The Episcopal Church Welcomes You!

“This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.” John 15:12

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Episcopal Church?
The Episcopal Church is an American branch of the worldwide Anglican Communion -- a “daughter” of the Church of England.

Was the Church of England really founded by Henry VIII?
Not entirely. While Henry VIII’s desire for an annulment of his marriage may have been the straw that broke the camel’s back, the trend toward separation from Rome had been building for quite some time in England, which had never fully embraced the rule of the Papacy.

Who can be priests and deacons?
The Episcopal Church has ordained women to all orders of ministry since 1976. We ordained our first openly gay priest in 1989 and, in 1994, passed a resolution explicitly affirming that LGBT people could not be refused ordination. In 2003, the Episcopal Church ordained the first openly gay bishop in the United States.

 What are the sacraments of the Episcopal Church?
Baptism, Confirmation, the Eucharist, Holy Matrimony, Reconciliation (“confession”), Ordination and Unction of the Sick (“last rites”). We define “Sacraments” as “Outward and visible signs of inward and spiritual grace.”

So is the Episcopal Church Protestant or Catholic?
Both. Neither. Either. When the Church of England separated itself from Rome, it did not consider itself to be a “Protestant” tradition. Rather, it saw itself returning to the original organization of the church, with local/national congregations organized under the rule of their own bishops. In an attempt to reconcile the views of the Protestant Reformers with the tradition of the Catholic Church, the Anglican tradition became a home for both.

Can I take communion?
All baptized Christians, regardless of denomination, may take communion in the Episcopal Church. A baptized child may take communion at any age; the decision of when to take communion is left up to the child’s parents.

What about marriage equality?
We have called on Congress to repeal the DOMA act, and more than two dozen bishops have filed two briefs in the United States Supreme Court supporting civil marriage equality for same-sex couples. In August 2012 the Episcopal Church nationally approved a rite for use in same-gender unions, for marriage in states where it is legal and for blessings in states where it is not.
The Bishop of Nebraska has enthusiastically approved the blessing of same gender relationships for church members who are ready to enter into a lifelong Christian covenant together.

But how can the church change its mind on things like marriage?
We are a church that believes Christ continues to be with the world, moving with us, helping us find meaning in moments of joy and also loss and pain.

 We overturned nearly two millennia of set tradition when we began ordaining women almost 40 years ago. We repudiated the traditional tolerance of discrimination and racial prejudice in the mid-20th century. We have deliberately become more and more consciously a church for all.

I’m confused: are you traditional or not?
Nobody loves tradition more that we do! But we know that Jesus, the living Word of God, still calls to us all today: Jesus calls us to be faithful to traditions in ways that reach out to contemporary men and women. Jesus calls us to be messengers of love and forgiveness to a broken world, and to be his hands and arms and feet in service to all.

One last question: Will you threaten me with eternal damnation?
We like to think that God makes those decisions and that we aren’t privy to them. We share hope in God’s incredibly bountiful grace to extend salvation to all people.

The Episcopal Church welcomes YOU!
The Episcopal Church and the Episcopal Diocese of Nebraska welcome you to find communion and community, and to join us in Christ’s work of service, reconciliation and love.

This FAQ includes content created by the Dioceses of Nebraska, Olympia, North Carolina, Lexington, and Dallas.