Welcome to the Sarum Episcopal Church Membership Page
People at St. Aelred's
BECOMING MEMBERS in the SARUM EPISCOPAL CHURCH
March 1, 1999
See INTRODUCTION-
See MEMBERSHIP-
See CATEGORIES-
See RIGHTS OF MEMBERSHIP-
See RESPONSIBILITIES OF MEMBERSHIP-
See PRIORITIES-
See CERTIFICATES-
See RECORDS-
See TRANSFERS-
See STANDING-
See LETTERS OF COMMENDATION FOR MEMBERS-
See COMMUNICANTS-
See QUALIFICATIONS OF COMMUNICANTS-
See RESPONSIBILITIES OF COMMUNICANTS-
See REGISTRATION AND RECEPTION OF COMMUNICANTS-
See PRIVILEGES OF COMMUNICANTS-
See ELDERS-
See ELDERSHIP-
See ELDERSHIP AUTHORITY-
See ELDERSHIP JURISDICTION-
See ELDERSHIP QUALIFICATIONS-
See ELDERSHIP CANDIDATES-
See ELDERSHIP COMMISSIONING-
See ELDERSHIP TERM OF OFFICE-
See ELDERSHIP RESPONSIBILITIES-
See ELDERSHIP TITHING-
See TERMS OF OFFICE FOR ELDERS IN STANDING OFFICES-
See DUTIES OF CLERKS AND TREASURERS-
See DUTIES OF HISTORIANS-
See DUTIES OF LIBRARIANS-
See DUTIES OF SACRISTANS-
See DUTIES OF HOSPITALITY COORDINATORS-
See DUTIES OF FELLOWSHIP COORDINATORS-
See DUTIES OF BOOKSTORE COORDINATORS-
See DUTIES OF HOUSEKEEPING COORDINATORS-
See DUTIES OF EDUCATION COORDINATORS-
See DUTIES OF MUSIC COORDINATORS-
See DUTIES OF FIELD SERVICE COORDINATORS-
See DUTIES OF IN-SERVICE COORDINATORS-
See ELDERSHIP LITURGICAL RESPONSIBILITIES-
See E-MAIL US FOR YOUR MEMBERSHIP APPLICATION-
INTRODUCTION
All people who worship with our church regularly are considered part
of our church community. Becoming a member of the church simply makes
participation more formal and provides an avenue for sharing of
responsibility. All persons who worship with us regularly are
encouraged to become members of our communion. Membership is open
to any person who is a baptized Christian. We encourage our members
to retain the doctrines and theological disciplines of their personal
religious heritage as they can be shared in our church experiment.
We do not require any members to abandon or recant their current
church affiliation, but rather welcome persons of dual affiliation.
Read the following and if at the end of the reading you are interested
in Pursing of membership in our communion, please E-mail the
information requested to the Rector.
Thank you for your interest. You are important to God and us.
MEMBERSHIP-
Membership in the spiritual communion of the universal Church -
the Body of Christ - begins at Baptism. Membership in the visible,
organized, institution of Catholic Christianity, of which the Sarum
Episcopal Church is a part, begins when an individual is received
into membership and begins to actualize and exercise the rights
and responsibilities of membership, assumed in the Baptismal Covenant.
CATEGORIES-
This communion recognizes two categories of church membership:
Communicants and Elders.
RIGHTS OF MEMBERSHIP
The general rights of all church members are: to participate in all
services of worship of the local congregation to which they belong;
to participate in all social activities of the local congregation;
to share and receive the sacraments of the Church; to express their
views and feelings to the Parish Council on mat-matters of concern;
to make use of the pastoral services of the clergy; and to participate
in the educational programs of the local congregation.
RESPONSIBILITIES OF MEMBERSHIP
The general responsibilities of all church members are: to support the
local congregation financially; to attend worship and participate as able
in the main Sunday liturgy; to support the programs and activities of the
local congregation as able; and to participate in the ministry of the local
congregation as able.
PRIORITIES
Church members are expected to use good judgment in their exercise
of the rights and responsibilities of membership. Each local congregation
has certain needs which must be met, and additional needs which members
would like to address. This communion expects that members will attend to
the basic needs of the church first, before attempting to implement or
establish other programs, activities, or ministries. Each local congregation
also has specific tasks which must be done, and other tasks which members
would like to see done. This communion expects that members will adapt
their particular talents and gifts to the specific tasks needed by the
local congregation, rather than insist that the local congregation find or
develop forms of expression appropriate to the unique talents or gifts of
individual members.
CERTIFICATES
Each member shall receive a membership certificate on being received into
a local parish or mission of this communion, which certificate shall serve
as primo facie evidence of membership for that individual.
RECORDS
On being received into membership, each new Communicant shall be enrolled in the membership record of the parish or mission where received, and a membership file shall be established for him/her, which file shall contain basic identifying information, church-related educational credits received, special training received, a copy of the annual tithing report for the member, records pertaining to the reception of the sacraments of Confirmation, Holy Covenant, and Ordination, a copy of the annual report on individual membership standing, and copies of all correspondence between the member and the local congregation. When a member transfers from one congregation of this communion to another, that member should make certain that his/her membership file is transferred from the dismissing congregation to the receiving one.
TRANSFERS
Members of local congregations of this communion may transfer their
membership from one to another congregation of this communion without
losing their membership privileges. To do so, a member must request that
a letter of transfer be sent from the Rector/Vicar of the dismissing church
directly to the Rector/Vicar of the receiving church. All letters of
transfer shall include a determination of membership standing made by the
Rector or Vicar of the dismissing congregation. Individual membership files
are routinely sent when membership transfers are requested.
STANDING
The communion assumes that anyone who desires to unite with it in formal
membership as a Communicant understands that a degree of commitment to the
mission and ministry of this communion is implicit in church membership.
This communion recognizes three degrees of membership standing: good,
questionable, and poor. Good standing means that a member commitment to
the local church is, in the competent opinion of the Rector or Vicar,
at least comparable to the minimum expectations for a Communicant or Elder
of this communion. Questionable standing means that the member does not meet
the minimum expectations for a Communicant or Elder of this communion, but
that there may be extenuating circumstances unknown to the Rector or Vicar
to account for this. Poor standing means that the member does not meet,
and consistently has not met, the minimum expectations for Communicants
or Elders of this communion. Membership standing is determined annually,
and is based on attendance at Sunday Mass, amount and regularity of
financial contribution, and participation in the general life, mission
and ministry of the congregation. Membership in any congregation of this
communion shall not be denied based on a determination of membership
standing from a previous congregation, but the exercise of the rights of
membership may be limited by the receiving congregation, and/or the Rector
or Vicar of the receiving congregation may want to discuss the matter
with the transferring member.
LETTERS OF COMMENDATION FOR MEMBERS
A Rector or Vicar may, on the request of a member in good standing, issue
a letter of commendation for that member to other congregations of this
communion, requesting that such congregation extend welcome and hospitality
to the member while that member is traveling, vacationing, or residing
temporarily away from his/her own congregation. Such letters are given
only to members in good standing, and must have an expiration date
included. If no expiration date is included, the letter of commendation
shall expire thirty days from the issue date. The extent of any hospitality
extended to a church member on the basis of a letter of commendation is
determined by the deacons of any congregation where a church member
presents such a letter, and may be limited due to the resources and
particular situation of that local congregation.
COMMUNICANTS
A Communicant is a supporting member of a parish or mission of the
communion. He/she is an individual who desires to participate in the
life and ministry of a local congregation, but who, for reasons of
family commitment, employment responsibilities, or other extenuating
circumstances may not be able to undertake the responsibilities of full
membership as an Elder.
QUALIFICATIONS OF COMMUNICANTS
Communicants must be baptized Christians who, of their own free will,
wish to have a recognized part in the religious and community life of
a local parish or mission of this communion.
REGISTRATION AND RECEPTION OF COMMUNICANTS
Any individual desiring to become a Communicant of a congregation of
this communion should discuss the matter with the Rector or Vicar of
that congregation. The Rector/Vicar will then make arrangements to
register that individual as a Communicant of the parish or mission,
and publicly receive and welcome the new Communicant at a regular
worship service of the congregation.
RESPONSIBILITIES OF COMMUNICANTS
Each Communicant is expected to fulfill his/her baptismal vows to the
best of his/her ability, given individual situations and circumstances,
and to support his/her local congregation as best he/she is able.
PRIVILEGES OF COMMUNICANTS
Communicants receive the congregation monthly newsletter; may participate
in all the activities of the congregation; may serve on committees; are
entitled to receive all the pastoral services offered by the congregation,
and may speak, but not vote, at meetings of the parish Council and at
Congregational Assemblies.
ELDERS
An Elder is a Communicant who desires, and is able, to undertake the
responsibilities of full membership in this communion. He/she is a mature
individual who has undertaken and successfully completed a period of
preparation and training, and who has been commissioned to the Eldership
by his/her Rector or Vicar.
ELDERSHIP
The Eldership is the whole body of Elders in this communion.
ELDERSHIP AUTHORITY
The Eldership, as a body, has no independent authority within this
communion. An Elder's authority is the delegated authority of the Rector
or Vicar in whose congregation that Elder is exercising his/her ministry.
In the absence of a Rector or Vicar, an Elder's authority is subject to
the bishop of the jurisdiction in which the congregation is located, or
to whatever priest is given interim pastoral and administrative oversight
of that congregation.
ELDERSHIP JURISDICTION
An Elder's jurisdiction is limited to the congregation in which he/she is
commissioned.
ELDERSHIP QUALIFICATIONS
To be considered as a candidate for the Eldership an individual must be at
least sixteen years of age, and must have been a Communicant in a parish or
mission of this communion for at least one year.
ELDERSHIP CANDIDATES
Communicants who desire to become Elders should first discuss their
interest and intent with their Rector or Vicar, and then enroll as an
Eldership candidate in an Elder's Academy. Elders Academy is for a
minimum of six months, but may be longer at the discretion of the Dean
in charge.
ELDERSHIP COMMISSIONING
Upon successful completion of Elders Academy, Eldership candidates should
present their Certificates of Completion to their Rector or Vicar, who
will then make arrangements to commission them. The commissioning of
Elders is according to the Rite for the commissioning of Elders in the
Book of Common Prayer of this communion.
ELDERSHIP TERM OF OFFICE
The ministry of an Elder is until death, resignation, or removal for cause.
ELDERSHIP RESPONSIBILITIES
An Elder of this communion is expected to exercise his/her ministry to
the fullest extent possible. An Elder duties include, but are not limited
to: realistic financial support of the local parish or mission; serving
as sub-deacon at Eucharist when scheduled; serving as Acolyte or Lector
when scheduled to do so; serving on the Parish Council when appointed or
elected to do so; serving in one of his/her congregation standing offices
when appointed to do so; serving his/ her congregation field ministry if
qualified to do so; and participating in the annual Congregational Assembly.
ELDERSHIP TITHING
A ten percent tithe of net earnings is the standard and accepted form of
financial support expected of all Elders.
ELDERSHIP STANDING OFFICES
Each local congregation of this communion has several standing offices
for Elders. It is expected that the elders of a congregation will
cooperate to insure that these standing offices are filled and
functioning effectively before those Elders will consider establishing
other ministries. The standing offices include, but are not limited to:
treasurer; clerk; historian; librarian; sacristan; hospitality
coordinator (ushers/ greeters); fellowship coordinator; bookstore
coordinator; field service coordinator; in-service coordinator;
housekeeping coordinator; and music coordinator. Elders not assigned
to one of these standing offices are expected to assist those appointed
in every way as needed.
TERMS OF OFFICE FOR ELDERS IN STANDING OFFICES
The term of office for Elders appointed to standing offices is one year.
An Elder may be re-appointed to any number of consecutive terms.
DUTIES OF CLERKS AND TREASURERS
The duties of Elders serving a local congregation as clerk or treasurer
are given in Canon XVI.
DUTIES OF HISTORIANS
The duties of historians are to obtain, catalog, and retain in a safe
place any documents (except legal and financial documents), photographs,
literature, newspaper and/or magazine articles, video and/or audio tapes,
and any and all other materials that may record the history of the
congregation; to encourage members to contribute such articles in their
possession to the church; and to arrange for photographs or other
documentation to be taken of significant events in the life of the
congregation.
DUTIES OF LIBRARIANS
The duties of librarians are: to obtain according to established
procedures, catalog, and retain for the use of parishioners books,
periodicals, journals, video and audio tapes, and other published
materials; to establish and/ or maintain a clean and organized library
within the facility of the local congregation; and to see that the library
is adequately staffed at appropriate times by volunteers.
DUTIES OF SACRISTANS
The duties of sacristans are: to take a semi-annual inventory of all
liturgical vessels, vestments and ornaments belonging to the congregation
and to record the same, including any discrepancies, and report the results
to the Parish Council; to arrange for the maintenance and safe storage-rage
of such liturgical property; and to arrange for the availability of such
property when and as needed for the Masses and services of the congregation.
DUTIES OF HOSPITALITY COORDINATORS
The duties of hospitality coordinators are: to solicit, train, and schedule
church members to serve as volunteer ushers and greeters for all public
services of the congregation; and to arrange for the reporting and keeping
of attendance records for all worship services.
DUTIES OF FELLOWSHIP COORDINATORS
The duties of fellowship coordinators are: to solicit from, and schedule
church members to provide refreshments for all regular worship and social
activities of the congregation; and to coordinate the occasional special
social events of the congregation.
DUTIES OF BOOKSTORE COORDINATORS
The duties of bookstore coordinators are: to order and maintain an
inventory of those books, printed materials and other items which are
recommended for and regularly used by congregations of this communion; to
investigate and recommend to the Parish Council the ordering of other
printed materials and items which may be of use in the local congregation;
to establish and/or maintain a clean, attractive, orderly sales area within
the local church facility; to arrange for the staffing of that sales area;
and to maintain fully and accurately the financial records and paperwork
incidental to the office.
DUTIES OF HOUSEKEEPING COORDINATORS
The duties of housekeeping coordinators are: to solicit and schedule
church members to maintain the church building and grounds in a presentable
and attractive state on a regular basis; to arrange-range for repairs to
church property when needed and approved; and to order approved supplies
for these purposes as needed.
DUTIES OF EDUCATION COORDINATORS
The duties of education coordinators are: to establish and/or maintain the
congregation adult and children religious education programs; to solicit,
train and schedule teachers for these programs; to order approved
educational materials as needed; and to maintain accurate records.
DUTIES OF MUSIC COORDINATORS
The duties of music coordinators are: to arrange for competent musicians
to provide musical accompaniment for worship services of the congregation;
to arrange-range, if appropriate, for the establishment and/or maintenance
of a choir for the congregation; to solicit and schedule occasional
competent individuals to provide special vocal or instrumental music
for special services; and to order (when approved), catalog, in-inventory
and store sheet music, choir robes, and other materials belonging to the
music department of the congregation.
DUTIES OF FIELD SERVICE COORDINATORS
The duties of field service coordinators are: to solicit and arrange for
the training of church members as field ministers; to maintain and keep
up-dated field service records of the congregation; to schedule members of
field service on a regular basis; and to keep accurate records and make
regular reports to the Parish Council.
DUTIES OF IN-SERVICE COORDINATORS
The duties of in-service coordinators are: to implement, as the
congregation is able, the special programs of this communion as they
relate to the local congregation, such as counseling programs, tutorial
programs, visitation programs, etc.
ELDERSHIP LITURGICAL RESPONSIBILITIES
It is expected that Elders will cooperate together to insure that the
liturgical offices of sub-deacon, lector, acolyte, etc., are adequately
filled so that the Solemn mass may be celebrated as frequently as possible,
but at least on the feast days in their parish.
E-MAIL US FOR YOUR MEMBERSHIP APPLICATION
Send us your name, address, city, state, zip code, phone number,
date of birth, religious upbringing and request to become a
Communicant member of the Sarum Episcopal Church. We will respond.
