The Episcopal Church

The Episcopal Church is composed of nearly 3 million Americans in all 50 states. Is has its heritage in the Church of England. The Episcopal Church is strongly sacramental placing an emphasis on the Eucharist (communion) and Baptism in the life of the church and people. In this way, liturgy may look very similar to that in the Roman Catholic or Lutheran Churches. The Episcopal Church is really a hybrid between Roman Catholicism and Protestantism in the US. We have liturgical and theological similarities to both the Roman Catholic Church and Protestant churches.
The Episcopal Church is the American branch of the Anglican Communion. The Anglican Communion is an inheritor of 2000 years of catholic and apostolic tradition dating from Christ himself, rooted in the Church of England. When the Church of England spread throughout the British Empire, sister churches sprang up. These churches, while autonomous in their governance, are bound together by tradition, scripture, and the inheritance they have received from the Church of England. They together make up the Anglican Communion, a body headed spiritually by the Archbishop of Canterbury and having some 80 million members, making it the second largest Christian body in the world.

Important Distinctions about the Episcopal Church

  • There are some important distinctions about the Episcopal Church
  • The word “Episcopal” means “bishop” in Greek, and the Episcopal Church is governed in part by its bishops.
  • We ordain Women to serve as Deacons, Priests (our equivalent of ministers/pastors), and Bishops
  • Episcopal polity is largely democratic, relying go on the voices of both clergy and laity.
  • All Episcopal Churches are included in a local geographic diocese. Each diocese has a bishop (known as the “episcopate”) as the chief ecclesiastical authority. In this way, each church community is connected to the larger geographic whole.
  • Episcopalians are in apostolic succession just like Roman Catholics (we can trace our ordination succession back to St. Peter).
  • Episcopalians balance Scripture, Tradition, and Reason in our theology.
  • All Baptized Christians may take Communion (Eucharist) in the Episcopal Church.
  • There is no official set of beliefs that you need to agree to to become a member. Membership is determined by participation in the life of the church. That said, there are many understandings about theology and Christianity, which are central to our belief system. We are a church because of our togetherness rather than a need all think alike.
  • We believe that there shall be no outcasts in our church and all people are welcome at our table and have equal access to our sacraments