Is the Episcopal Church the same as the Anglican Church?

[ChessCastle]

I apologise in advance if this is not the proper area for me to post this, but I do not see the Episcopal Church listed in any of the congregation areas. Is the Episcopal Church part of the Anglican Church? If not are they very different?


CC

[oakraven65]

I apologise in advance if this is not the proper area for me to post this, but I do not see the Episcopal Church listed in any of the congregation areas. Is the Episcopal Church part of the Anglican Church? If not are they very different?


CC

Episcopal Church is the US branch of the Anglican Communion, and Anglican Communion has 38 dioceses,
for more information about Episcopal Church there is a book :

Welcome to the Episcopal Church: An Introduction to Its History, Faith, and Worship from Christopher L. Webber.

After the independence of the USA, the ECUSA church has been founded.

Some books have been revised like the Book of Common Prayers (I suppose there were some problems with the prayers for the royal family).

[benedictine]

The Episcopal Church (ECUSA) is a member of the Anglican Communion, which is a conglomeration of national churches that formed after their countries gained independence from England, and thus, The Church of England.

[holyshe]

i guess yes and no

yes because if it was the same it would be called the same name but...
no because we all pray to the same god and the same jesus

god bless all xxx

[Albion]

I apologise in advance if this is not the proper area for me to post this, but I do not see the Episcopal Church listed in any of the congregation areas. Is the Episcopal Church part of the Anglican Church? If not are they very different?


CC

The name "Anglican" is very old and originally applied only to the Church in England.

When missions started up in other countries around the world, mostly in parts of the British Empire, they also were called "Anglican."

However, in a few places where the reference to things English was not so popular--Scotland and the United States, for example--an alternative word was used to identify the churches. "Episcopal" was chosen since this sets the Anglican churches apart from most other Protestant churches in which there are not bishops in authority.

So, for most people, the terms are interchangable.

There are several federations of such churches worldwide, the "Anglican Communion," being the largest. Since the Episcopal Church in the USA belongs to it, it can logically use both words for itself.

But about 1/3 of the Anglicans in the world belong to Anglican churches which are not members of the "Anglican Communion." They also are called "Anglican" or "Episcopal" or both.

[pmcleanj]

The practical answer is, if you're an Episcopalian and are looking for your proper congregational forum, then this is it. Welcome home. :wave:

There's some non-ECUSA Anglicans, and some Old Catholics here as well. It's their home too.

[ChessCastle]

The practical answer is, if you're an Episcopalian and are looking for your proper congregational forum, then this is it. Welcome home. :wave:

There's some non-ECUSA Anglicans, and some Old Catholics here as well. It's their home too.

Thanks for all the replies. I do not belong to any denomination yet. I just recently accepted Jesus as my savior and I'm currently trying to find the best path for me. I don't know why I have felt the need to learn more about the Anglican church because I've never even heard of it before I started coming to these forums. Yesterday I decided to look in the phone book and see if there was an Anglican church in my area. I live in a rural part of Kansas so I wasn't expecting to find one but I did find an Episcopal church listed which is why I posed my original question. Hopefully I can get some more information about beliefs and practices there.

[Fish and Bread]

Thanks for all the replies. I do not belong to any denomination yet. I just recently accepted Jesus as my savior and I'm currently trying to find the best path for me. I don't know why I have felt the need to learn more about the Anglican church because I've never even heard of it before I started coming to these forums. Yesterday I decided to look in the phone book and see if there was an Anglican church in my area. I live in a rural part of Kansas so I wasn't expecting to find one but I did find an Episcopal church listed which is why I posed my original question. Hopefully I can get some more information about beliefs and practices there.

Welcome to the Christian faith! Good luck on your search. I am sure the local priest or priests at the local Episcopalian church will be happy to answer any questions you have. We have a reputation as a denomination for being fairly welcoming (You may have noticed the little "The Episcopal Church Welcomes You!" signs) and you're almost sure to be invited to a little coffee hour or tea after the service, if they're a big enough group to have one. If you've been baptised in any Christian denomination, as an infant or as an adult, you're welcome to share in communion (The Lord's Supper) at the service as well.

John

[ChessCastle]

Welcome to the Christian faith! Good luck on your search. I am sure the local priest or priests at the local Episcopalian church will be happy to answer any questions you have. We have a reputation as a denomination for being fairly welcoming (You may have noticed the little "The Episcopal Church Welcomes You!" signs) and you're almost sure to be invited to a little coffee hour or tea after the service, if they're a big enough group to have one. If you've been baptised in any Christian denomination, as an infant or as an adult, you're welcome to share in communion (The Lord's Supper) at the service as well.

John

Thanks for the welcome :wave:. I spoke to the rector (not sure if thats how its spelled) today before going to work. I was very happy to find that the church has a service shortly after noon on fridays. This is great for me because I normally work from 3pm-12am. I was invited to come visit and the rector told me he would be happy to speak with me after the service. Unfortunately for me I have not been baptised...I was told it wasn't neccessary at my first church, so I won't be able to take communion with them on friday. Hopefully I'll get baptised soon and that won't be an issue anymore.

[Lel]

Unfortunately for me I have not been baptised...I was told it wasn't neccessary at my first church, so I won't be able to take communion with them on friday. Hopefully I'll get baptised soon and that won't be an issue anymore.

Was that specifically what the rector stated?

ECUSA policy is that all baptized Christians may partake in communion, but some ECUSA churches permit all to partake of the Holy Eucharist regardless of baptism and/or Christian belief.

I'm a very new convert to the Episcopalian Church, so if you ever want to chat with someone about how all this new Episcopalian stuff is so overwhelming, feel free to say hello! :wave:

[ChessCastle]

Was that specifically what the rector stated?

ECUSA policy is that all baptized Christians may partake in communion, but some ECUSA churches permit all to partake of the Holy Eucharist regardless of baptism and/or Christian belief.

I'm a very new convert to the Episcopalian Church, so if you ever want to chat with someone about how all this new Episcopalian stuff is so overwhelming, feel free to say hello! :wave:

Yes he asked if I was baptised, and said it might be better if i didn't take communion. And yes I'd like someone to speak with about everything :clap:

CC

[PaladinValer]

I apologise in advance if this is not the proper area for me to post this, but I do not see the Episcopal Church listed in any of the congregation areas. Is the Episcopal Church part of the Anglican Church? If not are they very different?

The Episcopal Church is the official province of the worldwide Anglican Communion in the US and a few extraterritorial locations.

Episcopal Church is the US branch of the Anglican Communion, and Anglican Communion has 38 dioceses,
I think you mean provinces :)

for more information about Episcopal Church there is a book :

Welcome to the Episcopal Church: An Introduction to Its History, Faith, and Worship from Christopher L. Webber.

That's a great book to recommend. I second it whole-heartedly.

After the independence of the USA, the ECUSA church has been founded.

I wouldn't say "founded." Rather, it achieve status as a province of its own "seperate but interdependent" with the Church in England.

Some books have been revised like the Book of Common Prayers (I suppose there were some problems with the prayers for the royal family).

We didn't need them anymore. Part of the reason why I have problems with the 39 Articles :P

ChessCastle, it sounds like you've found a "Continuing church" parish. Continuing churchers are Anglicans, largely in the US but also in Britain and in Canada, who've left the Anglican Communion and founded new entirely seperate churches still in an Anglican heritage and tradition.

[Naomi4Christ]

Episcopal Church USA is not the same as the Church of England - Oceans apart...

[gitlance]

Episcopal Church USA is not the same as the Church of England - Oceans apart...

One is pants compared with the other

That was not the question.

YES, the Episcopal Church is the same as the Anglican Church. All ECUSA Episcopalians are Anglican, and all AC Anglicans are Episcopal.

[Naomi4Christ]

Not the same in execution though.

[PaladinValer]

The ECUSA and the CoE (really should be CiE) are the same Anglican Church, just different provinces in it.

[trooper]

For now.

[higgs2]

For now.
This makes me sad.

[ChessCastle]

The Episcopal Church is the official province of the worldwide Anglican Communion in the US and a few extraterritorial locations.

ChessCastle, it sounds like you've found a "Continuing church" parish. Continuing churchers are Anglicans, largely in the US but also in Britain and in Canada, who've left the Anglican Communion and founded new entirely seperate churches still in an Anglican heritage and tradition.

I'm not sure what you mean but its called an Episcopal Church and its under the Episcopal Diocese of Kansas. I found it via listing on www.episcopalian.org

[SirTimothy]

Dogsbody, I think you're being unnecessarily antagonistic, here. They ARE in full communion, and although they may act somewhat differently to us, they ARE a branch of the same church as you in the CofE (and that'll include me for October!!) and me here in the Episcopal Church of Cyprus and the Gulf.

This is what you'll find throughout the Episcopal/Anglican church. That we are different in many ways (And some people will tell you that their way is the right/only way... which is rubbish, as we all worship in different ways, at different times, and believe marginally/majorly different things) but that we are ONE church, founded on three basic principals: Scripture (Taken a whole, making sure it's used in correct cultural and historical context, that means researching and seeing how it was meant both at the time, and who it was addressed to), Tradition (ditto), and Reason (Using our mental faculties and the guidance of the Holy Spirit to let us understand the other two.)

Timothy

[Naomi4Christ]

Dogsbody, I think you're being unnecessarily antagonistic, here. They ARE in full communion, and although they may act somewhat differently to us, they ARE a branch of the same church as you in the CofE (and that'll include me for October!!) and me here in the Episcopal Church of Cyprus and the Gulf.



Nothing wrong with being antagonistic :D , if it makes you think!

Being in communion is not the same as being 'the same'.

The two churches are very different, especially if you contrast a church on the evangelical wing on the CofE with your bog-standard ECUSA parish.

The church is not just about communion. There is far more to it than that.

Even then, on a practical matter, most churches have an open table policy so whether a church is in full communion or not doesn't really affect your average Joe-Worshipper.

One of the things that I found dramatically different in ECUSA (the formal worship style and old-fashioned music aside) was in the eagerness of worshippers to learn about God, bible etc., by coming to mid-week educational activities. I suspect a large % of worshippers are there for social reasons or to be seen, whereas in the CofE, no one goes for appearance-sake - maybe 30 years ago but not now.

What I found to be the same was the committment to social programmes and missions. Oh, their parties were good too.

[SirTimothy]

One of the things that I found dramatically different in ECUSA (the formal worship style and old-fashioned music aside) was in the eagerness of worshippers to learn about God, bible etc., by coming to mid-week educational activities. I suspect a large % of worshippers are there for social reasons or to be seen, whereas in the CofE, no one goes for appearance-sake - maybe 30 years ago but not now.

That's not necessarily true of the ECUSA as a whole. The problem is that our perceptions of the whole church (The CofE, the ECUSA, ECatG) are coloured by our own perceptions of our individual churches. As a relative newcomer to ECatG, although from a church in Brum which sounds very similar to yours, I'm realising that my own perceptions of the CofE are actually different to the whole CofE.

Timothy

[Naomi4Christ]

What is ECatG?

Certainly, the CofE is a very broad church which makes it impossible to generalise.

My experience in ECUSA (personal and second-hand) is that all the parishes in our diocese were more or less identical. If you didn't like it, then go somewhere else! Contrast in our deanery, there are CofE churches to suit most people. But the two HTB-type churches (with more standard congregation profiles) are sucking the other churches dry. In 10 years time, it will look very different (I suspect we will plant new congregations in old church buildings as their parishioners die off).

[SirTimothy]

What is ECatG?

It's ECCatG, in fact, I made a typo. Episcopal Church of Cyprus and the Gulf. The diocese that I'm in. :)

My experience in ECUSA (personal and second-hand) is that all the parishes in our diocese were more or less identical. If you didn't like it, then go somewhere else! Contrast in our deanery, there are CofE churches to suit most people. But the two HTB-type churches (with more standard congregation profiles) are sucking the other churches dry. In 10 years time, it will look very different (I suspect we will plant new congregations in old church buildings as their parishioners die off).

True. I suspect we'll see major changes in the CofE, myself, as in the entire Anglican church. But that doesn't mean that the high-and-hazy people are any less full members of the CofE. The people that like traditional worship... my grandmother is part of a growing church which has two congregations, one trad, one contemporary, BOTH are growing. My other grandmother is part of a mid-to-high church which is again, growing.

We need to be accepting. Loving. Not saying "You're less anglican than I am because ABCD are not true about you." Rather saying "We prefer a more traditional style of worship in our church" or "We've found that [i]x[i] is more effective in our area".

Timothy

[ContraMundum]

I apologise in advance if this is not the proper area for me to post this, but I do not see the Episcopal Church listed in any of the congregation areas. Is the Episcopal Church part of the Anglican Church? If not are they very different?


CC

I think most people here have answered amply but I'd like to give you a little tip about Anglicanism/Episcopalianism. Always remember that it's basically a way of life regardless of the signs outside of the church. Study that Bible hard, read the historical beliefs of the church and the way it has always understood the Bible and you will find the right way of living- and be able to express it in the Anglican tradition. That's the key.

God Bless ya!

[higgs2]

It's ECCatG, in fact, I made a typo. Episcopal Church of Cyprus and the Gulf. The diocese that I'm in. :)



True. I suspect we'll see major changes in the CofE, myself, as in the entire Anglican church. But that doesn't mean that the high-and-hazy people are any less full members of the CofE. The people that like traditional worship... my grandmother is part of a growing church which has two congregations, one trad, one contemporary, BOTH are growing. My other grandmother is part of a mid-to-high church which is again, growing.

We need to be accepting. Loving. Not saying "You're less anglican than I am because ABCD are not true about you." Rather saying "We prefer a more traditional style of worship in our church" or "We've found that [i]x[i] is more effective in our area".

Timothy
I thought it was middle and hazy? High and Crazy and Low and Lazy? I do so want to be hazy :D

Disclaimer: ***this is just a lighthearted post using a common little jokey saying and not a person opinion or insult to any groups in the church ****

[SirTimothy]

I thought it was middle and hazy? High and Crazy and Low and Lazy? I do so want to be hazy

You're right. High and Crazy, Low and Lazy, Broad and Hazy... I get them confused sometimes. :)

Timothy

[pmcleanj]

You're right. High and Crazy, Low and Lazy, Broad and Hazy... I get them confused sometimes. :)

Timothy
Yes, "High and Crazy".

"High and hazy" has such lovely alliteration, though. And it makes me think of cirrus clouds in the prairie sky (which really has nothing to do with High Church worship, but somehow *feels* appropriate).

[SirTimothy]

"High and hazy" has such lovely alliteration, though. And it makes me think of cirrus clouds in the prairie sky (which really has nothing to do with High Church worship, but somehow *feels* appropriate).

That was probably it... and maybe the haziness comes from too much incense? <BEG>

Timothy