The Episcopal Church

The Episcopal Church is the American province of the Anglican Communion, a worldwide body of over 70 million Christians who trace their origins to the Church of England. Episcopalians are thinking Christians who engage questions of faith with both seriousness and great joy.

Often, The Episcopal Church is called a “bridge church” between Roman Catholicism and Protestant denominations. This is because much Episcopal theology is Protestant in nature, while much of Episcopal worship, spiritual practice and church structure resembles Catholicism.

Read more about the Episcopal Diocese of Alabama here.

The Three-Legged Stool

Episcopalians describe the foundation of our faith by using the image of a 3-legged stool.

Holy Scripture

The first leg is holy scripture, which Episcopalians say is "written by people...inspired by the Holy Spirit (from the Catechism in the Book of Common Prayer). The wisdom from scripture guides our lives.

Tradition

The second leg is Tradition, which consist of the interpretation of God's purposes by past generations of Christians. The First Council of Nicaea wrote the Nicene Creed, which Episcopalians recite every week. The creed reminds us of the nature of God as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

Reason

The third leg is Reason. Episcopalians understand that God makes human beings in his image, which includes gifting us with complex, reasoning minds. We honor God's gift when we use our minds to think deeply about God's will, consulting scripture, tradition, and the myriad ways that God is revealed in the world around us.