Frequently Asked Questions

A Christian is any person who has been baptized in the Episcopal Church or any other Christian church.

The sacrament of Baptism is the initiation rite into the Christian Church. To be Baptized, as an infant, child or adult is to become a full member of the Church with access to the sacraments.

The sacrament of Baptism is the initiation rite into the Christian Church. To be Baptized, as an infant, child or adult is to become a full member of the Church with access to the sacraments. Description text goes here

A person is a member of the Episcopal Church if they have been baptized, whether in an Episcopal church or another Christian church, and the baptism has been recorded in the records of a particular Episcopal parish. A person may also become a member of the Episcopal Church if they are Confirmed or Received by a bishop.

Confirmation is a sacrament of the Church. It is a “mature public affirmation of the faith” that may be made by teenagers or adults. To be Confirmed is to outwardly proclaim your choice of the Episcopal faith and tradition. It involves the laying on of hands upon the head of the individual Confirmand by the bishop. At Bethesda, we regularly offer Episcopal 101 classes, which serve both as informational sessions for those interested in exploring our beliefs, faith, and traditions, as well as preparation for adults seeking Baptism, Confirmation, or Reception in to the Episcopal Church when the bishop visits Bethesda in the spring.

If you have been Confirmed in another liturgical tradition (such as Roman Catholic or Lutheran) you are Received into the Church rather than Confirmed. A person is Received into the Episcopal Church by a bishop.

ItemWe believe that God speaks to people in a variety of ways and that no one particular expression of this faith is “right.” For Episcopalians, this way of relating to the divine balances scripture, tradition, and reason. The Episcopal Church is a sacramental and liturgical form of Christianity that respects the ancient nature of the church yet allows room for a prayerful discussion of theology. description

If you are a member of another Episcopal parish and would like to transfer your membership to Bethesda, please contact the parish office to let us know. We have a special form we send to your former parish that “transfers” your membership to Bethesda.

An “official” member of Bethesda is a baptized person who requests to be placed on the membership rolls of this parish - contact the parish office to be added. If you are Baptized, Confirmed, or Received at Bethesda, you automatically become a member. A person who is a member of another Episcopal church can transfer their membership to Bethesda through a Letter of Transfer.

That’s fine! We consider our parish family to be a wide net of individual beliefs and situations and while we encourage people to seriously consider official membership, it is not a requirement to partake in the life of the community. According to the canons (governing laws) of the Episcopal Church and the Diocese of Southeast Florida, the only thing non-members may not do at the parish level is serve on the Vestry, vote at the annual parish meeting, and serve as a chalice bearer.

No. The Parish Directory is an unofficial list of people who attend Bethesda on a regular basis. It is never fully complete or up-to-date since people join the community, move, or leave the parish at various times for a variety of reasons. The directory is published occasionally and updated regularly. If you would like to be included, amend your entry, receive a copy, or sign up for access to our online directory, please contact the parish office.

Giving money is not a requirement at Bethesda. However, by making a pledge, large or small, you demonstrate in word and deed your real commitment to both Christ’s Church and this particular community of faith. We firmly believe that stewardship of our financial resources is an integral part of being a Christian and we rely on the generosity of our community to support our common ministry and pay our bills.

As followers of Jesus, we expect members of this parish community to strive to lead a life of faith. We invite members to Worship Regularly, Serve Joyfully, Pray Unceasingly, and Give Generously. This means sharing the joy of corporate worship as regularly as possible; recognizing that God is the source of all that we are and all that we do; being tolerant of one another and respecting the dignity of every human being; understanding that we don’t have all the answers about faith but we’re always seeking to learn from God and one another; offering of ourselves to the church through our talents, time, and financial resources; helping to spread the message of Christ’s love in whatever way is possible for you.