Terminology in the Episcopal Church

[RileyG]

Do you identify as both Episcopalian AND Anglican? Since the Episcopal Church (USA) is the Anglican Communion here in the United States. I've always been a bit confused by this.

 

[seeking.IAM]

Yes.

 

[RileyG]

Yes.

Thanks for the simple answer!

IOW, all Episcopalians are Anglicans, not all Anglicans are Episcopalians?

 

[seeking.IAM]

Thanks for the simple answer!

IOW, all Episcopalians are Anglicans, not all Anglicans are Episcopalians?

Yes. But if one wants to make it even more confusing, not all who call themselves Anglicans are members of the Anglican Communion.

 

[RileyG]

Yes. But if one wants to make it even more confusing, not all who call themselves Anglicans are members of the Anglican Communion.

Yes! I am aware of some independent sects. Like the ACNA, or the Charismatic Episcopal Church etc

 

[Philip_B]

The list of Church in the Communion as Anglicans can be found here

https://www.anglicancommunion.org/structures/member-churches.aspx
​

The list of Churches - not traditionally Anglican but in communion with the see of Canterbury can be found here.

https://www.anglicancommunion.org/ecumenism/churches-in-communion.aspx​

The list of Church - traditionally Anglican but not in communion with the see of Canterbury can be found here

Anglicans Online | Churches not 'in the Communion'​

 

[Arcangl86]

I tend to identify as both Episcopalian and Anglican. In fact I tend to self identify as Anglican first. But I don't think that's true for all Episcopalians.

 

[RileyG]

The list of Church in the Communion as Anglicans can be found here

https://www.anglicancommunion.org/structures/member-churches.aspx
​

The list of Churches - not traditionally Anglican but in communion with the see of Canterbury can be found here.

https://www.anglicancommunion.org/ecumenism/churches-in-communion.aspx​

The list of Church - traditionally Anglican but not in communion with the see of Canterbury can be found here

Anglicans Online | Churches not 'in the Communion'​

Thank you

 

[StephenDisraeli]

In origin, "Anglican" is just a brief nickname for members of the Church of England. "Episcopalian" came into use as a substitute name for branches of the tradition outside England itself. Partly, I think, because of the historical experience of Scotland, where kings tried to re-impose bishops on the Kirk, until the demise of the Stuarts meant that they could be thrown off. Those Scots who defiantly adhered to the surviving line of bishops naturally called themselves Episcopalians.

 

[PloverWing]

The churches most familiar to me that use "Episcopal" rather than "Anglican" in their names are the US and Scotland. In both cases, there were times in our history where we and England were mad at each other, and choosing a name other than "Anglican" gives a little distance from England. (Here in the US, we've long since made peace with England, though we never joined the Commonwealth. I'll let the Scots answer for themselves. )

As to the original question: "Anglican" is the name for the broad theological / ecclesiastical tradition coming out of the English Reformation, so the Episcopal Church is part of this. If you'd asked me 30 years ago, I would have used the terms "Episcopalian" and "Anglican" roughly interchangeably, and that's still correct wording. More recently, though, in the US the term "Anglican" tends to be heard as referring to the ACNA and similar bodies. With that in mind, I now use the label "Episcopalian" most of the time, to clarify my views on a collection of theological issues.

 

[Arcangl86]

The churches most familiar to me that use "Episcopal" rather than "Anglican" in their names are the US and Scotland. In both cases, there were times in our history where we and England were mad at each other, and choosing a name other than "Anglican" gives a little distance from England. (Here in the US, we've long since made peace with England, though we never joined the Commonwealth. I'll let the Scots answer for themselves. )

As to the original question: "Anglican" is the name for the broad theological / ecclesiastical tradition coming out of the English Reformation, so the Episcopal Church is part of this. If you'd asked me 30 years ago, I would have used the terms "Episcopalian" and "Anglican" roughly interchangeably, and that's still correct wording. More recently, though, in the US the term "Anglican" tends to be heard as referring to the ACNA and similar bodies. With that in mind, I now use the label "Episcopalian" most of the time, to clarify my views on a collection of theological issues.

And I actually use Anglican more I think because I want to be clear that the Episcopal Church is the "official" Anglican presence in the US.