“For just as the body is one and has many members, and all of the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ. For in the one Spirit we were all baptized into one body, Jews or Greeks, slaves or free—and we were all made to drink of one Spirit.”
(1 Cor 12:12-13)
Membership in St. Paul’s stems from membership in the body of Christ.
Baptism is a process that begins with preparation (catechesis), is celebrated at the principal Sunday service with the gathered community, and which then leads to a lifetime of membership and responsibility. In the Episcopal Church, we baptize adults and children with holy water in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. If you would like to be baptized, please speak to Father Austin to set up an appointment.
When one is baptized as a child, the baptismal promises are made by one’s parents and godparents. Confirmation is a way of claiming those promises and responsibilities as an adult. It is a reaffirmation of one’s baptism and also serves as a decision to live those baptismal vows out as a member of the Episcopal Church. In many churches, confirmation is carried out when a youth arrives at a certain age, but here at St. Paul’s we encourage confirmands to be old enough to know what it is they are affirming, regardless of what age that is. Generally confirmation takes place after someone is at least 16 years of age, but can happen much later in adulthood. The bishop of the Convocation comes for a special visit, and the confirmation takes place in the midst of a Sunday service. Only the Bishop can confirm in our tradition, and it is generally a wonderful and joyous occasion. Confirmation involves a period of preparation, like baptism, and this time can be a fruitful way to discern what one’s gifts for ministry are, and the ways those gifts might be exercised at St. Paul’s. If you would like to explore confirmation at St. Paul’s, please contact Father Austin.
What if I’ve been baptized already in another church? This is great! We Episcopalians believe that baptism in Christ binds us all, and any baptized Christian, regardless of church tradition, is free to share in communion with us. However, persons baptized in other traditions may want to formally become members of St. Paul’s, and in this case, they may be received into the Episcopal Church. Reception happens at the same time as confirmation, and the preparation is generally alongside those preparing for confirmation. If you wish to explore being received, please contact Father Austin.
If you are an Episcopalian who has just moved to Rome from another parish, then becoming a member of St. Paul’s means getting a transfer letter from your previous parish and having that letter “moved” to St. Paul’s. We are greatly honored when members choose to transfer their letter, and we want to help you get integrated into this new church home and city. Please contact the parish administrator, Andrea, for all questions regarding transferring your letter (office@stpaulsrome.it), and she can set up an appointment with Father Austin so he can welcome you personally.
We are so glad you are discerning membership here at St. Paul’s, and we look forward to being transformed together and transforming the world as members of this community and the body of Christ!