What makes us Episcopalians?
There is great breadth of diversity in the Episcopal Church: we might be Anglo-Catholic, Evangelical, Charismatic, conservative or liberal. But Episcopalians are first and foremost Christians. We believe God has created us, and we proclaim and follow Jesus as Lord. We believe God is active in our day-to-day lives through the power of the Holy Spirit.
The church is the body of which Christ is the head and all baptized people are the members. The church is a community of faith and commitment, not an organization like a club. We are part of the Anglican Communion, a fellowship of autonomous churches in communion with the Church of England.
All Anglican churches are drawn together by a common loyalty to:
- Scripture as the revealed Word of God;
- The historical creeds of the church as sufficient statements of Christian belief;
- The celebration of the seven sacraments of the church, with special emphasis on Baptism and Eucharist;
- The apostolic ministry of bishops, priests and deacons in the life of teaching and service in the church; and
- The use of scripture, church tradition and reason in matters of belief and practice.
Our worship
In worship, Episcopalians sit, kneel, stand, sing, pray aloud and pray silently. Some bow and make the sign of the cross; others don’t.
We use the Book of Common Prayer, The Hymnal and (in many places) a service bulletin. These tools are designed to help us worship and pray together, something very important to Anglican Christians.
Episcopal worship calls for the full participation of all the people. The Prayer Book (and the service bulletin) will guide you in what to do and what to say or sing. Our people are friendly and helpful. If you need help during the service, please ask someone for guidance.
See the Book of Common Prayer (the current one as well as historical versions).
Learn more
Visit the official website of the Episcopal Church
Read the latest news about the Episcopal Church on the website of Episcopal News Service
Our Presiding Bishop
The Most Rev. Sean W. Rowe was elected presiding bishop and primate of The Episcopal Church in June 2024 and took office on Nov. 1 for a nine-year term. In this role, he serves as the church’s chief pastor and CEO. Known for his expertise in organizational learning and adaptive change, Rowe is committed to strengthening support for local ministry and mission.
Learn more about the Presiding Bishop on the Episcopal Church website.
Why should I be an Episcopalian?
In this video, former Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori answers the question, “If someone who didn’t go to church asked you why they should be an Episcopalian, what would you tell them?”
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