Membership or Pledge
Are You a Member of the Church?

Dues and pledges may make us eligible to vote at an Assembly, but they don't really qualify us as members of the Church. Money is just one part of membership. For most of us, it's the easy part after all, how many of us actually give more money than is "comfortable"?

But our concern isn't about money it's about membership.

The By-Laws of the our Episcopate say that membership status can be lost by keeping away from the sacraments or services of the Church. We can lose our membership by joining non-Orthodox religious denominations, or by participating in their rituals. Those who fail to attend services, to have confessions heard, or to receive Holy Communion are not to serve on parish councils. They are generally not buried from the church, regardless of whether they are "paid up."

At this time of the year, it is customary for Orthodox Christians to have their confessions heard and to receive Holy Communion. The Church teaches that we should do this at least four times each year, during the four major fasts. Further, those who receive Holy Communion each week should have confessions heard monthly.

The Bible itself instructs us to confess our sins openly to one another (James 5:16). Only by "saying it out loud" can we really rid ourselves of our sin. You know this the sins that you've confessed openly are no longer yours, but the ones you've kept secret are still there, festering in your soul. If we fail to confess, we come to the Body and Blood of Our Lord in a state of dishonesty, and we place ourselves in serious spiritual danger. No wonder we can't experience the miracle!

So, you see, if we don't receive the sacraments of confession and communion on a regular basis, we're really not members of the Church.

For parents, grandparents and godparents, this presents a special responsibility: in general, children from the age of seven or eight should be taught to come to confession. Our Church School stresses this, but the only way we really teach is by our own example. If we are faithful, our children will be more likely to follow. But if we neglect our spiritual duties, we teach our children that we are hypocrites and that the Church is not to be taken seriously. This lenten season, commit yourself to more fully participate in the Body of Christ, to be a real member of His Holy Church. It's a matter of life and death.

Rev. Fr. Dr. Ian Pac-Urar