The Episcopal Church is a denomination (or, community) within the Christian faith (just as Baptist, Lutherans, Methodists, etc. are also communities of Christianity.) Our origins date back to sixteenth-century England when new ideas about Christian community, worship, and communion swept across much of Europe What emerged in England was Anglicanism. The Episcopal Church is simply the name of the branch of Anglicanism in the United States and is the third largest group of Christians in the world.
- Our identity is rooted in our common worship of God as made known to us through the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ and reconciling all people with each other, with God, and with God’s creation.
- We celebrate our unity in Christ while honoring our differences, always putting the work of love before uniformity of opinion.
- Our worship is rooted in the Book of Common Prayer, a collection of prayers and liturgies (orders of worship) that have been prayed for over 400 years throughout the world. Our worship unites us with Christians throughout the world and gives us a common language in the face of our differences.
- We strive to love our neighbors as ourselves and respect the dignity of every person.
- We believe that God loves you and delights in you – no exceptions.
