Become a Member
Thank you so much for your interest in membership at St Peter’s.
If you are currently a member of another Episcopal Church, you can join St. Peter’s through transfer of letter from your previous parish. Joyce Withers, Office Administrator, will facilitate the transfer of your membership from your current parish.
If you are not currently a member of an Episcopal Church or any church, you can join St Peter’s through baptism, confirmation, reception, or reaffirmation. Please fill out our new members form to begin the process of joining St. Peter’s.
St. Peter's Membership Form-Online
Should I be baptized, confirmed, received, or should I reaffirm my faith?
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Baptism
Baptism is for people who have never officially become a Christian. Baptism is the rite of initiation into the body of Christ. If you were not raised in the church, or if you were raised in a church that practices adult baptism and left that church before you ever made a profession of faith and were baptized, we will be delighted to baptize you as a Christian and invite you into St. Peter’s as your first Christian community.
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Confirmation
Confirmation is making a mature public affirmation of faith as an adult. If you were baptized as a child but have never affirmed the faith of your childhood as your own in your adult life, confirmation will be the route through which you can join St. Peter’s. In Confirmation the Bishop prays that you will receive gifts of the Holy Spirit for ministry. It is first and foremost a sacrament of empowerment for service or "ordination" to the laity. Confirmation also serves as a rite of membership in the Episcopal Church and in our parish in particular.
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Receive
We receive into this part of Christ’s body anyone who has previously made what they consider an adult affirmation of faith. If you have been confirmed by a bishop in apostolic succession (e.g. if you are Roman Catholic, Orthodox or Swedish Lutheran) then you must elect to be received. Some people feel that confirmation somehow negates a previous commitment and ministry and prefer to receive the bishop’s laying on of hands with words of welcome rather than a prayer of empowerment. Being received into the Episcopal Church is primarily a rite of membership.
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Reaffirmation
Some who are already Episcopalians choose to reaffirm their faith before the bishop. This is particularly appropriate at times of transition in your life; a new city, a new job, a new relationship, a return to the church after years away. This does not automatically confer membership in St. Peter’s, which is accomplished by requesting a letter of transfer from whichever parish currently holds your membership.
For more information please do not hesitate to contact the office at joyce@stpetersnet.net or (386) 428-7383. We support and welcome your interest.