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Our beliefs
What is an
Episcopalian?
What does it
mean to follow Christ?
We believe that
every person is a child of God, that God gave the life of His Son Jesus Christ
to redeem us; and that our lives are lived on a journey towards God who loves
and cares for each one of us.
We believe that God has given us the Bible; the history and tradition of others
who have pursued this journey; as well as our own reason and experience with
which to discern His will in our lives and to lead us on our journey.
We believe that it is often during periods of doubts and uncertainty that God’s
will emerges most clearly for us.
We believe that God’s love is acutely present in the life and worship of His
Church. For it is here that Christ is a Real Presence in the Sacrament of the
Eucharist, and it is around this Sacrament which His community gathers.
We believe that in this gathered community, each generation has a unique and
essential part to play as they help each other along their path and “grow into
the full stature of Christ.”
We believe that our Christian journey must find expression in a life lived in
daily service to our neighbor and the world.
We welcome all who wish to embark upon this journey with us.
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What is
the Episcopal Church?
The Episcopal Church is
a member of the worldwide Anglican Communion, with 70 million members in 163
countries. We are a community of Christians bound together by our belief that
Holy Scripture contains the very core of all Christian faith. Through the many
ancient, as well as modern, stories that connects us to Jesus and his teachings,
we discover God's hope and call to us in our life together.
What Do
Episcopalians Believe?
We believe there is One
God who creates all things, redeems us from sin and death and renews us as the
Children of God. As Episcopalians we promise to follow Jesus Christ as our
Savior and Lord. We believe the mission of our church is restoration of all
people to unity with God and each other in Christ.
What is an
Episcopal Church service like?
In worship, we are
united, acknowledging the holiness of God, to hear God's Word, to offer prayer
and to celebrate God's presence among us.
All are welcome to participate in our worship because
it is in worship that we live out our life as a Christian family together.
Scripture is the foundation of our worship. The service follows an order found
in our worship book called the Book of Common Prayer, two-thirds of which is
scriptural. Every worship service includes the reading of Holy Scripture from
the Old and New Testaments. Many of our prayers and hymns are filled with
scripture.
The Book of Common Prayer includes a variety of ancient and modern prayers and worship services for occasions when the whole community gathers and for individual use. The Book of Common Prayer allows everyone to participate, reminding us that each person is an important part of the worship experience, whether the service is a celebration or a solemn occasion. It is a guidebook for daily Christian living. Music, both traditional and contemporary, is an integral part of uniting our prayers and Scripture.
Jesus shared bread and wine with his first followers and is with us when we share in the family meal we call Holy Communion (Holy Eucharist, Last Supper). Through it we receive the forgiveness of our sins and a strengthening of our union with God and one another as we remember Christ's life, death and Resurrection. Any baptized person is welcome and encouraged to share in his meal when visiting an Episcopal Church.
Does the
Episcopal Church use creeds in worship services?
In the Episcopal Church,
we say both the Apostles' Creed and Nicene Creed in our worship. Because we are
a community of faith, we openly declare our beliefs and in this way unite
ourselves to Christians in the past, present and future.
The Apostles' Creed dates from the early years of the Christian Church and was used as a statement of faith at Baptism. The Apostles' Creed is included in the services of daily Morning and daily Evening Prayer that may be used both at church and in private devotions. It can be found in the Book of Common Prayer.
The Nicene Creed was written in the year 325 by early bishops meeting in Nicaea (modern-day Turkey). It is a statement which summarizes the Christian faith and is said in unison during services of Holy Eucharist (the reenactment of the Lord's Supper).
Do I have
to believe everything in the creeds?
Relationship with God is
a personal journey and also one we share with others in this community of faith.
The Creeds clearly state the beliefs of the Church, and we recite them as we
join with those around us in the process of discovering our own relationship
with God. So it is not easy to answer this question "yes" or "no." It is
important that we take part with fellow seekers in this lifelong journey.
Most Episcopalians are comfortable with the realities of modern science and our ever expanding knowledge of history while accepting the theological truths of the Creeds and Scripture. These truths tell us that God is the Creator, that we matter and that God cares.
What do
Episcopalians believe about Scripture?
Scripture is the word of
God contained in the Old and New Testaments of the Bible. The 39 books of the
Old Testament contain the story of God's love from the time of Creation to the
birth of his son, Jesus Christ. The books contain God's laws as He gave them to
the Hebrew people.
The New Testament contains Christ's teachings, the accounts of his life as told by his followers and the beginning of the Church. It is written in 27 books. Within an Episcopal worship service, Scripture is read in the lessons, the Gospel (the teachings of Jesus), the Psalms (poems from the Old Testament) and other prayers.
What is
the Book of Common Prayer?
The Book of Common
Prayer is our guide to worship and devotion. Scripture is the foundation of our
worship and two-thirds of the Book of Common Prayer comes directly from the Old
and New Testaments.
Our current Book of Common Prayer, revised in 1979, was originally compiled by the Archbishop of Canterbury, Thomas Cranmer, in 1549. There are more than 70 million Anglicans (Episcopalians) in 163 countries throughout the world, using a Book of Common Prayer in their own language, reflecting our diversity and ethnic backgrounds.
The Book of Common Prayer is a collection of ancient and modern prayers and worship services for occasions when the community gathers and for individual use as well. It allows everyone to participate, reminding us that each person is an important part of the worship experience, whether the service is a celebration or a solemn occasion. It is a guidebook for daily Christian living.
Can I make
up my own prayers?
The Book of Common
Prayer is meant to complement daily individual prayers, not replace them. Every
service in the book includes time for personal prayer requests, either silent or
aloud. Prayers from your heart and mind and of your own words and thoughts are
the most important prayers.
What are
sacraments?
In the Episcopal Church
we take part in certain regular acts of worship. These are called sacraments or
reenactments of Christ's ministries on earth. The two primary sacraments are
Baptism and Holy Communion.
We believe that God is actively present in the world and in us. In the sacraments we realize his presence and his favor towards us. Through the sacraments, which are freely given to us by God, our sins are forgiven, our minds are enlightened, our hearts stirred and our wills strengthened.
What is
Holy Communion?
It is a reenactment of
the Last Supper Jesus shared with his disciples before his death on the cross.
Any baptized person is welcome to share in this meal of bread and wine. Holy
Communion is also called Holy Eucharist, the Last Supper and Mass.
Much of the text for the Q&A was adapted from a series of five excellent brochures published by the Episcopal Diocese of Texas. All editing and additions, with the intention of making this information applicable for an Internet audience, is the sole responsibility of Episconet. As such, this document represents personal opinion and is not an official statement by the Episcopal Church.
What Does It Mean To Follow Christ?
If you
were to visit us at St. Stephen's, you would hear us refer to the many benefits
of being a follower of Jesus Christ.
Here is a formal explanation of just one of those benefits.
What are
we by nature?
We are part of God’s
creation, made in the image of God.
What does
it mean to be created in the image of God?
It means that we are
free to make choices: to love, to create, to reason, and to live in harmony with
creation and with God.
Why then
do we live apart from God and out of harmony with creation?
From the beginning,
human beings have misused their freedom and made wrong choices.
Why do we
not use our freedom as we should?
Because we rebel against
God, and we put ourselves in the place of God.
Is this
what is meant by sin?
Yes. Sin is seeking our
own will instead of the will of God, thus distorting our relationship with God,
with other people, and with all creation.
How does
sin have power over us?
Sin has power over us
because we lose our liberty when our relationship with God is distorted.
What then
is redemption?
Redemption is the act of
God which sets us free from the power of evil, sin, and death.
How did
God prepare us for redemption?
God sent the prophets to
call us back to himself, to show us our need for redemption, and to announce the
coming of the Messiah.
What is
meant by the Messiah?
The Messiah is one sent
by God to free us from the power of sin, so that with the help of God we may
live in harmony with God, within ourselves, with our neighbors, and with all
creation.
Who do we
believe is the Messiah?
The Messiah, or Christ,
is Jesus of Nazareth, the only Son of God.
This answer—we follow Christ
because he sets us free from the power of evil, sin, and death—is only one of
many exciting benefits of following Christ.
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