What does it take to be a member of Grace Church?

Dear Friends in Christ,

 

What does it take to be a member of Grace Church?

 

This is a simple question with no simple answer. The most true answer is also the most broad, taken from the bible: “Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it” (1 Corinthians 12:27). At the deepest level, you belong to this church because you belong to God.

 

But for people looking for a new church—and maybe people trying better to understand the church they already attend—specificity matters.

 

Grace Church has a form for newcomers that spells out what we understand membership to mean:

 

• You will attend worship regularly. This expectation is perhaps obvious but important to name. Liturgy is the heart of our life. If you are not making shared worship a part of your schedule, you are missing the primary spiritual nourishment which Grace offers.

 

• You will find a personal spiritual practice that supports your life in Christ. Praying in a group is not enough. We expect you to find a meaningful, personal spiritual practice—any practice, as long as it sustains you.

 

• You will find a small group with the church where you can know and be known. If you limit your involvement to Sunday, you risk anonymity and spiritual evasion. A small group can be formal or informal—choir, a regular food pantry shift, or just the regulars around the kitchen sink after coffee hour.

 

• You will pledge, which supports the church financially. Making an intentional, accountable gift means that you are invested, literally, in the well-being of the church.

 

• You will participate in at least one ministry that support’s the church’s life and mission. What is true for the investment of your money is also true for the investment of your time. Note that this can be the same thing as your small group.

 

• You will, when you feel ready, be confirmed or received by the bishop as an adult member of the Episcopal Church. This step is not urgent but it is important. Our identity at Grace is taken from the wider church; we are not a congregational polity but a church that depends on connections outside ourselves.

 

Whether you have been here days or decades, I encourage you to review this list. If you want to know how to come deeper into the life of this parish, any of the clergy are glad to talk more.

 

Yours in Christ,
Anne+