What is the Episcopal Church?

The Episcopal Church in the United States of America (ECUSA) is the historic American branch of the Anglican Communion, that international body of churches that is joined through mutual interdependence and having their root in the Church of England.  The Anglican Communion understands itself as a Reformed Catholic body, which holds to the ancient Church’s teaching and practice and receives the corrective insights of the Protestant Reformation.

The Anglican Communion does not view itself as the only Catholic body but seeks through ecumenical dialogue to establish relationships with other churches throughout the world. An important basis for this dialogue is found in the Chicago-Lambeth Quadrilateral.

Episcopal is a word of Greek origin and refers to bishops. Hence, 'Episcopal' in ECUSA refers to our governance by bishops. The Anglican Communion recognizes the three-fold order of ministry of the undivided and ancient Church: Deacons, Priests and Bishops.

 The Anglican Communion in its worship emphasizes the 'Gospel' Sacraments—rites instituted by our Lord himself in the Gospel. The Gospel Sacraments are Holy Baptism (instituted in Matthew 28:19-20) and Holy Communion (instituted in 1 Corinthians 11:23-25). Anglicanism also recognizes five 'lesser' sacraments, Confirmation, Marriage, Ordination, Unction (Anointing with Holy Oil), & Confession, although these are not required.

The three most important sources for Anglican belief and doctrine are the ecumenical creeds (the Apostles, Nicene, and Athanasian Creeds), the Thirty-Nine Articles, and the historic Book of Common Prayer (BCP).   The Book of Common Prayer was first used for public worship in England in 1549, and has gone through several revisions both in England and America. Although there are differences between the various revisions, theological coherence and unity characterize them. The last such revision in the United States is the 1928 Book of Common Prayer.   In England, the 1662 Book of Common Prayer  is still the official prayer book and is used in many parts of the Communion. The Canadian 1962 Book of Common Prayer  is the most recent revision in this prayer book tradition.

The American 1979 Book of Common Prayer, while it may be used in a way that is compatible with the common prayer tradition, is more like the English Alternative Service Book or the Canadian Book of Alternative Services. Each of these books offers a variety of forms for rites and services found in the traditional prayer books.   

Since the 1970s, ECUSA and the Anglican Communion have been embroiled in controversies regarding women's ordination, liturgical and theological innovation, blessings of homosexual unions, and the ordination of partnered homosexual clergy. The Anglican Communion is currently in the midst of a process initiated by the Windsor Report , which will likely culminate in the establishment of an Anglican Covenant.  The Covenant is designed to hold the member churches of the Anglican Communion mutually accountable