Letter from Amy: Sept 23, 2026
Dear friends,
Last Saturday was the annual L’Arche talent show, an event that always reminds me of a simple truth of being human: we need each other, and we aren’t made to go it alone.
That’s also a truth at the heart of how we view membership at Incarnation. In fact, our membership process and philosophy were amended early in our church’s life when Bruce, a L’Arche core member with intellectual disabilities, expressed a desire to become a member of Incarnation. How could we structure membership to meaningfully include Bruce? How could we make membership more about our shared life in Christ than our cognitive ascent to certain doctrines (doctrine is important, but could we emphasize it somewhere other than membership)? I still think often of the conversation with Bruce in the backyard of the L’Arche house, with its emphasis on belonging to Jesus' family as the heart of church membership.
All churches handle membership differently, so I thought I’d take today’s letter to share a bit about Incarnation's approach. Paul writes that “each member belongs to all the others” within the body of Christ (Romans 12:5). Christ's body is his incarnate presence in the church, and we are all members of that body ("members" comes from the Latin for limbs/body parts). The body can’t breathe, worship, heal, stretch, grow, serve, and show Christ in the world without the participation of each member. We need each other! And we belong to each other in mutuality and interdependence. Membership at Incarnation is primarily an expression of belonging to each other in the body.
Because of that, the first step toward membership is simply to come and belong for at least six months. We recommend that people spend those early months at Incarnation simply resting, receiving, listening, and learning more about our community before diving in to serve. (We’re a small church, so never fear: we will ask you to serve eventually!)
After six months’ attendance, to become a member, you must be baptized, affirm the Apostles’ Creed (the confession made at one’s baptism), and commit to our Membership Promises.
Membership is not required to participate fully in most aspects of the church. Non-members may receive communion, be confirmed, lead small groups, volunteer on Sundays, serve in various ministries, and more. We want everyone to be able to exercise their gifts and participate in the life of the body as much as possible, whether or not they are ready to become members, because this participation is an important part of how we grow in Christ.
However, there are a few exceptions. Membership is required for a person to be married at Incarnation; to baptize a child at Incarnation; to run for Incarnation’s vestry and vote in our vestry elections; and to represent Incarnation as a voting delegate at our annual diocesan synod (a diocese is a regional collective of churches under the authority of a bishop, and the synod is its annual governance meeting. Our diocese is the Mid-Atlantic and our bishop is Chris Warner). These sacramental and governance activities reflect a deeper level of commitment, and so we require membership as a prerequisite.
We receive members twice a year, in the spring and fall. Membership Sundays are an opportunity for everyone to discern how God is inviting them to belong and contribute to this body, whatever their membership status. Our next Membership Sunday is October 18, which will allow new members to vote in our upcoming vestry election.
Are you interested in membership and meet the criteria above? Fill out this form!
Are you potentially interested, but curious to learn more? We’ll hold a lunch on Saturday, October 10, at Incarnation (immediately after our St Francis Day celebration) to talk about membership and answer questions about the church. Email me with questions or to RSVP!
We’re entering a season of the church year that I’m hereby dubbing Membershiptide, a time rich in opportunities to deepen our participation in the life of our church.
Fall small groups have begun, and with them an opportunity to get to know others through a meal and prayer together. (Sign up here; there’s still room!)
In two weeks, we’ll hold our annual fall retreat, a time to deepen connection with God and each other through a restful, playful weekend together
We’ll hold our annual vestry election in mid-October to select those who will help lead and guide our church
We’ll receive new members on Membership Sunday, Oct 18
We’ll hold a potluck and parish meeting after church on Sunday, Oct 25, to hear updates on our church’s finances, budget, and ministry over the past fiscal year.
All of this — eating, praying, resting, playing, governance, finances, and more — is part of our life together in Christ. Regardless of your official membership status, I’m so grateful for your presence and participation in this body!
Warmly,
Amy
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