About the Episcopal Church
The Episcopal Church strives to live by the message of Christ, in which there are no outcasts and all are welcome. We also have a long tradition of recognizing that diversity of opinion and different points of view exist among good people. As a church, we strive to respect each other, to listen to each other and to live together in community. Sometimes, this means our national church makes the news - because we are willing to talk about our differences!
We are a sacramental and worship-oriented church that promotes thoughtful debate about what God is calling us to do and be, as followers of Christ. The hallmarks of the Episcopal Church are walking a middle way between Protestant and Roman Catholic traditions, worship conducted in one's own language, using the Book of Common Prayer and an approach to interpreting the Bible that includes Scripture, Tradition and Reason.
About the important things, we are in agreement: These are the beliefs that make us Christian.
- God created the physical world - and it is good.
- The Bible is the Word of God and contains all that is needed for salvation. (Although Christians can disagree on how to interpret or apply what the Bible says.)
- There is One God in three persons - Father, Son and Holy Spirit
- God Became Human in the person of Jesus Christ
- Jesus died on the cross for the redemption of our sins and was physically raised to life on the third day
- The sacrament of Baptism brings us into new life as a Christian
- The sacrament of the Eucharist (Holy Communion, the Lord's Supper, Mass) is a continual remembrance of Jesus' life, death and resurrection
- All Christians share in the work of reconciling the World to God through Jesus Christ
And for us in LCEM - We are called to be family. To celebrate our good times and share the bad with people who care. People we know. People we connect with, work with, can talk to. People we can turn to. That's LCEM. That's family.
Links to more information
WARNING: Exploring this material may answer some of your questions - or raise new ones! Visit a church to find out more. The best way to find out about the Episcopal Church is to become a part of us. Come grow with us.
(These links are not on this website - to return to this website, use your "back" button, or open them in a different window or tab)
Home page to
the Episcopal Church
(that's the U.S.A. branch of the Anglican Communion)
Are
you "spiritual, but not religious"?
A
basic introduction to Christianity
What
is the Episcopal Church including:
- An Outline of Faith (the Catechism)
- What makes us Anglican?
- What to Expect When you Visit
- The Anglican Communion
- Episcopal Church Governance
- and more!
A
glossary of all our strange words & terms
Home page of the
Episcopal Diocese of Chicago
Anglicans
Online
Bible
Gateway - A searchable, online Bible. Lots of
Editions!
Episcopal Cafe - A Ministry of the Diocese of WashingtonThe cafe aspires to create a
visually appealing, intellectually stimulating, spiritually enriching and at least occasionally
amusing site where Episcopalians and those interested in our church can read, watch, listen and
reflect upon contemporary life in a context informed by faith and animated by the spirit of charity.
Top Ten Reasons for Being an Episcopalian
According to Robin Williams
10. No snake handling.
9. You can believe in dinosaurs.
8. Male and Female, God created them; male and female we ordain them.
7. You don't have to check your brains at the door.
6. Pew aerobics.
5. Church year is color coded.
4. Free wine on Sunday.
3. All of the pageantry, none of the guilt.
2. You don't have to know how to swim to get baptized.
1. No matter what you believe, there's bound to be at least
one other Episcopalian who agrees with you.
About Receiving Communion in an Episcopalian Church
All baptized Christians are welcome
We believe that the Communion table belongs to God, not to us.
Holy Communion is one of the most powerful meetings of the human and the divine.
We believe that we are all strengthened when another soul accepts God's invitation to come to the table.
We do not ask if you are a member of a specific church.
We do not ask if you endorsed the passage of some piece of legislation.
We do not ask if you voted for a particular candidate.
We do not ask how old you are. (Do any of us fully understand this mystery we share?)
We do not ask if you have been "saved".
We do not ask if you have been confirmed.
We just invite you: join us at the table.
