What Does it Mean to Be An Episcopalian?
In The Episcopal Church, and as part of the worldwide Anglican Communion, we share in the catholic (meaning universal and authentic) faith held by the Apostles and passed down through the centuries. While we hold this faith dear, we are also of the reformed tradition which began in Europe and England in the 16th century. We live simultaneously in two great expressions of the Christian faith: catholic and reformed. In the Episcopal/Anglican (meaning of the English) tradition we try to live by the via media, the "middle way," always seeking to reconcile different ways of thinking, while holding on to that which is of the greatest value.
Everyone is welcome in the Episcopal Church. We believe every person is precious, made in God's image. We believe in a God of creation, redemption, and constant presence and love. We believe in the risen Lord, Jesus Christ.
Our church canons currently ensure that our church and all its ministries are open to all persons without regard to race, color, ethnic origin, national origin, marital status, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, disabilities, or age. If you are seeking a spiritual home, know that you have a place in the Episcopal Church.
In the sacrament of Holy Baptism we express our beliefs and make promises about how we will live. At baptism, we say . . .
We Believe . . . In one God, in Trinity of Persons and Unity of Being, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, as revealed through the scriptures of the Old and New Testaments, and as expressed by the Nicene and Apostle's Creeds.
We Affirm . . . Our commitment to Jesus Christ as our Savior. We put our whole trust in his grace and love. We promise to obey him as our Lord.
We Renounce . . . Satan and all the spiritual forces of wickedness that rebel against God; the evil powers of this world which corrupt and destroy the creatures of God; and all sinful desires that draw us from the love of God.
We Vow That We Will . . .
What makes the Episcopal Church unique in belief is our understanding of authority. We understand authority to come from scripture, tradition and reason—in that order. This combination guards against a knee-jerk faith based on our own preferences and a rigid faith that does not adapt to the changing world we live in.
We acknowlege that one of the central ways the Holy Spirit speaks to us today is through the Bible, or the Holy Scriptures. The Bible is a collection of books written and compiled at different times and in different places by human authors under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, to show God at work in nature and history, to set forth the life and teachings of Jesus Christ, and to proclaim the Good News for all people. We understand the meaning of the Bible by the help of the Spirit, who guides the Church in the true interpretation of the Scriptures.
In addition to Scripture, the Spirit’s guidance comes to us through tradition, the process by which the Church has transmitted and reinterpreted the truths of the faith through the ages, and through reason, the ability God has given each of us to seek answers to our own questions and grow spiritually.
In The Episcopal Church, and as part of the worldwide Anglican Communion, we share in the catholic (meaning universal and authentic) faith held by the Apostles and passed down through the centuries. While we hold this faith dear, we are also of the reformed tradition which began in Europe and England in the 16th century. We live simultaneously in two great expressions of the Christian faith: catholic and reformed. In the Episcopal/Anglican (meaning of the English) tradition we try to live by the via media, the "middle way," always seeking to reconcile different ways of thinking, while holding on to that which is of the greatest value.
Everyone is welcome in the Episcopal Church. We believe every person is precious, made in God's image. We believe in a God of creation, redemption, and constant presence and love. We believe in the risen Lord, Jesus Christ.
Our church canons currently ensure that our church and all its ministries are open to all persons without regard to race, color, ethnic origin, national origin, marital status, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, disabilities, or age. If you are seeking a spiritual home, know that you have a place in the Episcopal Church.
In the sacrament of Holy Baptism we express our beliefs and make promises about how we will live. At baptism, we say . . .
We Believe . . . In one God, in Trinity of Persons and Unity of Being, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, as revealed through the scriptures of the Old and New Testaments, and as expressed by the Nicene and Apostle's Creeds.
We Affirm . . . Our commitment to Jesus Christ as our Savior. We put our whole trust in his grace and love. We promise to obey him as our Lord.
We Renounce . . . Satan and all the spiritual forces of wickedness that rebel against God; the evil powers of this world which corrupt and destroy the creatures of God; and all sinful desires that draw us from the love of God.
We Vow That We Will . . .
- Continue in the apostles' teaching and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in the prayers.
- Persevere in resisting evil, and, whenever we fall into sin, repent and return to the Lord.
- Proclaim by word and example the Good News of God in Christ.
- Seek and serve Christ in all persons, loving our neighbors as ourselves.
- Strive for justice and peace among all people, and respect the dignity of every human being.
What makes the Episcopal Church unique in belief is our understanding of authority. We understand authority to come from scripture, tradition and reason—in that order. This combination guards against a knee-jerk faith based on our own preferences and a rigid faith that does not adapt to the changing world we live in.
We acknowlege that one of the central ways the Holy Spirit speaks to us today is through the Bible, or the Holy Scriptures. The Bible is a collection of books written and compiled at different times and in different places by human authors under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, to show God at work in nature and history, to set forth the life and teachings of Jesus Christ, and to proclaim the Good News for all people. We understand the meaning of the Bible by the help of the Spirit, who guides the Church in the true interpretation of the Scriptures.
In addition to Scripture, the Spirit’s guidance comes to us through tradition, the process by which the Church has transmitted and reinterpreted the truths of the faith through the ages, and through reason, the ability God has given each of us to seek answers to our own questions and grow spiritually.