You do not have to join the church in a formal way in order to worship, attend classes, participate in activities, and support financially the ministries of the church.  All persons, who feel so moved, adults and children, are always welcome to participate in the life of the congregation.

If you are interested in becoming a member of St. Mark’s, there are several options to consider:

If you have not been baptized:

Call the parish office or speak with one of the clergy to arrange a baptism. Baptisms are done at regularly scheduled services on the feast days specified by the Book of Common Prayer (The Baptism of Our Lord, The Great Vigil of Easter, Pentecost, and All Saints) and occasionally on other Sundays or feast days. Anyone baptized at St. Mark’s Church is a “baptized member.”

If you are a member of another Christian denomination:

If you were baptized with water in the name of the Trinity, in any Christian denomination, you may become a “baptized member” of St. Mark’s Church. Simply provide the parish office with your birth date and place and your baptismal date and place.

Some offices of the church require that a person be a "confirmed communicant."  If you have been confirmed in another Christian denomination, you may be received by the bishop to become a "confirmed communicant."  If you have been baptized but not confirmed, you are eligibly for the rite of confirmation in The Episcopa Church.  See below.

If you are an Episcopalian:

If you are a member of another Episcopal congregation, or were ever confirmed in an Episcopal Church, you can transfer your membership. Provide our parish office with the name and location of the church and the approximate dates of your membership or, if you were confirmed there, the approximate date of confirmation, and we will send for a letter of transfer, or you may wish to contact your previous parish yourself.

If you are from another province of the Anglican Communion:

If you are a confirmed Anglican from, for example, the Church of England or the Church of South Africa, provide the parish office with your birth date and place, baptismal date and place, and confirmation date, place and bishop.

Confirmation is “the rite in which we express a mature commitment to Christ, and receive strength from the Holy Spirit through prayer and the laying on of hands by a bishop.”  Confirmation classes and adult inquirers’ classes are offered each year. Any baptized adult, and any baptized youth interested, is eligible. Persons who have been confirmed in another denomination by a bishop in the apostolic succession (most often Roman Catholic or Orthodox) are received by the bishop rather than confirmed. Those who have been confirmed or received are classified as “confirmed communicants.” Speak with one of the clergy if you are interested in confirmation or reception.

Members/Communicant in good standing:

A member/communicant in good standing is one whose baptism is entered in the parish register (through one of the means described above), who worships regularly, and who is a contributor of record (by pledge or other identifiable contribution) to the general support of the parish. Communicants in good standing may serve on our committees and be licensed by the Bishop as lay readers, chalice bearers and Eucharistic ministers.  Some offices of the church require that you are a "confirmed communicant."  This is becoming confusing throughout the church as the rite of confirmation is not practiced as regularly as it once was.  Baptism is the rite of initiation, but Confirmation is still required by canon (church laws) for some office.  Please contact the church office if you have questions about "communicant in good standing."

Newcomers’ Receptions:

Several times each year, receptions will be held for people who have recently begun attending St. Mark’s Church. If you would like to be invited to an upcoming reception, please contact the parish office.

If you are interested in membership, baptism, becoming a baptized member or confirmed or received member, please contact the office.  To be confirmed or received we must schedule a visitation by a bishop or attend the Diocesan confirmations service.  Baptism and the reception of baptized members are done by the parish priest on appointed Sundays.