FAQ's

A full schedule of our regular services is published here.

Special or occasional services are announced in church, published in our weekly Announcement bulletin (distributed in church each Sunday), and can be found on this site under News & Events. 

You can also find hem on our Events Calendar.

Becoming Christian, becoming a member of the Episcopal church, and becoming a member of the parish (All Saints church) are closely related, but separate issues.

Becoming Christian

One becomes a Christian by the grace of faith in Christ and through baptism by water in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.  Regardless of who baptized you, or what church you were baptized in, or when you were baptized, if you were baptized this way, the Episcopal Church recognizes you as a baptized Christian.

If you have never been baptized, baptism is ordinarily conferred after a period of instruction and scrutiny.  Adults who are considering baptism should contact Fr. Tom Malionek in person, by e-mail, or by calling 301-654-2488.

Becoming a member of the Episcopal church

If you were baptized by an Episcopal priest or deacon or in an Episcopal church; you are already a member of the Episcopal church. 

If you were baptized in another denomination, you can already take part fully in the worship, fellowship, sacraments, and life of the Episcopal church, including All Saints.

If you wish to affiliate formally with the Episcopal church, you can be "received" by the Bishop, who visits the parish periodically.  From time to time, All Saints holds classes for those who wish to know more about the Anglican tradition and the Episcopal church — the beliefs, practices, traditions, and customs that are distinctive to us.  Anyone is welcome to attend these classes.

Becoming a member of All Saints

If you are already an Episcopalian, you become a member of All Saints church (Chevy Chase parish) by transferring your membership from the Episcopal church where you are currently registered as a member.  This may be the church in which you were baptized or confirmed, or another Episcopal church that you attended before coming to All Saints. 

If you have not attended an Episcopal church before coming to All Saints, becoming a member here is a matter of registering.

Registration and transfer are free of charge and easy to accomplish.

To register, or to transfer your membership to All Saints from another parish in the Episcopal church, please contact Beverley Kennedy in person, by e-mail, or by calling 301-654-2488.

Please see one of the clergy or call the office during the week to make an appointment to arrange for preparation.

A series to introduce adults to the Christian faith and to the Anglican tradition, of which the Episcopal church is part, meets weekly. 

This series is open to all, and may be especially helpful to anyone joining us from another Christian denomination.

It is required for those considering confirmation.

Watch the announcements bulletin for more information.

A wedding begins a lifelong relationship that is lived out in the context of a supportive, loving, stable Christian community.

Consequently, any couple seeking to be married at All Saints should be an active participant in our worship community.

You will need to have a series of conversations with one of the clergy for counseling and preparation for Christian married life.  This preparatory work is vitally important.  For that reason, and to make sure schedules are properly coordinated, you must make arrangements for marriage preparation at least six months before you plan to get married.

For additional information, contact any of the clergy or call the church at 301-654-2488.

Baptism is a significant spiritual event in the life of an individual and a family: baptism joins us to Christ in his death so we may join him in his resurrection.

Baptism also means publicly becoming a committed, active member of Christ’s Body on earth, the Church.

It is important that a child be baptized in the church community where his or her whole family participates actively.

To prepare for baptism, parents or guardians will meet with one of the clergy one or more times over the course of a couple of months.

For additional information or to make arrangements, contact any of the clergy or call the church at 301-654-2488.

Prayers are offered publicly in Church at Sunday services and daily by the clergy and staff in their private prayers.

To add a name or personal concern to these prayers, please call the office. Make sure to leave your contact information so we can clarify if necessary.

Members of the healing and intercessory prayer team, are available to pray for and with you individually before, during, and after each Sunday morning service. At other times, please see a member of the prayer ministry (wearing a yellow name tag) or one of the clergy. You can also call the parish office to request prayers. Make sure to leave your name and contact info so we can reach you for clarification, even if you are requesting prayer for someone else.

Prayers are offered publicly in Church at Sunday services and also three times a day each weekday. To add a name or personal concern to these prayers, please call the office. Make sure to leave your contact information so we can clarify if necessary.

You may also use our Prayer Request form.

For further information, please visit our pages on the Healing Prayer Ministry and the ministry of Intercession.

Our Health and Wellness Ministry may also be of assistance.  Contact Linda Hall in person, by e-mail, or by phone at 301-654-2488.

If you wish to learn more about the ministry of healing prayer in general, you may also want to learn about the Order of Saint Luke the Physician.

Our clergy are available by appointment for consultation, counseling, and confession with sacramental reconciliation. Please call the office at 301-654-2488.

Within the church, each individual is precious.  The Holy Spirit empowers all Christians for the work of discipleship, ministry, and mission.  Each person has discernible gifts which he or she is called to use for the benefit of all.

The Reverend Ed Kelaher, our Rector, is responsible for the spiritual life, vision, and governance of our parish.

The Revs. Alex Large and Tom Malionek each supervise particular areas of our ministry.

The Rev. Ted Lewis, our theologian in residence, teaches, writes, and assists with liturgy.

Wardens (lay officers) and the Vestry (an elected council of laypeople) are responsible for enabling ministry and share in the work of leadership and governance.

For more information, see About Us, or speak to any one of the clergy or officers of the Church.

In the Episcopal church, and many other Christian traditions, the church is seen as consisting of various "orders" or members.  Each order has particular functions, graces, and privileges attached to it.   You may also want to consult the FAQ, "How do I address the clergy?"

Four orders are recognized in the Episcopal church:

• The Order of the Laity (also known as "the Faithful").  "Laity" comes from the Greek word laos, which means "people,"  and specifically the People of God who become God's People through baptism.  Their duties and responsibilities are set forth in the rite of Holy Baptism (Book of Common Prayer, starting at page 298).  Those who are baptized are first scrutinized, then make vows and promises that form the core of their Baptismal Covenant with God, an indissoluble bond.  The ministry of the laity is described in the Catechism (Book of Common Prayer, page 855).

The other three orders are known collectively as "ordained" (meaning that they have been set apart to belong to another order for a particular purpose; cf. Acts 13:2; Romans 1:1; II Timothy 2:21).  They are also known collectively as "clergy" (singlular: "clergyman" or "clergywoman" if a specific individual is meant; otherwise, generically, "cleric" or "clergyperson"). 

Like baptism, ordination is irreversible:  once a person is ordained, they remain in their order permanently, though they may be dispensed from or denied the duties and privileges associated with that order.  They also undergo scrutiny prior to ordination.

•  The Order of Deacons ("deacon" comes from the Greek word diakonos, which means "servant" in the sense of "table-waiter"), consists of men and women ordained by a bishop following the rite on page 537 of the Book of Common Prayer.  Deacons were the first order established in the early Church (Acts of the Apostles, chapter 6).  Their ministry is one of service, and is described in detail in the Catechism (Book of Common Prayer, page 856).  Some deacons, known as vocational deacons, are called to the order for life; others (transitional deacons) go on to be ordained priests (below).

• The Order of Priests or Presbyters (both terms come from the Greek word presbyteros, which means "elder"), consists of deacons ordained by a bishop following the rite on page 524 of the Book of Common Prayer.  The ministry of priests, described in detail in the Catechism (Book of Common Prayer, page 856), essentially involves delegation of certain leadership and sacramental duties by the bishop (who cannot always be present in each congregation or parish).  

In English, "priest" also renders other Hebrew and Greek terms in the Bible.  Episcopalians vary in the degree to which they attach these other meanings to their understanding of what it means to be a priest, but all recognize the legitimacy of a range of interpretations of the meaning of priesthood.

• The Order of Bishops ("bishop" comes from the Greek word episkopos, which means "overseer"), consists of men and women who have been elected by the other three orders within a local jurisdiction (called a diocese) and have been approved by the rest of the national church before being ordained by fellow bishops following the rite on page 511 of the Book of Common Prayer.  Considered to be the successors to the Apostles called by Jesus, Bishops exercise oversight over the whole life of the entire church in a given locale; their ministry is described in detail in the Catechism (Book of Common Prayer, page 855).

A variety of forms of address are in use.  A lot depends on the degree of formality or informality you are comfortable with, perhaps what religious tradition you grew up in, and the preference of the individual clergy.  In general, most clergy are content simply to be addressed by name, without titles.  If you prefer to use a title, the following explanations may help.

You may also want to check out the FAQ, "What's the difference between a deacon, a priest, and a bishop"?

• "Reverend" comes from a Latin word meaning "someone to whom respect is to be shown."  It is technically not a term of address, but many people use it that way, with or without a name.  In the Episcopal church, "Reverend" refers to ordained clergy (deacons, priests, and bishops).  In writing, priests and deacons in the Episcopal church are addressed and referred to as "the Reverend [name]".  Bishops are in the Episcopal church are addressed and referred to as "the Right Reverend [name]."  These are often abbreviated in writing to "the Rev." or "the Rt. Rev.". 
  
  
• "Father" is a form of address that expresses both respect and affection.  Its usage in referring to Christian leaders can be traced to the earliest days of Christianity, and it is used to address not only ordained leaders but the heads of monasteries as well ("abbot" comes from the Semitic word for "father").

In the Episcopal church, "Father" is a form of address used only with those who are ordained priests or bishops.

Some people read Matthew 23:9 as a literal prohibition against using the term "father" to address a religious figure.  While we have no examples in the New Testament of any Christian leader being addressed as Father, Saint Paul clearly describes himself as a father to communities and individuals, and it is not unreasonable to think some of them referred to and addressed him as such, in much the same way as children today might call a technically unrelated but beloved adult "uncle" or "aunt."
See I Corinthians 4:15;   Philippians 2:22;   Philemon 1:10; and  I Thessalonians 2:11-12.

In writing, "Father" is often abbreviated "Fr.", less commonly "Fthr." or "Ftr."

Women who are ordained priests or bishops may be addressed as "Mother" (abbreviated in writing as "Mthr." or "Mtr.").

Some priests simply prefer to be called "Mr." or "Ms." 

• Deacons may be addressed as "Deacon" (as in, "Deacon Jones" or "Deacon Fred"); otherwise, forms of address parallel the usage for priests, except for "Father" and "Mother," which are not used by deacons.

• Bishops may be addressed as "Bishop" and if this title is used with a name, it is most frequently the bishop's first name, e.g., "Bishop Mariann" or "Bishop Ed."  Otherwise, address options are the same as for priests.

• "Minister" is a functional term (and rarely used in direct address).  It comes from the Latin munus, which means "duty."  Anyone with a job to do, a role to fill, or a duty to perform is a "minister." (This is true even in secular society; in many governments, cabinet officials are referred to as "ministers.")  Thus during church services, not only are the clergy ministers, but so are the readers, ushers, greeters, acolytes, organist, choristers, chalice-bearers, and so on.  Since all Christians have a role to play in worship, and all are entrusted with the task and obligation to demonstrate Christ's love to others in various general and specific ways, all can legitimately be thought of as "ministers."