Church of St. Martin-in-the-Fields

Who Are We in Christ?

A dynamic parish, St. Martin’s has always had a strong focus on liturgy and Christian formation. From its late-19th-century beginnings it has simultaneously juggled traditional ideas and innovative practices. Founded at a time when controversy over ritual was fuming in the Episcopal Church, St. Martin’s was built to be a place where ritual was an important part of its identity. Over the years the parish has held on to this belief, but countless innovations in many areas have occurred during the intervening 120 years. Several reflect what were seen as liberal changes. Liturgy continues to be a central force; we have four kinds of services on Sunday mornings. Although people love these services and the variety of choice they offer, we are also searching for ways to deepen our sense of community and know each other better.

The demographics of the church have outstripped the nearby neighborhood. No longer are we mostly affluent, white families. We are also a community of people with moderate incomes, nontraditional families, and nonwhite members. We are seeking ways to reach out to more people and be more welcoming and inclusive.

A point of pride in the parish is our vibrant music program. Many children are drawn into the worship service through singing in the choir, and the excellence of the organist/music director and all the choirs attracts a number of people to St. Martin’s.

The variety of educational, spiritual, and intellectual programs constantly feeds our desire to learn and serve. Lay members teach, work, serve, and participate in the numerous offerings provided by the parish. We see lay leadership as an important part of St. Martin’s that with sustained support will continue to flourish.

We see ourselves as good corporate stewards who for over 20 years have believed in tithing, i.e., setting aside 10 percent of our operating budget for outreach. When the church needed refurbishing, we completed a capital campaign. We now have a beautifully renovated church, yet other buildings need costly repairs, and our stewardship needs bolstering. It’s time to reawaken us to the work at hand and the work that lies ahead. We need on-going education and renewed commitment to our responsibilities and challenges as individual stewards.

“Who we are is not just the rector, but everyone and everything about this actual place.”

A piece of “who we are now” rests on the collegial relationship between the staff and parishioners. St. Martin’s has a highly dedicated, hard-working, committed staff. Our director of music works full time and has 23 years experience here. The parish administrator, also a full-time staff member, has worked at St. Martin’s for 13 years. Among many other duties, the pastoral care program and Stephen Ministry are overseen by the associate rector, who has been with us for seven years. The director of Christian formation is a seminary-trained, full-time layperson, who has provided leadership for our wide-ranging programs for six years. The core staff is rounded out by the coordinator of liturgical ministries, an unpaid yet key position filled by a parishioner who has been in the parish for 28 years.

As one parishioner voiced at a gathering, “Who we are is not just the rector, but everyone and everything about this actual place.”