Emmanuel Episcopal Church

Emmanuel Episcopal Church welcomes you to join God in healing the world.

You do not have to join the parish in a formal way in order to worship, attend classes or participate in activities. You may also donate support for the ministries of the parish without becoming a member.  And all baptized persons, adults and children, are always welcome to receive Holy Communion.

However, we invite you to consider becoming a member of our parish and growing with us during this incredible time of growth and renewal in our congregation.  ‘Membership’, however, has lost some of its usefulness in our culture. One can be a member of the YMCA, the country club or a fan club, etc. At Emmanuel, ‘membership’ suggests a small number of people who think about the business of the church but might not include the many more who are on the journey.  By joining with us at Emmanuel, you are joining yourself with God’s unique expression of love and healing found in our community.

In other words, we recognize that “becoming a member” can mean a variety of things to different people:

• You may seek to “become a Christian” in a publicly recognized way.
• You may seek to “belong” to the Episcopal Church in a general sense.
• You may seek to “join” this local congregation, called Emmanuel Church.

Whichever of these or other intentions you may have, we are available to help you begin the process of becoming a member.  Please review the various scenarios below in order to discern the path that may be appropriate in your circumstances.

Why should I become a member of Emmanuel?

For us the real question is, “Why should we be part of a church?” Committing your life to Christ, to others in community, and to bringing the healing of Jesus to the world is what it means to be church. Becoming a member of Emmanuel is simply a way of declaring that this commitment to Christ and his church is, in fact, a serious reality in your life.

What does being a member of Emmanuel require?

Simply put, all membership depends on a public affirmation of membership by you, or, in the case of small children, by godparents, AND incorporation into the church through the sacrament of Baptism.

What if I was baptized in another Episcopal parish?

Those whose baptisms have been registered in the Episcopal Church are considered baptized members. Upon reaching 16 years of age, baptized members are considered adult members.

What if I am presently a member of another Episcopal parish?

If you are presently a member of another Episcopal parish, you can transfer your membership. Please provide our parish office with the name and location of the church and the approximate dates of your membership. If you were confirmed there, provide the approximate date of your confirmation. We will then send for a letter of transfer, or you may wish to contact your previous parish yourself. (The office has access to the addresses and telephone numbers of all Episcopal parishes).

What if I am coming from another denomination or church?

If you are seeking to join the Episcopal Church from another Christian church or denomination (Roman Catholic, Congregational, etc), and if you have been baptized with water and in the name of the Trinity, you may become a baptized member of the Episcopal Church by having your birth date and place and baptismal date and place duly recorded in the register of Emmanuel.

What if I have not been baptized?

If you have not been baptized, contact the parish office or speak with one of the clergy to arrange a baptism. Baptisms are done at regularly scheduled services publicized in the bulletin.  Anyone baptized at Emmanuel is a baptized member.

What about Confirmation?

It is expected that all adult members of the Episcopal Church will be confirmed at some point. Confirmation is when 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. Any baptized adult is eligible.

What about being “Received” into the Episcopal Church, also known as “Reception?”

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. Persons are also received from churches in “full communion” with the Episcopal Church. Confirmations and receptions occur typically at a service in May. Please consult with the Rector if you are interested in either confirmation or reception. Classes for those preparing for confirmation or reception are led by clergy and usually begin six weeks before the actual service.

What is expected of members of Emmanuel?

We expect what God expects.  We expect that you give back to God a portion of the blessings that have been given to you in gratitude.  We expect that you worship God with our community on a regular basis.  We expect you to support and uplift your fellow travelers as we journey towards a deeper faith in Jesus.  We expect you to learn from others around you, to lean on others around you, and to love all those around you.

The fine print…

The canons of the Diocese of Rhode Island, in compliance with state laws governing religious corporations, specify that to be a voting member one must, for six months prior to a parish election, be a regular attendant at the parish and a regular contributor to the current expenses of the parish.

A Members Directory will be distributed periodically, including names, residential addresses, phone numbers, and email addresses.

We invite you to consider membership at Emmanuel Episcopal Church. If you have questions about the membership process, please do not hesitate to contact the Rector at the parish office: 401-658-1506

Many thanks to the websites of St. Paul’s in Yonkers, NY and Mars Hill Bible Church in Grand Rapids for their ideas in the construction and content of this page.