand this. We simply ask people to pledge what they believe they can give during the course of a given year.)

Making a pledge is easy, and it can be done here. For questions about setting up automatic recurring gifts, or getting pledge envelopes, please contact Charley Griffin. 

What is a member in good standing?

A “member in good standing” is the term for a member who makes a financial contribution or some other form of contribution to the life of the community to support the mission of the church, and who attends with some regularity. Those who do are canonically entitled to vote at annual meetings or run for Vestry.

To begin the membership process, please fill out the Membership Form.