Episcopal Church (United States)

Episcopal Church (United States)
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Name	Episcopal Church
Main classification	Protestant
Orientation	Anglican
Polity	Episcopal polity
Primate	Michael Curry, Presiding Bishop
Headquarters	New York City
Area	United States, Taiwan, parts of Latin America and the Caribbean
Language	English, Spanish
Founder	Samuel Seabury and others
Founded date	1789
Separated from	Church of England
Congregations	6,423
Members	1,432,082 baptized members
Website	episcopalchurch.org

Episcopal Church (United States) is a member church of the worldwide Anglican Communion, tracing its roots to the Church of England and the Protestant Reformation. It was formally established in 1789 after the American Revolution, with Samuel Seabury becoming its first bishop. The church is known for its via media approach, blending Catholic liturgical tradition with Protestant theological principles, and is governed by a system of bishops in the General Convention.

History

The church's origins lie in the colonial Church of England parishes established in settlements like Jamestown and the Massachusetts Bay Colony. Following the American Revolution, American clergy sought autonomy, leading to the consecration of Samuel Seabury by the Scottish Episcopal Church in 1784 and the formal organization of the denomination at the General Convention in 1789. The 19th century saw expansion westward, theological debates over ritualism, and a schism with the formation of the Reformed Episcopal Church. The church was deeply divided during the American Civil War, though it reunited afterward. The 20th century was marked by the Oxford Movement's influence, the revision of the Book of Common Prayer, and the ordination of women, beginning with the Philadelphia Eleven in 1974.

Beliefs and practices

Theological doctrine is based on the Holy Scripture, tradition, and reason, as articulated in the Chicago-Lambeth Quadrilateral. Core beliefs are expressed in the Apostles' Creed and the Nicene Creed, with the Book of Common Prayer serving as the central liturgical text. The church observes the sacraments of Baptism and the Eucharist as paramount, along with other sacramental rites. Worship is liturgical and sacramental, often described as "Catholic and Reformed," incorporating elements from the Elizabethan Religious Settlement. The lectionary guides scriptural readings, and the church follows the liturgical year, observing seasons such as Advent, Lent, and Easter.

Structure and organization

The church operates under an episcopal polity with a threefold order of bishops, priests, and deacons. Its supreme governing body is the bicameral General Convention, comprising the House of Bishops and the House of Deputies, which meets triennially. Between conventions, executive authority rests with the Executive Council. The church is divided into dioceses and missionary dioceses, each led by a bishop diocesan. The spiritual head is the Presiding Bishop, currently Michael Curry, whose office is based at the Episcopal Church Center in New York City. The Anglican Communion is maintained through the Archbishop of Canterbury and instruments like the Lambeth Conference.

Social and political positions

The church has been a prominent voice in progressive social justice movements. It played a significant role in the American civil rights movement, with figures like John Hines and later Desmond Tutu. In 1976, it approved the ordination of women to the priesthood and episcopate, electing Barbara Harris as the first woman bishop in the Anglican Communion in 1989. The church affirms the full inclusion of LGBT people, permitting the blessing of same-sex unions and ordaining openly gay clergy, a stance that caused tension within the Anglican Communion. It has also taken positions on issues like immigration reform, climate change, and gun control.

Ecumenical relations

The church is actively engaged in ecumenical dialogue, being a founding member of the National Council of Churches and the World Council of Churches. It maintains full communion agreements with several denominations, including the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America through the Waterloo Declaration, the Moravian Church in North America, and the Philippine Independent Church. Through the Anglican Communion, it is in dialogue with the Roman Catholic Church and various Eastern Orthodox churches. The church was also a signatory to the Baptism, Eucharist and Ministry document from the Faith and Order Commission.

Membership and demographics

As of 2022, the church reported approximately 1.43 million baptized members across 6,423 congregations in the United States and its extra-provincial dioceses in Taiwan, Haiti, and parts of Latin America. Membership has declined steadily since the 1960s, mirroring trends in many Mainline Protestant denominations in North America. Demographically, the church is predominantly non-Hispanic white, though efforts are ongoing to increase diversity. The church's presence is historically strongest in regions like New England, the Mid-Atlantic states, and the American South, with notable cathedrals including the Washington National Cathedral and the Cathedral of St. John the Divine in New York City.

Category:Episcopal Church (United States) Category:Christian denominations in the United States Category:Anglican Communion