WHERE DID THE EPISCOPAL CHURCH COME FROM?
This Episcopal Church is part of that one Church brought into being by the life-death-resurrection of Jesus of Nazareth. Our mother Church, the Church of England, has been in existence since the early centuries of the Christian era. The English Church deliberately planted its life in the new world (1607) before the coming of the Pilgrims. After the Revolutionary War, “The Church of England in the Colonies” simply changed its name and structure to become the American Episcopal Church (1789), and independent and autonomous branch of that one Church founded by Christ.

WHAT DOES THE WORD “EPISCOPAL” MEAN?
The word simply means “having bishops”. The Chief Minister or Chief Shepherd or Chief Pastor in the Church is the Bishop. The Apostles were the first “bishops” of the Church. The basic leadership and government of the Episcopal Church involves bishops.

HOW MANY EPISCOPALIANS ARE THERE?
The Episcopal Church is part of a world-wide family of Episcopal churches which number over 50 million persons. In the United States the American Episcopal Church has approximately 3½ million members.

IS THE LOCAL CONGREGATION THE BASIC UNIT OF THE CHURCH?
No. The basic unit of the Episcopal Church is the Diocese, a specific geographical area (sometimes following state boundaries) in which there are a number of congregations under the leadership of a bishop. The local church or congregation never exists as a unit by itself. It is always part of a family of congregations known as the diocese.

WHAT IS THE MINISTRY OF THE EPISCOPAL CHURCH?
There are 4 orders of ministers in the Church. (1) The first and most important order is the laity. Every baptized person is a minister with a ministry to fulfill. In addition of the 99%, there are special ministerial orders: (2) Bishops, (3) Priests, (4) Deacons.

HOW OLD IS THIS ORDAINED MINISTRY?
The Three-fold ministry of Bishops-Priests-Deacons goes back to the days of the apostles themselves.

DO BISHOPS ALONE GOVERN THE CHURCH?
Not at all. The Church is governed, its services ordered, and its work in the world is organized on a constitutional and democratic basis. The Bishops, clergy, and lay people are all involved at every level. In fact, every major decision or step must be approved by the bishops, clergy and laity. No one order can force its ideas or will on the remainder of the Church.

DOES THE EPISCOPAL CHURCH ACCEPT THE BAPTISM OF OTHER
CHURCHES?
Yes, of course. In baptism, one becomes a member of the Church, the Body of Christ, the Christian Fellowship or Community. Our baptism does not make us Episcopalians, Baptists, Roman Catholics, etc. . . . but something far more important: We become Christians.

WHO MAY RECEIVE COMMUNION IN THE EPISCOPAL CHURCH?
Any Christian who is a baptized member of some Christian body, and desires to break bread with us, may do so. The initiative belongs to each person.

WHAT IS “CONFIRMATION” IN THE EPISCOPAL CHURCH?
Confirmation is the act through which a baptized person may (1) renew his/her baptismal promises, (2) re-dedicate himself/herself to Christ’s mission in the world, and (3) receive the strengthening power of the Holy Spirit for this new life. It is also the means through which other Christians come to share our way of life in the Episcopal church. It has nothing to do with membership. Baptism makes us full members of the Christian Church.

WHAT IS THE ROLE OF THE LAY MAN/ LAY WOMAN IN THE CHURCH?
Every baptized person is a minister with a ministry to fulfill. Laymen and women are expected and urged to be actively involved in the worship, government, teaching, decision-making process, stewardship, outreach, etc. of the Church.

IS THE EPISCOPAL CHURCH A BIBLICAL CHURCH?
Very definitely. The use of the Bible is an important and prominent part of our worship. There are never less than two readings from Holy Scripture. In addition, the prayers, responses, preaching, hymns are related to the words and thoughts of Scripture. Every minister, prior to his ordination, takes an oath that he will not teach or require as necessary to salvation anything that cannot be found in Scripture or be based on Scripture. We take the Bible seriously, share its teachings, and urge our people to read and study the Scriptures. Our Prayer Book is 80% Holy Scripture.

WHAT IS THE PRINCIPAL ACT OF WORSHIP?
Like the apostles and early Christians, we meet weekly for the singing of hymns, the offering of prayers, and the breaking of bread. This “breaking of bread” is one of the biblical names for the Holy Communion, the Eucharist, The Lord’s Supper. This activity is central to our life, not because the Episcopal Church says so, but because it is the fulfillment of Jesus’ command “DO THIS” and has been done regularly and consistently by the Christian Church since the days of the apostles. Our architecture reflects this. The altar (actually a table) is always central and dominant. The focus is on the activity of eating together.

WHAT DOES THE EPISCOPAL CHURCH BELIEVE?
The basic beliefs are contained in the great and ancient creeds of the undivided Christian Church: We believe and teach what is contained in the Apostle’s Creed and the Nicene Creed. Both are consistent with Holy Scripture.

IS THE EPISCOPAL CHURCH A TEACHING CHURCH?
Yes, very definitely. By the written and spoken word and by example we are always teaching, always trying for a better hearing, a better response to the Christian Gospel. Sound learning and good scholarship, can be seen in the training of our clergy and the teaching programs of the parish. In a search for the truth, the Episcopal Church encourages the use of curiosity, disagreement, and imagination.

WHAT IS THE ROLE OF THE “PRIEST” IN THE EPISCOPAL CHURCH?
In an episcopally-oriented church, one of his/her primary roles is to represent the episcopos (Bishop) in worship, teaching, administration, etc. Primarily, he/she is a pastor, who is available in the office or home for counseling. He/she calls on the sick in the hospital and in homes when this information is shared and wants to share in those moments of joy (births of a child, anniversary, some good news/fortune, etc.) as well as those moments of sadness (death, loss of job, some misfortune, etc.). He/she is trained to minister to people and is available when needed.

WHAT IS THE EPISCOPAL CHURCH’S RELATIONSHIP TO OTHER
CHURCHES?
One of respect and cooperation. There is a great need for Christian bodies to work together (instead of thinking of one another as competitors) for a stronger and more effective witness to the world.

IS EPISCOPAL WORSHIP FORMAL?
It depends on what one means by formal. Our worship is designed to provide maximum opportunity for participation. It is not a “spectator sport” or a passive experience. By intention it is something all together joyful.

WHAT DO EPISCOPALIANS BELIEVE ABOUT GIVING?
We believe that God has given us all that we have. All has been loaned to us for our use and enjoyment. We are asked to be responsible managers, stewards of our time, skills, and money. Out of sheer gratitude, we return to Him some portion of what He has given us, that His work in the world may continue and be effective.

GENERALLY SPEAKING, WHAT DOES THE EPISCOPAL CHURCH HAVE TO OFFER?
It offers a religious experience which involves the whole person and the whole life, not just those areas we label “religious”. It offers an experience which is sense-making, positive, liberating, and above all, joyful.