Is an Episcopalian minister also called a priest?

Answer 1

On occasion yes, the Episcopal church is the Anglican church of the USA (and also of Scotland) and is one of the provinces of that church along with the Church of England, the Church in Wales and many Anglican churches in Africa.

In the Anglican communion there are 3 orders of ministers: deacons, priests and Bishops. Occasionally, an Episcopal deacon or priest is referred to simply as a 'minister.' However, unlike other Christian ministers, there is a significant difference regarding the understanding of ordination and the sacramental priestly role. Additionally, the Episcopal Church has non-ordained ministers such as local preachers, lay readers, accredited lay-workers and so on, however, lay ministers are not permitted to celebrate sacraments as an ordained minister or 'priest' would.

The priestly role in the Church of England and in the Episcopal Church is slightly different from that of the Roman Catholic Church. For starters, Roman Catholics have a slightly different concept of what happens at the mass than Anglicans/Episcopalians do. Roman Catholics believe that it is the priest that is transforming the bread and wine into Christ's body and blood. Anglicans and Episcopalians typically believe that God is the one performing the Sacrament, and that the priest is just working as vessel ordained by Christ, however he (or she) is not the one transforming the elements, rather it is God. Also, Roman Catholics hold strong to the belief of transubstantiation or the belief that the bread and wine physically transform into Christ's literal body and blood. Whereas Anglicans/Episcopalians tend to be more diverse in their Eucharistic theology, Ranging from Real Presence, to Consubstantiation, to Transubstantiation and anything and anywhere in between.

However, one thing all Anglicans/Episcopalians believe is that in some manner, when the priest celebrates the Eucharist, it is no longer simply bread and wine, but also the real presence of Christ, his True Body and Blood. However, the 'how' and 'in what way' remains a mystery for Anglican/Episcopalian Christians, and it is preferred that way. Just as God is a mystery, so is the Eucharist.

Additionally, Anglicans allow women to be ordained as deacons, priests and Bishops. However, the term 'priestess' is not used in reference to women priests, as this is a pagan term. The term 'priest' was retained after the Church of England broke ties with Rome in the 16th Century, as this schism was not over theology, but politics. Although there are striking similarities between both the Catholic and Anglican priesthood, such as apostolic succession, and the Eucharistic and sacramental role, there is also varying differences as well. Anglican/Episcopalians tend to view their priests on a more human light, recognizing them as guided and consecrated by God, but remaining human and therefore permitted to marry or have relationships. Whereas Roman Catholics view their priests as holding a 'semi-divine' office, and as such are not permitted to marry or to have sexual intercourse.

The Roman Catholic view of the priesthood has changed throughout the centuries, as Roman priests were once permitted to marry. However, the issue of land inheritance came into play during the 11th and 12th centuries, and typically by the 14th century most Roman Catholic priest's were 'strongly encouraged' not to marry. By the time the Protestant Reformation began in the 16th century, it had become canonically mandatory that ALL Roman Catholic priests take vows of celibacy.