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What is the Episcopal Church?
The Episcopal Church is made up of between two and three million worshipers in about 7500 congregations across the United States and a few related dioceses outside the US. The Episcopal Church is also a member of the world-wide Anglican Communion. A Brief History
During the Reformation in England in the 16th Century, King Henry VIII declared the Church of England independent of the Roman Catholic Church. The Church of England became a self-governing church with the monarch as its head. This came about because of many political and temporal factors. Regardless of the catalyst, the English Reformation gave rise to a distinct form of Christianity, known today as Anglicanism.
The Episcopal Church, as well as most of the other churches in the Anglican Communion trace their roots to the Church of England, hence the name “Anglican.” Some of the other members of the Communion include the Anglican Church of Canada, the Anglican Church in Australia and the Anglican Church of Nigeria. In fact, the largest percentage of Anglicans now live in Africa.
One of the hallmarks of the Reformation was the rejection of the Bishop of Rome, otherwise known as “the Pope”, as the universal authority for the Church. The member churches of the Anglican Communion are autonomous, self-governing bodies, and have no direct legislative authority over one another.
The Archbishop of Canterbury, the head of the Church of England, is acknowledged as the spiritual head of the Anglican Communion. While respected as the spiritual leader of the Communion, the Archbishop does not have direct authority over any province outside of the Church of England. The Diocese of Milwaukee
St. James' Episcopal Church is in the Diocese of Milwaukee, which covers the southern third of Wisconsin. In October 2003, the Diocese of Milwaukee elected and installed its 11th bishop, the Right Reverend Steven A. Miller. Individual parishes within the diocese operate within parameters set by the bishop, and by various lay and clerical bodies. The bishop is the chief pastor of the diocese. The priests and deacons are bound to the bishop through promises of obedience to the Bishop. The Episcopal Church has men and women who share in the ministries of bishops, priests and deacons.
Sunday is traditionally when Episcopalians gather to worship. In most churches now, the principal worship service is the Holy Eucharist, or as it is also known, “The Lord’s Supper,” “Holy Communion,” or “The Mass.” In most Episcopal churches, worship is accompanied by the singing of hymns, and in some churches, much of the service is also sung.
Open Communion All baptized Christians—no matter what age, and no matter of what denomination—are welcome to receive Holy Communion. This invitation to other Christians who are not Episcopalians is in sharp contrast to the position of other Churches, such as the Roman Catholic Church, the Orthodox Churches, and some synods of the Lutheran Church. Visitors who are not baptized Christians are still welcome to come forward during the Communion to receive the blessing of the priest.
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Copyright © 2006
St. James' Episcopal Church
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