FOR VISITORS: ABOUT EPISCOPALIANS
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FOR VISITORS: ABOUT EPISCOPALIANS |
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We Are Episcopal & Anglican Our church is "Episcopal" and we are "Episcopalians." "Episcopos," comes from the New Testament Greek, meaning "overseer." Often it is simply translated, "bishop." The Episcopal Church is made up of between two and three million worshipers in about 7500 congregations across the United States and related dioceses outside the US. The Episcopal Church, having its roots in the Church of England, is also an Anglican Church. Like all Anglican churches, the Episcopal Church is distinguished by the following characteristics: Anglicanism stands squarely in the Reformed tradition, yet considers itself just as directly descended from the Early Church as the Roman Catholic or Eastern Orthodox churches. Episcopalians celebrate the “Mass” in ways similar to the Roman Catholic tradition, yet do not recognize a single authority, such as the Pope of Rome. The Book of Common Prayer The present prayer book in the Episcopal Church was published in 1979. Many other worship resources and prayers exist to enrich our worship, but the Book of Common Prayer is the authority that governs our worship. The prayer book explains Christianity, describes the main beliefs of the Church, outlines the requirements for the sacraments, and in general serves as the main guidelines of the Episcopal life. Scripture, Tradition, and Reason The Church, as a worshiping body of faithful people, has for two thousand years amassed experience of God and of loving Jesus. The traditions of the Church in interpreting Scripture connect all generations of believers together and give us a starting point for our own understanding. Episcopalians believe that every Christian must build an understanding and relationship with God’s Word in the Bible, and to do that, God has given us intelligence and our own experience, which we refer to as “Reason.” Based on the text of the Bible itself, and what Christians have taught us about it through the ages, we then must sort out our own understanding of it as it relates to our own lives. We Are Organized Each Diocese has a Bishop (and sometimes one or more assisting bishops), and a number of congregations, called either a parish (if self-sustaining) or mission (if subsidized). A parish is governed by a Vestry, a team of lay persons led by a Rector. A Rector is the chief (and often only) priest of a parish. A Vicar is the priest of a mission congregation, as technically the Bishop is the Rector of such congregations. A Bishop's Committee (rather than a Vestry Committee) serve as the governing body of a mission, advising the Bishop on all matters affecting the mission church. The Vicar serves as the Bishop's appointed representative for the mission church. |
St. John's By-the-Sea |
