Grand Canyon photo © 2007 Rev. Glenn Jenks
About Being an Episcopalian
Episcopal means ‘governed by bishops'.
The Episcopal Church is:
- a member of the Anglican Communion, derived from the Church of England and sharing with it traditions of faith and order as set forth in its Book of Common Prayer.
- One whose traditions include attitudes that are Protestant and Catholic, ancient and reformed, liberal and conservative.
Episcopalians find the fullest expression of Christianity in:
- The Scriptures-the Word of God at work among us.
- Creeds - ancient summaries of Christian belief.
- Sacraments - signs of grace, ordained by Christ.
- Ministry - the orders of ordained ministries, bishop, priest and deacon.
There are 3 basic sources of Episcopal Church beliefs:
- Scripture (the primary source of doctrine) written by people inspired by the Holy Spirit. The old and New Testaments contain the essence of Christian Doctrine. They reveal God to humankind.
- Reason (gifts of the Holy Spirit) helps us to penetrate the full depths of God's Truth. The Episcopal Church does not control interpretation and practice. Instead members are encouraged to use reason to explore and comprehend God's word to make responsible moral decisions under the guidance of Scripture, the ordained ministry and in response to sincere prayer.
- Tradition (wisdom of generations past) includes development of the Church under the Holy Spirit's guidance. Tradition helps us to interpret Scripture; lets us share experiences of early Christians and believers of every era; and preserves hymns, prayers, etc. Through its continuity and consistency, tradition helps preserve essential truths through liturgy.
Being an Episcopalian means striving to fulfill Christ's mission of redemption. It means trying to:
- Follow god's commandments
- Raise children in Christ's love
- get involved in your parish.
Being an Episcopalian means actively participating in the world through Christ in the Church.
Basic Beliefs:
The Holy Trinity: God is 3 persons in one:
Salvation: The end of our separation from God
The Church: One Body under one Head, Christ.
Worship: A joyous response to God's love.
