As Episcopalians, we believe in and follow the teachings of Jesus Christ, whose life, death, and resurrection saved the world.
We believe God speaks to us through the Bible, Church Tradition, and our God-given human reason—in that order. This guards against both a knee-jerk faith based on our own preferences and a rigid faith that does not adapt to our changing world.
We strive to love our neighbors as ourselves and respect the dignity of every person.
We understand that the Holy Spirit can call many people to ministry. The Episcopal Canons (bylaws) currently ensure that our church and all its ministries are open to all persons without regard to race, color, ethnic or national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, disabilities, or age.
Both men and women, including those who are married, are eligible for ordination as deacons, priests, and bishops and are encouraged to marry and have families.
We strive always to put the work of love before uniformity of opinion. We celebrate unity in Christ while embracing diversity in politics, philosophy, and lifestyle.
We recognize that there is grace after divorce and do not deny the sacraments to those who have been divorced or remarried.
We affirm committed relationships, including same-sex marriages, that are lifelong and monogamous.
We give lots of authority in the church to lay people. For example, lay people play a pivotal role in electing their bishop.
We affirm that issues such as birth control are matters of personal informed conscience. We allow family planning, including contraceptives.
We see no inherent contradictions between faith and science as each seeks to answer different questions about the universe.
We believe in the forgiveness of sin and life everlasting.
The Episcopal Church is part of the worldwide Anglican Communion. While it was born in England in the 1500s, it traces its heritage to the beginnings of Christianity.
Our prayers come primarily from the Book of Common Prayer, a text that dates to Shakespeare’s time and has been updated many times.
