“Being a Christian is not essentially about joining a church or being a nice person, but about following in the footsteps of Jesus, taking his teachings seriously, letting his Spirit take the lead in our lives, and in so doing helping to change the world from our nightmare into God’s dream.” — Presiding Bishop Michael Curry
Because we welcome people wherever they are on their spiritual journey, we welcome new members following their first visit, or after they have attended St. John’s for years. We hope you will take a moment to learn more about our beliefs at St. John’s and how we are helping people connect more deeply with God and each other. Then below find the steps you can take to become a member of St. John’s. If you have questions, please complete the form at the bottom of this page and a member of our staff will be in touch.
New Members' Class
If you’ve been baptized and want to make St. John’s your church home, here’s what to do:
Step 1: Register your baptism with St. John’s. We accept the baptismal rites of all Christian churches as the real thing; we never “re-baptize” anyone. Let us know when you were baptized and your previous church home (if applicable).
Step 2: Attend the New Members’ Class. This course, led by St. John’s clergy and lay leaders, is held frequently throughout the year. The goal of the class is to help you connect with the St. John’s community and the Episcopal Church. Learn more about our next New Members’ Class on our church calendar.
Step 3: Participate in Welcome Sunday. This is an opportunity to celebrate, recognize, and pray for those in the New Members’ Class during an upcoming Welcome Sunday. Following the service there will be a special reception.
Note: If you haven’t yet been baptized, you can sign up for the New Members’ Class, during which the clergy will share more about baptism in the Episcopal Church.
In the Episcopal Church, all baptized are members of the church, but to become a leader at St. John’s, one must “make a mature, public affirmation” of their faith before God, the bishop and congregation. Adult members prepare for baptism, confirmation or reception by attending Growing in Grace, a three-month course for adults on the basics of the Christian faith and the Episcopal Church. This course, led by clergy and lay leaders, typically begins January and meets for three months on Sunday evenings. A bishop from the Episcopal Diocese of Florida comes to St. John’s for a special service in the spring.
A Youth Confirmation class is held annually in the spring and is open to all senior high students, beginning in the ninth grade.
