Becoming a Member of St. Michael’s
At St. Michael's Episcopal Church, everyone is welcome to worship with us, whether or not you choose to officially become a member. However, membership at St. Michael's signifies more than just attending services—it reflects a commitment to being part of a living body, as Paul describes in Romans: "For as in one body we have many members, and the members do not all have the same function." Membership acknowledges that each person has a unique contribution to make, and that your gifts are essential to the enrichment of our community.
Understanding how to share those gifts often requires discernment, as there is no set formula. Being a member means taking the time to understand the body you are joining and how your unique talents can contribute to our shared mission.
At St. Michael's, our vision is to offer grace and connection—both deeply theological concepts—to everyone. We intentionally separate "every" and "one" because we recognize that each person God brings to our community is unique, experiencing grace and connection in diverse ways. We come together with our different perspectives, theological orientations, and needs, united by our desire to receive grace and offer it to others. In the Episcopal tradition, we are united by a commitment to “common prayer,” not a common ideology. We do ask that our members affirm our baptismal covenant and understand that St. Michael’s affirms the Nicene Creed as our statement of faith.
While we all participate in this shared mission in different ways, we ask our members to commit to three specific practices:
Prayer and Service: We encourage our members to take spiritual growth seriously and to engage actively in their relationship with God. Specifically, we invite members to familiarize themselves with the baptismal covenant and pray about what faithfulness to this covenant looks like in their lives.
Worship Regularly: Consistent worship is central to our community life, and we encourage members to participate regularly.
Financial Giving to Support God’s Work: Each fall, we ask members to make a pledge, estimating what they can give in the coming year to support the mission of St. Michael's.
One can be a member of St. Michael's without being a member of the larger Episcopal Church.
However, if you feel called to take that step, we encourage you to speak with one of our clergy about Confirmation or being received into the Episcopal Church. Confirmation is a sacramental rite in which the Bishop lays hands on a person as they affirm their faith in Christ and their commitment to the Church. For those already confirmed in another tradition (such as in the Catholic Church), the Bishop will "receive" them into the Episcopal Church. This is the formal way to officially join the Episcopal Church.
Additionally, Fr. Josh offers an "Episcopal 101" class as well as a new member orientation lunch after the 11:00 am service on occasion. Both he and Father John are more than happy to meet with new members one-on-one to discuss what taking one’s membership seriously might entail.
This is a great opportunity to learn more about the Episcopal Church and what membership entails. If you wish to officially become a member, you can do so by submitting the form below:
https://stmichaelsaustin.formstack.com/forms/becoming_a_member_of_smec
We invite you to consider what membership at St. Michael's might mean for you and how your unique gifts can help us all grow in grace and connection.