Become a Member

Become a Member…

At the Church of St. John the Divine, we strongly encourage attendees to become full members of our church family. We recognize that each person or family needs to spend time to prayerfully consider joining a church, and our hope is that you will eventually make the decision to commit to this fellowship of believers.  Membership is necessary to experience the fullness of community as the Body of Christ.

The difference between attending and joining a church is similar to the difference between dating and marriage.  You can definitely have a relationship with someone as you date, but your commitment, your priorities, and your love for that person is elevated when you decide to marry.  Similarly, you can attend a church to learn, grow, and connect, but when you make the decision to make the church your home, your devotion and love for your church family will greatly deepen.  As you take the steps needed to learn about our church, please know that it is our desire to walk with you as you make this important decision.

The Reason for Membership

The Process of Membership

The Avenues Toward Membership

 The Reason for Membership

Becoming a member of a church is biblical.  In scripture we see biblical metaphors that describe the church implying membership. The church is described as:

1. A Body – Belonging to a living, functioning, and serving community (1 Corinthians 12)
2. A Temple – Being a stone that belongs to a worshipping community (Ephesians 2:21)
3. A Household – Being a member of a family joined by a common father (1 Timothy 3:15), and
4. A Flock – Being a sheep means belonging to a community where you are dependent on the Shepherd for food, protection, and direction. (Acts 20:28)

Participating in a church body is essential for training and maturing in Christ.

Speaking the truth in love,  we are to grow up in all aspects into Him, who is the head, even Christ, from whom the whole body, being fitted and held together by that which every joint supplies, according to the proper working of each individual part, causes the growth of the body for building up itself in love. Ephesians 4: 15-16

Participating as a church member positions us to glorify God.

As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God's varied grace: whoever speaks, as one who speaks oracles of God; whoever serves, as one who serves by the strength that God supplies—in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. To him belong glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.  1 Peter 4:10-11

Participating in church membership is an evidence of an authentic relationship with Jesus and his body.

[L]et us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another--and all the more as you see the day approaching. Hebrews 10:22-25

The Process for Membership

We encourage all those who would like to join our church to attend the new members’ class, entitled The Discovery Class. During this class you will learn how to grow in your faith, learn about our church community, and meet the clergy and other new members.  This class, which is offered three times a year, is taught on two consecutive Saturdays. The classes are scheduled several weeks before the adult confirmation service held in the church. 

For more information about the class, adult confirmation, or the membership process, please contact , Senior Associate Rector by email or phone at   or 713.354.2221 or Kim Anderson, Director of Membership, at .

The Avenues Toward Membership

There are three ways to become a member of The Church of St. John the Divine:

1. by transfer from another Episcopal church
2. by transfer from another Christian denomination,  and
3. by baptism

If you are a member of another Episcopal church, you may ask our office to have your membership transferred to The Church of St. John the Divine. Contact at 713- 354-2217, and she will be happy to request for your records. If you have not been confirmed, you will be made a Baptized-Only-Member and are asked to be Confirmed by the bishop.

If you were baptized in another Christian denomination, your baptism will be accepted here. We do not re-baptize people who are already Christians. You are also urged to be Received or Confirmed into the Episcopal Church when the bishop comes to visit.

If you would like to schedule a baptism, please contact at 713-622-3600.  She will be pleased to schedule this service for you. You will then become a Baptized-Only-Member of this Church, and you are expected to be confirmed at the next visit of a bishop to St. John the Divine, which happens three times a year.

After being made a Baptized-Only-Member, you are asked to prepare - as soon as possible - to be received or confirmed by attending one of the Adult Confirmation Classes taught throughout the year. Those who were previously confirmed in another denomination, or have made an adult profession of faith in Jesus Christ, will be Received into the Episcopal Church. Those who have not made an adult profession of faith, will be Confirmed.