What do Episcopalians believe?

The Episcopal Church is a constituent member of the world-wide Anglican Communion, and is the American expression of Anglicanism.  While the Episcopal Church has never been too restricted to any one particular theological perspective, there are some things that we all hold in common.  

The Holy Eucharist

Q.  What is the Holy Eucharist?
A.  The Holy Eucharist is the sacrament commanded by Christ for the continual remembrance of his life, death, and resurrection, until his coming again.

Q.  Why is the Eucharist called a sacrifice?
A.  Because the Eucharist, the Church's sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving, is the way by which the sacrifice of Christ is made present, and in which he unites us to his one offering of himself.

Q.  By what other names is this service known?
A.  The Holy Eucharist is called the Lord's Supper, and Holy Communion; it is also known as the Divine Liturgy, the Mass, and the Great Offering.

Q.  What is the outward and visible sign in the Eucharist?
A.  The outward and visible sign in the Eucharist is bread and wine, given and received according to Christ's command.

Q.  What is the inward and spiritual grace given in the Eucharist?
A.  The inward and spiritual grace in the Holy Communion is the Body and Blood of Christ given to his people, and received by faith.  

Q.  What are the benefits which we receive in the Lord's Supper?
A.  The benefits we receive are the forgiveness of our sins, the strengthening of our union with Christ and one another, and the foretaste of the heavenly banquet which is our nourishment in eternal life.

Q.  What is required of us when we come to the Eucharist?
A.  It is required that we should examine our lives, repent of our sins, and be in love and charity with all people.

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The Holy Scriptures

Q.  What are the Holy Scriptures?
A.  The Holy Scriptures, commonly called the Bible, are the books of the Old and New Testaments; other books, called the Apocrypha, are often included in the Bible.

Q.  What is the Old Testament?
A.  The Old Testament consists fo books written by the people of the Old Covenant, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, to show God at work in nature and history.

Q.  What is the New Testament?
A.  The New Testament consists of books written by the people of the New Covenant, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, to set forth the life and teachings of Jesus and to proclaim the Good News of the Kingdom for all people.

Q.  What is the Apocrypha?
A.  The Apocrypha is a collection of additional books written by people of the Old Covenant, and used in the Christian Church.

Q.  Why do we call the Holy Scriptures the Word of God?
A.  We call them the Word of God because God inspired their human authors and because God still speaks to us through the Bible.

Q.  How do we understand the meaning of the Bible?
A.  We understand the meaning of the Bible by the help of the Holy Spirit, who guides the Church in the true interpretation of the Scriptures.