Membership at St. Matthias'
How do I become a member of St. Matthias'?
There are several paths to membership here at St. Matthias', depending on your prior church membership and sacramental rites received. No matter your path to membership here at St. Matthias’ we want you to feel at home and be incorporated into the life of St. Matthias’ Episcopal Church. To help us do that, we ask that you complete the information form below.
Please contact Br. Mark, our parish administrator, to discuss your pathway to membership. He can be reached at 804-464-1842 x100.
I’m already Episcopalian: That easy, just give the Parish Administrator a call and we will do the paperwork to transfer your membership from your previous parish to St. Matthias'.
I’m Episcopalian, but I am not sure where my membership records are located: That’s easy as well. Contact the Parish Administrator and we will try and locate your membership records. If we are not able to locate your membership records, we will record your membership here at St. Matthias'. Please don’t feel ashamed that you don’t know the location of your membership records, this scenario happens often.
I’m not Baptized: If you are not baptized, you will need to contact the Parish Administrator to discuss arrangements to be baptized. Once you are baptized, you are a member of the Episcopal Church. At a later date you will need to be confirmed by the Bishop of the Diocese of Southern Virginia. The Bishop generally visits St. Matthias' every 2 years.
I am from a Roman Catholic or an Orthodox tradition: Contact the Parish Administrator to let us know you would like to become an Episcopalian. Depending on the Sacramental Rites you have received, you will either need to be received or confirmed by the Bishop of the Diocese of Virginia.
I am from a Protestant tradition: The process of becoming Episcopalian from a Protestant tradition can vary depending on the denomination. If you are a member of a church that is in full communion with the Episcopal Church, such as the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, we simply need to transfer your membership to St. Matthias'. If you come from a denomination not in full communion with the Episcopal Church contact the Parish Administrator to discuss your pathway to membership.
I want to be involved with St. Matthias', but I don’t want to sever my membership with another church: You are welcome here! To fully integrate you into the life of St. Matthias', we will need you to contact the office and fill out an information form.