What is Episcopal?

The word “episcopal” means “bishop,” a reminder that the Episcopal Church has bishops as part of its structure. Bishops are mentioned in scripture, and their office was one of the earliest positions in the Church. Thus, the Episcopal Church maintains a strong tie to the earliest traditions of the Christian community.

So, you’re Catholic?

Yes, and no. The Episcopal Church is catholic in the sense that we maintain the ancient structure, like the Roman Catholic and Orthodox churches do. While we uphold the continuity of tradition, the Episcopal Church is not part of the Roman Catholic Church. The Episcopal Church is also Protestant, a product of the English Reformation back in the 16th Century.

Both Protestant and Catholic?

You can be both. The Anglican Church has always seen itself as the bridge church, valuing the tradition of the catholic side of the faith while asserting the authority of the scriptures, as the Protestant churches do.

So, where does the Episcopal church stand on the hot issues?

Anyone who can reason is free in this church to make up their own mind. Consequently, members of the Episcopal Church find themselves passionately on all sides of any issue. The Episcopal Church decides issues slowly, always with room for dissension.

Why does the Episcopal Church use written prayers?

While there is a place for spontaneous praying in our church, most worship services follow the book. The Book of Common Prayer is the product of centuries of Christian thought. While as modern people we often believe that newer is better, in the Episcopal Church we insist on valuing the insights of those who have come before us. Using written prayers ensures that we will not be limited to the concerns or insights of a particular worship leader or community, but will be able to draw on the thoughts of countless believers. Written prayers broaden the scope of our prayers. The concepts contained in the Book of Common Prayer broaden our understanding of our faith.

What do Anglicans stand for?

What is unique in Anglicanism is our source of authority. Roman Catholics find their authority in the tradition, in the pope whose office gives him the authority to speak for all members of the Roman church. Many Protestants would maintain that scripture alone can be our guide. Yet scriptural interpretations can change – at one time, for example, most Christian churches believed that slavery was a divinely sanctioned institution.

Why should I go to church?

The Bible, which records God’s word to his people, assumes the existence of a believing community. Moses, David, Mary, Paul – even Jesus – lived out their faith in community. In our modern world, we tend to believe that we can and should “go it alone,” but the truth is that we are meant to live, work, and worship together. It is not an accident that the new commandment Jesus gives his disciples is to love one another. In attempting to do this, we discover more about God and ourselves than we could ever know alone.

Can’t you be Christian without joining a church?

The Episcopal Church is the American part of the Anglican Communion, a worldwide body of churches, all with roots in the Church of England. Many Anglicans are found in Africa (Archbishop Desmond Tutu of South Africa is one famous Anglican), Australia, Canada, and other parts of the former British Empire.

What makes a church Anglican?

History is part of it, obviously, but Anglican churches share much more in common. Anglican churches use a prayer book in their worship, written in the language of the people. Anglicans hold the historic Creeds (the Nicene and Apostles Creeds) to be sufficient statements of faith.

What do you believe about the Bible?

Quite simply, for Episcopalians, Scripture contains all things necessary for salvation. This means that God has been fully revealed in the words of the Bible. We cannot add doctrines or rules that are not supported by Scripture. However, this does not mean that the Bible is inerrant, that is, without error, needing no translation or interpretation. The Word of God speaks to each age with a different emphasis, not a different message. We are in the process of learning each day what that Word means to us in our time. All of us, using our reasoning powers to the best of our ability, are part of the journey of discerning and doing God’s will.