How to Join the Church
If you have attended a worship service, Bible study, service project, or a reception at Emmanuel, then
you have taken the first step, which is to show up. We have a certain vagueness about membership, not because we are trying to be exclusive, but because we want you to feel welcome and included, without feeling pressured to take any formal steps before you feel absolutely ready. So, if you've taken the first step by showing up, we want you to know that you are welcome and that we consider you part of the family.
How to Make it "Official"
So, you're at the place where you feel comfortable, and you want to make Emmanuel your church home. How does that happen. Part of the answer to that question depends on how you got here.
If you are already an Episcopalian, or if you come from one of the Churches of the worldwide Anglican Communion, like the Church of England, the Anglican Church of Canada, or any other of the 38 Provinces of our global Anglican family, then you may request a Letter of Transfer from your home parish to Emmanuel. If you come to us as a Confirmed Communicant, then you will be enrolled in the Communicant Register of this parish. If you are baptized, but not yet confirmed, you will be enrolled in the Baptized Persons Register of this parish. When you are ready to consider full membership in the Church, you will be able to go through our Confirmation class and be Confirmed.
If you are a baptized Christian from another tradition, you will be enrolled in the Register of Baptized Persons, and we hope that you will consider going through Confirmation class, getting Confirmed, and taking your full place in the life and ministry of the church.
If you are a Christian who is baptized and confirmed in another tradition that has Apostolic Succession, which means a succession of bishops that can be traced back to the 12 apostles, then you will be able to be received into this part of Christ's Church. People who come from the Roman Catholic, Orthodox, and some Lutheran traditions are typically those who would be received.
If you have not yet been baptized, we would love to help you prepare to receive Holy Baptism, 
so please speak to a member of the clergy if you are interested in being baptized.
What Happens at Confirmation?
We understand Confirmation to be a way to make a public commitment to the Christian faith. For those who were baptized at a young age, it is a way to publicly take responsibility for living as a follower of Jesus. For those baptized in another tradition, Confirmation is a way to make public one's contentment with the Episcopal Church and Anglican Communion as a meaningful way to be a Christian.
Confirmation happens when the bishop, who is the chief pastor of our diocese, makes a visitation to our parish. The service of confirmation consists of candidates being presented to the bishop, who asks them to reaffirm their commitment to Christ, and leads them in a renewal of their baptismal vows. Then, each candidate is presented by name to the bishop, who lays hands on each and prays that the Holy Spirit will fill and empower each one to follow Christ, serve Christ, and in the age to come have life everlasting.
When is the next class?
Glad You Asked!
