The Episcopal Church.
About The Episcopal Church.
The Episcopal Church is the Province of the Anglican Communion in the United States -- a province that also includes Honduras, Taiwan, Colombia, Ecuador, Haiti, the Dominican Republic, Venezuela and the British Virgin Islands along with parts of Europe. As of 2008, it is a church of 2,057,292 baptized members making it the fifteenth largest Christian denomination in the United States.
In keeping with Anglican tradition and theology, the Episcopal Church considers itself both "protestant and catholic" and has a long history of both social action and liturgical tradition. Organized shortly after the American Revolution when it separated from the Church of England, the Episcopal Church was the first of what would become 37 autonomous national churches tracing their roots to the Church of England and bound together by “bonds of affection.”
Formed after the American Revolution, the Episcopal Church is governed by a representative democratic process. Our bishops are elected by both clergy and laity – rather than being appointed – and decisions made for the whole church can only be made by our General Convention (which meets every three years) and includes laity, clergy and bishops.
Affirmations From Members.
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-As Episcopalians, we are followers of Jesus Christ, our Lord, and we believe in the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
-We strive to love our neighbors as ourselves and respect the dignity of every person.
-Our liturgy retains ancient structure and traditions and is celebrated in many languages.
-Both men and women, including those who are married, are eligible for ordination as deacons, priests and bishops.
-We believe in amendment of life, the forgiveness of sin, and life everlasting.
-Lay people exercise a vital role in the governance and ministry of our church.
-Holy Communion may be received by all baptized Christians, not only members of the Episcopal Church.
-We uphold the Bible and worship with the Book of Common Prayer.
-We affirm that committed relationships are lifelong and monogamous. Episcopalians also recognize that there is grace after divorce and do not deny the sacraments to those who have been divorced.
-We affirm that issues such as birth control are matters of personal informed conscience.
-We celebrate our unity in Christ while honoring our differences, always putting the work of love before uniformity of opinion.
-All are welcome to find a spiritual home in the Episcopal Church.
“Grant, O God, that your holy and life-giving Spirit may so move every human heart, that barriers which divide us may crumble, suspicions disappear, and hatreds cease; that our divisions being healed, we may live in justice and peace; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.”
— Episcopal Church