St Luke's Episcopal Church
Marianna, Florida
Diocese of the Central Gulf Coast
The Rt. Rev. Philip M. Duncan II, Bishop
The Rev. Norman Bray, Pastor

The following article has important information for
long time members as well as possible new ones.

How Do People Become Members of St. Luke's?

The answer is simple: through Holy Baptism. The first way is to be baptized at St. Luke's. Thus, one becomes a member of Christ's Body, the fellowship of all faithful believers, as well as a member of the Episcopal Church and this parish. Holy Baptism is available for infants, teenagers, and adults. When a baby or child is baptized his or her parents and godparents or sponsors are the ones primarily responsible for imparting the Christian faith to the baptized person and incorporating the baptized person into the life and worship of the church. Adults and those teens able to reason for themselves and to commit to living their lives as followers of Christ but have never been baptized may be baptized at St. Luke's, too.

The second way is for those who have been baptized in another Episcopal parish or in another church which baptizes with water in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy

They may transfer into St. Luke's as a baptized member. Only an Episcopal church Letter of Transfer, Baptismal Certificate, or official baptismal record of some kind is needed. Please contact the parish office if you're interested in transferring.

What About Confirmation?

When those baptized as infants or children become emotionally and spiritually mature enough to make a responsible decision for themselves it is a good and needed thing for them to claim or assert for themselves their own faith in Christ. They do that by being confirmed in their faith by a bishop. They are presented to the bishop after a preparatory period of learning and spiritual growth. Adults being baptized are presented to the bishop at that time or as soon after as conveniently possible.

When are Baptisms and Confirmations?

Holy Baptism may be administered at any time. Normally it is done on Sunday mornings in the midst of the members of Christ's Body, the church, gathered for Holy Eucharist. That is because the person(s) being baptized become part of the community of faith which not only worships but seeks to do Christ's work on earth. The Book of Common Prayer recommends that in as so far as it is possible Holy Baptisms be reserved for four special occasions each year. Those occasions are: the Easter Vigil; Pentecost Sunday; All Saints Day or the Sunday following; and the Feast of the Baptism of our Lord. Easter is in either late March or early April each year. Pentecost is 50 days later, in late May. All Saints is the first of November. The baptism of our Lord is usually the second Sunday in January. People planning to be baptized or to have their child baptized should arrange with the priest a month ahead of the actual date to do the pre-baptismal counseling. In case of an emergency and the infant or adult to be baptized is dying and no priest is available a lay person may use water and baptize in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. If the baptized person survives it is appropriate for him or her to begin attending church and to go through the baptismal service (except for the actual administration of water) to make the vows and receive the prayers and Chrismation.

The Oil of Chrism is blessed by the bishop during Holy week each year. Thus the bishop's administration of Holy Baptism is made quite real when the priest anoints the forehead of the baptized person with the blessed oil. This liturgical act is called "Chrismation".

In the early days of Christianity only bishops could baptize. But the great growth in the number of converts to faith in Christ made it impossible for the bishops to baptize everyone. So, the local priests were empowered by the bishops to do the baptisms. Those who had been baptized during the time since the bishop's last visit were educated in the faith. Then, they were presented to the bishop when he next visited. The bishop would lay his hands upon the newly baptized. He would pray for God to give each of those presented the Holy Spirit enabling them to live their lives as Christians. Thus, the faith of the baptized person was "Confirmed.

Confirmation has continued as a separate rite to this day. All those who have been baptized since the last annual visit of a Bishop and are mature enough to make the necessary commitment of faith are expected to prepare themselves for Confirmation. When a bishop makes his or her next yearly visit those prepared for Confirmation are presented.

When Is The Next Confirmation at St. Luke's?

The first Sunday, January 4, 2004

When Will Confirmation Classes Begin?

The classes will begin following the 10:30 service.

Who Can Attend Confirmation Classes?

Anyone who has been baptized, or would like to be baptized and confirmed, and is at least 12 or 13 years old is welcome. If needed, one class for adults and another for teens can be formed.

What If You Have Already Been Confirmed In Another Church?

If you have been baptized and then confirmed by a bishop in the Roman Catholic, Orthodox, or other Christian faith group that maintains the Apostolic Succession, you need not be confirmed by Bishop Duncan. He will simply receive you as a recognized member of the ancient and apostolic Christian faith as lived out by Episcopalians. Those confirmed in communities of Christian faith that do not care about validating the Apostolic Succession of bishops would need to be confirmed in the Episcopal church.

Can You Attend Confirmation Classes If You Just Want to Know More About The Episcopal Church But Do Not Plan To Be Confirmed?

Yes, of course you can. Preparation for Confirmation is a time of learning and spiritual growth.

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Last update 08/12/07