Joining St. Thomas

Have you ever wondered what makes a member of St. Thomas? In the Episcopal Church there are several levels of membership and deepening commitment.

Members

Membership means that your baptism has been recorded in the parish register. If you have never been baptized, we invite you to join with other seekers in a time of inquiry and learning called Disciples of Christ in Community (DOCC), a program that begins in January and September. Participation in DOCC leads to the celebration of adult baptism at the Great Vigil of Easter.

If you have been a member of another Episcopal parish, recording your baptism at St. Thomas is accomplished by requesting a "Letter of Transfer" from the former parish. If you are coming from another Christian tradition, a courtesy letter from St. Thomas can request the information from your former church, or you can simply inform us of the date and place of your baptism. "Adult Members" are persons 16 years of age and older.

Confirmed Members

All adult members are encouraged to make a mature public affirmation of their faith. After a period of instruction, adults are confirmed by our bishop or (in the case of those who have been previously confirmed in another church) formally received by our bishop.

Communicants

Any member of the church who has received Holy Communion at least three times during the year is considered a communicant. A "Communicant in Good Standing" is a member who has been faithful in "working, praying, and giving for the spread of the Kingdom of God." It should be noted that persons of any age (including the youngest baptized children) are welcome to receive Holy Communion.

At St. Thomas we recognize persons who have chosen to become members by inviting them to participate in a public welcome during the Sunday Eucharist. These welcoming services take place twice a year, and they are followed by a special coffee hour to honor new members. For more information about membership, speak to one of the clergy or simply call the church office.

St. Thomas is a warm and welcoming community. Visitors and seekers find many ways to meet others, learn about parish programs, and become members at St. Thomas. The activities of the Newcomers Committee make it easier to get acquainted and participate in parish life.