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Saint Stephen's Episcopal Church

1695 Perrowville Road  +  Forest, Virginia 24551  +  434.525.5511  +  parish@ststephensforest.org
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"Worshipping God and Equipping Saints for Ministry since 1824."

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becoming a member of Christ through baptism
 

"Therefore in joyful obedience to your Son, we bring into his fellowship those who come to him in faith, baptizing them in the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit" (BCP 306-07).

We are delighted to welcome you into the fellowship of this church in the Name of Jesus Christ!

One becomes a member of the Christian Church through baptism.  Therefore, anyone who is baptized (through whatever denomination) is a member of the church.  And anyone who is baptized, regardless of denomination or age, is welcome at the altar to receive the Body and Blood of Christ as spiritual food for the Christian journey.

To become a member of The Episcopal Church, one should be baptized (either in this church or elsewhere) and then, by request, have that baptism recorded in our Parish Register.  At that point, one is a full member of The Episcopal Church.

One can choose at some point to become a confirmed member of The Episcopal Church through being confirmed by a bishop of The Episcopal Church.

  • Some choose to be confirmed when reaching a "point of maturity" after being baptized as an infant.  Thereby they are able to claim the promises made on their behalf as their own.

  • Others who have been baptized and perhaps even confirmed in other traditions may choose to be confirmed by a bishop to signify their renewal of Christian faith and the deepening of their bonds within the Communion of The Episcopal Church.

  • Those who have been confirmed in a tradition that has bishops in Apostolic Succession (such as Roman Catholics and Eastern Orthodox) are invited to be "received" into The Episcopal Church by a bishop.

For more information about membership, please speak with the priest.