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Office of the Secretary >
Records Management > Advice for Congregations
> Parish Register > Membership
People are received into membership in a
congregation of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America in one of the
following ways:
Baptism (Infant)
An individual becomes a member of the congregation the day the Sacrament of Holy
Baptism is administered. If the immediate family members hold membership in another
congregation, the child's membership should be transferred to that congregation. If a
child, whose parents or guardians are members of your congregation, was baptized in
another congregation, request transfer of the child's membership from that congregation.
If the child was baptized in an emergency situation, the date of that administration of
the sacrament is entered into the parish register. It is recommended that the order for
"Public Recognition of Baptism" (Occasional Services, page 17) be
conducted in the congregation when the health of the child allows.
Traditionally the Parish Register includes the following information related to
Baptisms:
- Name and birth date of the child
- Names of parents, including the maiden name of the mother (and an explanation of any
hyphenated names)
- Names of sponsors
- Date of Baptism
- Name of the presiding minister
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Baptism (Adult)
The Sacrament of Holy Baptism is administered to adults following a period of
instruction in the Christian faith. In the case of adults, the date of Baptism is recorded
in the parish register under both "baptism" and "confirmation," as the
newly baptized adult becomes simultaneously a confirmed member and a voting member of the
congregation.
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Affirmation
of Baptism (Confirmation)
Confirmed members of the congregation are baptized persons who have publicly affirmed
their baptismal covenant, following a period of instruction, and upon the approval of the
Congregation Council (*
C8.03.).
Such instruction should include information regarding what it means to become a member of
a Lutheran congregation. Confirmed members also are those who have been received by adult
baptism (see above), "or by transfer as confirmed me members from other Lutheran
congregations, or baptized persons received by affirmation of faith" (*C8.02.).. Upon affirmation of
baptism, the person also becomes a voting member of the congregation.
The date entered into the parish register is the date on which the person publicly
reaffirms the vows of baptism in the presence of the congregation, or the date on which
the person was approved for membership by the Congregation Council in the event no public
service was conducted.
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Transfer
When a person holding membership in another Lutheran congregation seeks to become a
member of your congregation, that person should request in writing a letter of transfer to
your congregation. If the letter has not arrived in a prescribed time, you may wish to
telephone that congregation to provide a reminder. You may appropriately request the
following information with the letter:
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Date and place of Baptism
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Date and place of Confirmation
-
How received into the congregation and when
The date entered into the parish register is normally the date on which the person is
received publicly into the congregation through "Reception of Lutherans by
Transfer" (Occasional Services, page 129). In the event that no public order
was used, the date entered into the parish register is the date the letter of transfer was
issued.
If the person seeking membership in your congregation holds membership in a
non-Lutheran congregation, a letter of transfer or release may not necessarily be issued.
You may request, non the less, the information listed above. A period of instruction
normally precedes reception into membership. The date entered into the parish register is
the date on which the rite of Affirmation of Baptism (Lutheran Book of Worship,
pages 198ff) was conducted. If no public rite was used, the date entered into the e parish
register is the date of the meeting of the Congregation Council at which the member was
received.
If the person seeking membership in your
congregation is received from a congregation that recently dissolved, the
information listed above may be obtained from the parish register of the
dissolved congregation; that parish register is located in the archives of
the synod or of this church. The date entered into the parish register is
the date on which the rite of Affirmation of Baptism (Lutheran Book of
Worship, pages 198ff) was conducted. If no public rite is used, the date
entered into the parish register is the date of the meeting of
the Congregation Council at which the member was received.
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Associate Members
Associate members "are persons holding membership in other Lutheran [Christian]
congregations who wish to retain such membership but desire to participate in the life and
mission of this congregation"
(*C8.02.). Such members may participate in all aspects of the congregation's
life except voting, and are not eligible for elected offices. The date entered into the
parish register is the date on which the rite of Affirmation of Baptism ( Lutheran Book
of Worship, pages 198ff) was conducted. If no public rite is used, the date entered
into the parish register is the date of the meeting of the Congregation Council at which
the member was received.
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Restoration to Membership
People who once were confirmed as members of a Lutheran congregation, but later became
inactive, are received into your congregation by Affirmation of Baptism (Restoration to
Membership). Persons who are inactive members of a non-Lutheran congregation are received
as members of your congregation by Affirmation of Baptism, normally following a period of
instruction (see above).
The date entered into the parish register is normally the date on which such persons
were publicly received through the rite of Affirmation of Baptism [Restoration to
Membership] (Lutheran Book of Worship, pages 198ff).
For additional information contact:
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