What kind of beliefs belong to Episcopalian?

Answer 1

They use the Book of Common Prayer in their church services. They are in Communion with the Church of England, and believe certain basics of Christian belief. They share a common structure as the Catholic Church, and retain some of the rituals of Catholicism.

Answer 2

Episcopalians are a denomination that is between Protestant and Catholic Christianity. It is the American version of the British Anglican church. Some of their beliefs include the taking of the Eucharist, the Nicene Creed, and that the scriptures are divinely inspired.

Answer 3

The Episcopal Church is a Christian denomination. Episcopalians believe in the birth, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. The church remembers Christ's resurrection by observing communion, usually weekly.

Answer 4

The Episcopalian Church is a member of the Anglican communion which includes the Church of England, Church in Wales and many other non-Catholic denominations. It is a Christian denomination that believes the core Christian beliefs as laid out in the Apostles' Creed and, more fully declaring doctrine, the Nicene creeds.

The Nicene Creed states the following:

We believe in one God,

the Father, the Almighty,

maker of heaven and earth,

of all that is, seen and unseen.

We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ,

the only Son of God,

eternally begotten of the Father,

God from God, Light from Light,

true God from true God,

begotten, not made,

of one Being with the Father;

through him all things were made.

For us and for our salvation

he came down from heaven,

was incarnate of the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary

and became truly human.

For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate;

he suffered death and was buried.

On the third day he rose again

in accordance with the Scriptures;

he ascended into heaven

and is seated at the right hand of the Father.

He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead,

and his kingdom will have no end.

We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life,

who proceeds from the Father and the Son,

who with the Father and the Son is worshiped and glorified,

who has spoken through the prophets.

We believe in one holy catholic and apostolic Church.

We acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins.

We look for the resurrection of the dead,

and the life of the world to come. Amen

As a member of the catholic (meaning 'universal') and apostolic Church, it is a member of the mainstream Christian Church worldwide, which includes Baptists, Methodists, URC, Roman Catholics and so on. However, like most protestant denominations it rejects the authority of the Catholic pope and certain doctrines of the Roman Catholic Church that it sees as unbiblical.

Answer 5

The Episcopal Church is the American branch of the Anglican Communion whose mother church is

The Church of England (The Anglican Church.)

The Church of England was established as independent from the Roman Catholic Church in 1539under the reign of King Henry VIII and under the spiritual leadership of the then Archbishop of Canterbury, Thomas Cranmer.

When the Church of England originally broke ties with Rome, they had no theological differences, but as time went by significant theological changes occured and the Anglican/Episcopal faith became divided into two theological parties that are known as the "High Church"and the "Low Church". The High Church partyhas stayed closer to Roman Catholic theology and tradition in regards to sacraments and forms of worship. Whereas the Low Church party has been more influenced by the other 16th century reformers and has taken a more Protestant theological outlook.

When the Anglican Church came to the United States during the colonial era it was still under authority of the Church of England and under the English monarchy.

(As were the colonies in general.)

After the American Revolution, The Church of England in America (Anglican) changed it's name to 'The Protestant Episcopal Church' as a way to distinguish itself from the Church of England, since like the colonies, it was independent from British rule.

The (Protestant) Episcopal Church (as it was referred to at the time) retained all of it's Anglican identity, theology, and manner of worship (including the Book of Common Prayer.) The term 'Episcopal' was chosen as part of the title because the word 'episcopal' or 'episcopos' in Greek means 'bishop.'Since the Episcopal Church is a church governed by bishops, it seemed reasonable to use the term 'episcopal' as the title of this new autonomous Anglican jurisdiction.

The term 'Protestant' was also used as part of the 'original' title as a means of distinguishing itself from Roman Catholicism, since there were many striking similarities, and yet at the same time severe anti-Catholic sentiment. In later years the term 'Protestant' was dropped from the original title, being that most Anglicans & Episcopalians do not consider themselves as being 'Protestant' since the English Reformation was separate from the Protestant Reformation. Thus the title being shortened to just "The Episcopal Church."

The Episcopal Church (as all Anglican provinces)recognize the 'Archbishop of Canterbury'

(The Most Rev. Dr. Rowan Williams - current) as being the 'spiritual figurehead of the entire 'Anglican Communion.' The Anglican Communion is the loose confederation of autonomous Anglican provinces.

(All of which originally stem from the Church of England.)

Since each Anglican or Episcopal 'province' has the authority to govern itself, it each has it's own synod or house of bishops. In addition, each province recognizes its own 'chief bishop.' Usually he or she is referred to as the 'primate' or 'presiding bishop' or 'archbishop'.

The current 'Presiding Bishop' of the Episcopal Church is

The Most Rev. Dr. Katharine Jefferts-Schori. In addition, she is the first female 'primate' in ANY Anglican province.

The Book of Common Prayer, ('the prayer book') is what holds All Anglicans & Episcopalians together.

'The Prayer Book' encompasses the liturgy (worship) and doctrine of the faith. This includes the 'Creeds' as put forth by the early church councils, those being,

The Nicene Creed, The Apostles Creed and The Athanasian Creed.

The 'prayer book' also includes

The 39 Articles of Religion.

Which was the original statement of faith

of The Church of England, written by the late

Archbishop of Canterbury Thomas Cranmer.

(Who in addition, authored the Book of Common Prayer.)

The Episcopal Church 'prayer book' (current edition 1979)

also includes: The Chicago-Lambeth Quadrilateral,which was a 4 point articulation of the doctrine and identity of the Episcopal Church and Anglicanism

as a whole.

Although The Episcopal Church 'prayer book' includes the 39 Articles of Religion. The U.S. Church currently views

The 39 Articles of Religion as more of a historical document rather than a statement of faith.

Despite the many theological aspects within the Anglican and Episcopal Churches, they are held together at the core by 'the prayer book' and with the belief in the

Real Presence of Jesus in the Holy Eucharist.

The Anglican/Episcopal faith like the Roman Catholic, Old Catholic, Eastern Orthodox and Oriental Orthodox Churchesbases itself on the three-fold ministry of deacons, priests and bishops which traces its lineage back to the apostles. This is called apostolic succession, or the historic episcopate.

The Episcopal Church in the United States, as most other branches of the Anglican Communion ordains both men and women, married or unmarried to these orders of ministry.

In Recent years the Episcopal Church in the US took a brave and radical approach to forming an all-inclusive church by ordaining open and practicing/partnered gay, lesbian, bisexual and trans-gendered persons as deacons & priests (and bishopsas of 2003.)

Although this new theological approach has caused conflict with other branches of the Anglican Communion,

The Anglican Church of Canada,

The Anglican Church of New Zealand as well as

The Scottish Episcopal Church

has followed in US Church's footsteps.

Many question exactly what the Anglican/Episcopal position is on 'the papacy'. While Anglicans and Episcopalians

do not recognize the Pope as supreme head of the Christian Church; he is however, recognized as a great spiritual leader and a valid bishop in apostolic succession

(the historic episcopate.)

Anglicans & Episcopalians view the pope as being

no more or no less valid than any other bishop consecrated in this succession, whether they be

Catholic, Orthodox or Anglican/Episcopalian

Anglicans and Episcopalians believe that in the sacrament of the Holy Eucharist/Mass/Lords Supper, Christ is in some manner truly present among the elements. However, unlike the Roman Catholic Church, the Anglican & Episcopal Churches tried not to put a definitive term to it and rejected a physical transformation such as the dogma of transubstantiation; although today many High ChurchAnglicans/Episcopalians do ascribe to this doctrine.

The Anglican & Episcopal Churchesrecognize

The Two Great Sacraments as instituted by Christ,

Baptism and Holy Eucharist/Holy Communion.

Baptism is initiation into Christ's family (The Church) and the cleansing of our sins through water and the spirit by use of the words

"I Baptize you in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit"

Holy Eucharist is the sacrament in which we accept the REAL PRESENCE of Jesus Christ in the form of the consecrated elements (bread and wine.) This Sacrament, ( The Mass, The Divine Liturgy, or Holy Communion) is celebrated in most Episcopal and Anglican parishes every week, and in some every day.

The 5 other Sacramental Rites of the church, inspired through the Guidance of the Holy Spirit for the people of God and the continuation of the church are as follows:

*Reconciliation of Penitent- the sacramental rite in which those who repent and are sorry for their sins may confess them in the presence of a priest (publically or privately) and receive the assurance of pardon and the grace of absolution.

*Confirmation- The Sacramental Rite in which one makes a mature commitment to Jesus Christ through the laying on of hands by a bishop. In this Rite, the Spirit comes down upon us in a special way transforming us and empowering us for a new life in Jesus Christ.

*Holy Matrimony- The Sacramental Rite in Which two people make a lifelong commitment to one another through sacred vows, in front of God and God's Church and receive the blessing to fulfill their vows by a priest or bishop.

* Currently, many Dioceses (church districts) in the Episcopal Church offer a separate rite reffered to as a 'holy union' for gay or lesbian people who wish to have their relationships blessed by God and God's Church. In this rite, gay and lesbian couples receive the same spiritual benefits of a 'sacramental union'. However, until the General Convention of the Episcopal Church in the U.S. unanimously approves to formally change the Book of Common Prayer in regards to the prerequisites for marriage; same sex union ceremonies cannot be refferred to as 'marriage' for both legal and canonical reasons.

*Holy Orders/Ordination- The sacramental rite in which God gives authority and the grace of the Holy Spirit to men and women who are called and chosen to be made bishops, priests and deacons, through prayer and the laying on of hands by bishops in the historic episcopate (apostolic succession).

*Unction- The Sacramental rite of Anointing the sick with oil or the laying on of hands, by which God's grace is given for the healing of spirit, mind and body.

These 5 other Sacramental Rites are also signs of Grace and offered freely to all Baptized. However they are not necessary for all Christians in the Same way that Baptism and Eucharist are.

Answer 6

Episcopalian churches tend to worship both the St Georges Cross and The St Andrews cross, They tend to be more protestant than catholic and though their major beliefs are the same there are many small differences that set the two far apart from each other.