Membership

Do you come to church fairly regularly?  Do you think of yourself as part of the church?  Are you a baptized Christian?  Do you want to be considered a member of St. Andrew’s Church?  If you answered yes to any or all of these, you are a member of St. Andrew's.  We are delighted to have you be part of our parish family.  Several times a year, we have, in our service, a Liturgy of Belonging, which welcomes newcomers into our church family.  Anyone who wants to be a member of this community is welcome to take part in these services.  We also, periodically, have Meet & Greet parties for those who are new to the congregation.  Again, they are open to anyone who wants to be a part of St. Andrew’s. 

Baptism

Sacramental entry into the Christian community is through the joyous, welcoming service of Baptism. "All persons who have received the Sacrament of Holy Baptism with water in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, whether in this (the Episcopal) Church or in another Christian Church, and whose baptism has been recorded in this church, are members thereof." (Canon 17, Section 1) If you have not been baptized and wish to discuss that possibility, please contact the church office.

Baptisms are celebrated on the following days:  the Feast of the Baptism of our Lord (the first Sunday after January 6); the Easter Vigil (the night before Easter); the Day of Pentecost; All Saints' Day (or the first Sunday in November); and the day each year when a bishop comes and celebrates with us. In addition, there is usually one Sunday in July on which baptisms are held. Anyone interested in baptism should call the church office at 713-861-5596 for additional information and make an appointment to meet with the rector.

If you were baptized in another Christian church, please contact the church office so that your baptism may be recorded.

Confirmation, Reception & Transfers

The Bishop visits regularly to celebrate with all of us and to confirm and receive people. Confirmation is the “mature public affirmation [by people who have been baptized] of their faith and commitment to the responsibilities of their baptism” (as the Canons of the Episcopal Church of the United States of America say). In other words, confirmation is the way that people who have been baptized as infants or children can, as mature individuals, make a public choice to confirm their Christianity—their membership in the Christian Church. Each person who is confirmed here is listed in the parish records.  

I was confirmed in another parish. Am I considered a confirmed member at St. Andrew’s Church?
When someone confirmed in one Episcopal parish moves to another parish, their “letter” is still at the former parish. In order to be considered a “confirmed member” of the new parish, the person needs to let the new parish’s Membership Secretary know that they want “to have their letter transferred.”

What does it mean to be received?
When a person has been confirmed in another Christian denomination, but now wants to become an adult member of the Episcopal Church, the Bishop recognizes their baptism and their confirmation, and welcomes them into our denomination, just as though they had been confirmed in the Episcopal Church. Anyone who is received is then put on the parish rolls as though they had been confirmed here, or had their “letters” transferred.

Can any member—confirmed, received, or neither—participate in every activity of the church?
All members can participate fully in the services, sharing in the Holy Eucharist and the rest of the service; can be part of all the social activities, and are welcome to join almost all ministries of the church. There are a few activities and ministries that are reserved for “confirmed communicants in good standing.”  

What is a confirmed communicant in good standing?
Our church canons (rules and regulations of the Episcopal Church) define “confirmed communicants in good standing” as people at least sixteen years old who are on the church rolls (who have been confirmed or received by the bishop, or had their letter transferred from another parish), and who have been, for at least the past year “faithful in corporate worship (i.e., have come to church regularly) and have been faithful in working, praying and giving for the spread of the Kingdom of God (i.e., have been active members of the parish, and have given time, prayer and financial support to the  parish).” A “communicant” is someone who takes part in Holy Communion, also called Holy Eucharist.  Such members are also called “voting members”.

What activities and ministries are reserved for confirmed communicants in good standing?
All members of the parish are welcome to attend the Annual Parish Meeting, which is typically held in January. Only confirmed communicants in good standing (sometimes called “voting members”), though, are allowed to vote at the meeting. Voting members who are over 18 are allowed to become members of the vestry. There are also certain liturgical roles which are reserved for voting members such as Eucharistic Visitors, Eucharistic Ministers, and Worship Leaders.

How do I become a voting member?
If you are sixteen or over and have been confirmed or received at St. Andrew’s Church, and if you come to church regularly and give time and financial support to the parish, you are already a voting member. If you have been confirmed or received into the Episcopal Church in another parish, contact Deidre Grawl in the church office at 713-861-5596 to have your letter transferred.

If you have been baptized and/or confirmed in another Christian denomination, we offer a Basics of the Faith class to prepare you for confirmation or reception in the Episcopal church. There are additional classes designed for young people who are ready to make a mature affirmation of their faith (usually at least twelve or thirteen years old).  If you are interested in the Basics of the Faith class, contact the church office at 713-861-5596.