Worship at All Saints'

Become a Member of All Saints'

Thank you so much for your interest in membership at All Saints’.

If you are currently a member of another Episcopal Church, you can join All Saints' through transfer of letter from your previous parish. Betsey Gibbs, our membership coordinator, will facilitate the transfer of your membership from your current parish to All Saints.'

If you are not currently a member of an Episcopal Church or any church, you can join All Saints' through baptism, confirmation, reception, or reaffirmation.

Please fill out our new members form to begin the process of joining All Saints'!

Should I be baptized, confirmed, received, or should I reaffirm my faith?

Baptism is for people who have never officially become a Christian. Baptism is the rite of initiation into the body of Christ. If you were not raised in the church, or if you were raised in a church that practices adult baptism and left that church before you ever made a profession of faith and were baptized, we will be delighted to baptize you as a Christian and invite you into All Saints' as your first Chrisitan community.

Confirmation is making a mature public affirmation of faith as an adult. If you were baptized as a child but have never affirmed the faith of your childhood as your own in your adult life, confirmation will be the route through which you can join All Saints.' In Confirmation the Bishop prays that you will receive gifts of the Holy Spirit for ministry. It is first and foremost a sacrament of empowerment for service or "ordination" to the laity. Confirmation also serves as a rite of membership in the Episcopal Church and in our parish in particular.

We receive into this part of Christ’s body anyone who has previously made what they consider an adult affirmation of faith. If you have been confirmed by a bishop in apostolic succession (i.e. if you are Roman Catholic, Orthodox or Swedish Lutheran) then you must elect to be received. Some people feel that confirmation somehow negates a previous commitment and ministry and prefer to receive the bishop’s laying on of hands with words of welcome rather than a prayer of empowerment. Being received into the Episcopal Church is primarily a rite of membership.

Some who are already Episcopalians choose to reaffirm their faith before the bishop. This is particularly appropriate at times of transition in your life; a new city, a new job, a new relationship, a return to the church after years away. This does not automatically confer membership in All Saints’, which is accomplished by requesting a letter of transfer from whichever parish currently holds your membership.

Adult Enquirer's Class
For anyone seeking to be baptized as an adult, looking to join the Episcopal Church, or simply needing a “refresher course,” the Adult Enquirers’ Class is an opportunity for all these things. Classes are held in the winter, followed by a retreat and confirmation.

The next Adult Enquirers' class will be held on Monday nights, Jan 31-Mar 28, 2011, from 6:30-8:30 p.m., with a retreat April 1-3, 2011. Contact Pat Kiley, assistant to the rector, at 404-267-4265 for more information.