Membership Standards

of St. Peter’s Anglican Church

Frankfort, Kentucky

Preamble

The Church of Jesus Christ is not a human institution, but a divine creation. It is the ongoing life of our risen and ascended Lord tangibly present in this world through the Holy Spirit active in the lives of Christ’s called, committed and united followers.

Each local parish is a branch of Christ’s holy Church universal, drawing its life from Him, worshiping, witnessing, serving, growing, bearing fruit and manifesting His character in that location and context.

Prospective members of St. Peter’s Anglican Church should be confident that God is leading them into communion with this parish fellowship, understanding their membership to be an act of obedience to God, and affirming their allegiance to Jesus Christ above every earthly loyalty.

While all who seek to know and follow Jesus Christ are warmly welcomed into the fellowship family of St Peter’s, those who become members make an intentional public commitment and accept the responsibilities associated with full membership.

Standards

1. As a parish of the Anglican Diocese of the South, St. Peter’s Anglican Church functions under its guidance and authority. Following the standards of the Diocese, it shall be the duty of every member to:

Worship every Lord’s Day with the St. Peter’s community unless reasonably prevented;

Engage regularly in reading and studying Holy Scripture and the doctrines of the Church;

Honor their baptismal vows, lead an upright and sober life, and give no scandal or embarrassment to the Church;

Present their children and those they have led to Christ for baptism and confirmation;

Give their tithe, or be moving intentionally toward the tithe, as the biblical minimum standard of giving;

Practice forgiveness daily according to our Lord’s teaching;

Receive worthily the Sacrament of Holy Communion as often as reasonable;

Observe the feasts and fasts of the Church set forth in the Anglican formularies;

Continue their instruction in the Faith so as to remain an effective minister of Jesus Christ; and

Devote themselves to the ministry of Christ among those who do not know Him.

2. Further, every member of a Parish in the Anglican Diocese of the South is required to:

Give a valid testimony or affirmation of faith in Jesus Christ, commit to and follow God’s ordinances for His church, and re­ceive the Sacrament of Baptism with water in the Name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

Affirm the Fundamental Declarations in Article I of the Constitution of the Anglican Church in North America.

3. Prospective members of St Peter’s Anglican Church must be confirmed or received prior to the public affirma­tion of their full membership. Those who have not yet been confirmed or received can be recognized as provisional members upon the understanding that they will be at the next episcopal visit.

4. Members of St. Peter’s Anglican Church will receive train­ing and catechesis designed to help them become fully de­voted followers (disciples) of Jesus Christ, fully incorporated into the Body of Christ. This training shall include instruction in the doctrine, discipline and worship of Christ as the Angli­can Church in North America has received them.

Commitment:

I believe God is calling me to become a member of St Peter’s Anglican Church. I understand and wholeheartedly affirm these standards. Relying on the help of God, I commit to conform my life to them, in loving communion with my fellow members. Should I falter in this commitment I will seek the counsel and support of our pastor, and in the event of any conflict pursue all possible means of reconciliation.