St. Stephen Lutheran Church

Q: How do I become a member of St. Stephen Lutheran Church?

A: We ask that all prospective members attend three one-hour new member sessions. It doesn’t matter if you are transferring from another ELCA congregation or if you come from a different denomination. Attending the classes gives you an opportunity to meet other new people, meet and get to know the pastors (they teach the classes), and allows the pastors to meet you. New member classes are offered three to five times per year. They are sometimes offered on Sunday mornings, and sometimes on either Tuesday or Thursday evenings.

Q: Can I have my baby baptized if I am not a member:

A: Yes. We believe your baby should be baptized into the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. That being said, in the baptism service, parents make a covenant with their child, God and the congregation to raise him/her in the Christian faith. Your child, when baptized at St. Stephen Lutheran will become a member of St. Stephen Lutheran. If your child is a member of this congregation, and if you promise to raise your child in the Christian faith, you should want to be a member of the congregation as well.

Q: Can I enroll my children in Sunday School if I am not a member?

A: Yes. We want your child to know the story of Jesus’ love for him/her. We would hope that you would want to join the congregation later, but it is not required.

Q: Can we get married at St. Stephen Lutheran if neither of us are a members?

A: Yes. Non-members need to make a request in writing to the Church Council. If approved, you will need to pay additional fees the members do not. For more information, contact the church office or one of the pastors.

Q: How can I get more involved in the ministry of St. Stephen Lutheran?

A: Contact the Church office, or talk to one of the pastors. We will want to find out what your interests, passions and gifts are so that you are involved in ministries that match your talents.

Q: Do you have any small-groups I could join?

A: We do have small groups you could join. You could also start a new small-group ministry. Small-group ministry works best when it is driven bottom-up rather than top-down. If you have a passion or interest and you would like to share it within the context of the church, we’d love to support you and connect you with others with the same interest.