Church Membership, within the Orthodox world in America, can be confusing
at best. We often are asked, "How does one become a member?" and "How can we
support the local Church?" or, "What does the Church need?"

 

Let me attempt to clarify some points in the Five Points written
below:

 

Anyone who regularly attends St. George's Church
is considered a "de facto" member.  However, to become an "Official" and
"Voting" and most important, a "Communing" member, this is what it takes:

 

1) Non-Orthodox Guests: The first step, if you are
not already a Baptized and/or Chrismated Orthodox
Christian, and you desire to learn more about Orthodox Christianity, hopefully,
in preparation for Baptism and/or Chrismation and full entry into the Orthodox
Church, please talk to Father Antonio.  You can officially become a "Catechumen"
- one in the prayerful process of learning, or being catechized. Babies and
young children can be Baptized any time 40 days after birth, the sooner the
better. However, for an adult or teen, it is normally recommended that one take
about a year, or a full cycle of seasons and services, to learn about the Faith
and truly be prepared to fully, consciously enter the Church.  We welcome
inquirers, catechumens and any who would just like to pray with us or to learn
more about Orthodox Christianity! All are welcome to attend and participate in
any Church services or special events, guests, inquirers or catechumens alike,
with the exception of Voting at our Annual Meeting of Members, and partaking of
Holy Communion, which is reserved for Orthodox Christians in good standing, who
have prepared themselves with prayer, fasting and recent confession.  

 

2) Orthodox Christians: If you
are Baptized and/or Chrismated or otherwise received as an
Orthodox Christian in the Canonical Church, no matter what part of the world,
ethnic background or former jurisdictional affiliation, you can and
are encouraged to become part of St. George's,  the
only local Church here in the Valley. We welcome you. We need you. St. George's
members come from every continent of the world and many ethnic backgrounds. We
treasure both our one faith and our broad diversity. As our display stated
during one of our annual December International Festivals stated, we are  "One
Theology: Many Cultures." No matter where we have come from, or when, or how
long our stay might be here in this region, it is always and everywhere true
that it is within the local church God has given us, wherever God has
planted us and for as long as He keeps us there, that we, as the scriptures say,
"must work out our salvation with fear and
trembling..."   Please make your membership "Official"!

 

3) Supporting St. George Orthodox Church & Your Priest:  All
who Attend St. George - whether declared  or undeclared members,
catechumens, inquirers, Winter Texans or regular guests - we are all responsible
for financially supporting our local Parish.

 

St. George receives absolutely no funds from anywhere or anyone
other than YOU! 

 

We receive no funding from the OCA national church, none from the Diocese
and definitely none at all from the government or state, as happens in many
traditionally Orthodox nations. It all depends on you:
The upkeep, maintenance and furbishing of our Temple & Church Hall, the
compensation of your Priest, grounds keeping work and tools, church school
materials, insurance, utilities and efforts to SOON begin our building expansion
project for the new Church Hall - all of this comes solely from your financial
support.

 

As Christians, we are called to "tithe" to God - to give the
first portion of our Tithes, Time and Talents, for His Glory and in His
service. 

 

Financial support is definitely a part of this equation, although we are
also called to give more than just money: He requires our time and talents as
well!  If all the people who live in the Rio Grande Valley, those
who consider themselves to be Orthodox Christians, simply contributed REGULARLY
to the Parish, St. George's would have no financial difficulties.
As it is, we struggle from week to week and month to month. Contributing
monetarily to St. George's would help us grow towards greater financial
stability: Contribute weekly, bi-weekly or monthly, whether you can attend
services or not, whether you attend regularly or not, we need your financial
support.

 

4) Jurisdictional Membership & Support: Any Orthodox
Christian who regularly attends St. George Orthodox Church must be declared by
us as an "Official" member. Each year, the Parish must declare its census
numbers to the Chancellery Office of the Diocese. For each adult member of St.
George's, the Diocese of the South must pay an amount to the National OCA
Headquarters a per person assessment. These funds help support our Metropolitan
and his staff, the national departments and ministries, including Church School,
Youth & Young Adults, Charity, the national website, The Orthodox Church
magazine and much, much more. As stated, the DOS must pay an assessment to the
national church for each of our members.  In return, St. George Orthodox church
sends a monthly tithe of its income to repay and support the the Diocese and its
operations.

 

Please let us know if you have
any further questions.  Feel free to ask Father Antonio about any aspect of
Church membership and/or support.  Make your regular tithe donations or
designated building fund contributions via check, cash or by PayPal
through our Parish website: