Anglican/Episcopal Denominations

[jturpin4]

Is their different denominations within the Anglican/Episcopal denomination such as the ELCA, WELS, and LCMS for the Lutherans?

Is the worship service called Holy Eucharist? What is Rite 1 and Rite 2?

[Fish and Bread]

Is their different denominations within the Anglican/Episcopal denomination such as the ELCA, WELS, and LCMS for the Lutherans?

There is a worldwide communion of over 70 million people known as the Anglican Communion. The US affiliate of that group is known as the Episcopal Church (ECUSA) and is also the largest church in the Anglican tradition in the United States. In England, it's the Church of England. And there are various other names for members of the Anglican Communion in different countries (One per country). There are also a variety of smaller continuing Anglican churches (Not affiliated with the Anglican Communion or the Episcopal Church) around the world, which are similar in some ways but different in others.

Is the worship service called Holy Eucharist?

Usually our primary worship service is known as the Holy Eucharist. However, the worship service may also be known as simply a service or be known as a mass, depending on the preference of the local parish (Parish is the word we usually use in place of congregation).

What is Rite 1 and Rite 2?

They're two different liturgies (Orders of service). Rite I uses old fashioned language (A little bit like the King James bible, but from a different time period) and is fairly pennitential (i.e. spends more time asking God to forgive us). Rite II uses modern language and is a little bit more "upbeat". Rite II is the service used most commonly nowadays.

Thanks for visiting our forum. I hope you'll consider stopping by more often! :)

John

[jturpin4]

Is ECUSA the only Anglican denomination in the USA?

[Lel]

ECUSA is the denomination that is in fellowship with Canterbury, but there are other groups that are considered "continuing Anglicans" which are not in fellowship with Canterbury. It isn't really like the different Lutheran groups though.

[AngCath]

Is ECUSA the only Anglican denomination in the USA?


The Episcopal Church has had its fair share of break-aways just like the other denominations, but only the Episcopal Church is in communion with the See of Canterbury (as mentioned before).

Other Anglican churches in America are: Charismatic Episcopal Church, Anglican Church in America, Anglican Mission in America, Reformed Episcopal Church.... there are dozens so I won't even try to list them all.

[Cjwinnit]

Is their different denominations within the Anglican/Episcopal denomination such as the ELCA, WELS, and LCMS for the Lutherans?

Generally it's one church per nation. There are anglican churches grouped outside the official ranks and most are considered mainstream Anglican.

[jturpin4]

I seen on the Anglican threads that someone wanted to convert to the Anglo-Catholic church. Is that a denomination too or that just another term for Anglican/Episcopal?

[Fish and Bread]

I seen on the Anglican threads that someone wanted to convert to the Anglo-Catholic church. Is that a denomination too or that just another term for Anglican/Episcopal?

To put it simply, Anglo-Catholicism is a term for those Anglicans who are the most similar to Roman Catholic folks in their beliefs and practices. They can be found in various Anglican denominations, including the Episcopal Church (Though they're a minority in ECUSA). Anglo-Catholic parishes are the ones where you'd be the most likely to see stuff like intercessory prayer directed towards saints, eucharistic adoration, and that sort of thing. On the other end of the spectrum are evangelical Anglicans, who are the Anglicans who have the most in common with traditional protestantism. Most Anglicans are somewhere in between.

John

[PaladinValer]

Is their different denominations within the Anglican/Episcopal denomination such as the ELCA, WELS, and LCMS for the Lutherans?

First off, welcome to STR :)

Secondly, there is the Anglican Communion, which is a 77-million member church (making it the third largest group of Christians, bested only by the Vatican ("Roman Catholic") Church and the Eastern Orthodox Church in terms of numbers. There are smaller splinter groups however that have broken with the Holy See of Canterbury (the "centerpoint" of the Anglican Communion) but have retained an Anglican heritage, history, and, most importantly, a valid Apostolic Succession.

Is the worship service called Holy Eucharist? What is Rite 1 and Rite 2?

You can call it simply a "service." Many call it "Mass." A few will even call it "Divine Liturgy." The Liturgy of Holy Communion (or Eucharist) is the second "half" (and most important half) during an Anglican worship.

Rites 1 and 2 are two different styles of worship. Rite I tends to use older forms of the English language, while Rite II is more contemporary.

Is ECUSA the only Anglican denomination in the USA?

The ECUSA isn't a denomination of the Anglican Communion but is a province of the Anglican Communion. We are an autocephalous (self-governing but interdependent "unit) body of the Church.

And yes, it is the only official province of the Anglican Communion in the USA. There are some splinter groups as well, however, though they are very small.


I seen on the Anglican threads that someone wanted to convert to the Anglo-Catholic church. Is that a denomination too or that just another term for Anglican/Episcopal?

Anglo-Catholicism is a (quickly growing) movement of theology among not just those in the Anglican Communion but the "Continuing churches" (the splinter groups) as well. It is a theology that emphasizes Tradition, the Church, and a high level of discipline and devotion that are optional. About half of STR are Anglo-Catholics, including myself.

[Naomi4Christ]

Is the worship service called Holy Eucharist?

In our church, we call them services, but then go onto label them so as to give us a clue about what they are like.

eg: Morning worship, family worship, all-age family worship, family communion, holy communion, celebration, parish worship etc. Other places might use different labels, such as mattins, communion, and evensong.


We never call our holy communion services, eucharist - we never use that word at all.

[AveMaria]

In our church, we call them services, but then go onto label them so as to give us a clue about what they are like.

eg: Morning worship, family worship, all-age family worship, family communion, holy communion, celebration, parish worship etc. Other places might use different labels, such as mattins, communion, and evensong.


We never call our holy communion services, eucharist - we never use that word at all.

Is there a difference between family worship and all-age family worship, or are those just different labels you've seen? (I'm trying to figure out what the difference could possibly be, but I could be having a blonde moment!)

[Naomi4Christ]

Is there a difference between family worship and all-age family worship, or are those just different labels you've seen? (I'm trying to figure out what the difference could possibly be, but I could be having a blonde moment!)

No, you aren't having a blonde moment! The terms aren't intuitive. For us, family worship is a service where the children are in for the first 20 minutes before leaving for their own groups. All-age family worship is when the children are in for the whole service, and therefore the service is pitched at a lower level and is shorter (one hour max, instead of 1:15 - 1:30) - we have this type of service for special occasions (this week,we had our Harvest Thanksgiving, but we also have it for Advent Sunday, Mothering Sunday etc.). We also have all-age worship during the school holidays and half-terms. When you add the special occasions and school holidays together, we end up having all-age worship about once a month, September - July.

[AngCath]

Is the worship service called Holy Eucharist?

My family and I all refer to it as Mass as does our priest and a few others of my church. Most in the congregation just call it Eucharist or simply "church"

[cathromang]

We refer to it as mass. There is also low mass and high mass (the sung "smells and bells" service) which is my personal fav - very gothic.