Our members come from a variety of backgrounds and religious traditions. When asked what Episcopalians believe, it is helpful to look to the Baptismal Covenant found in the Book of Common Prayer.
The Baptismal Covenant affirms our belief in the Holy Trinity of God:
We believe in God the Father, creator of heaven and earth.
We believe in Jesus Christ, the only son of God, who was crucified, died, buried, and rose again.
We believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting.
Within the Baptismal Covenant we make five promises to live as disciples:
We promise to continue in the tradition of the apostles, creating a community that shares the body and blood of Christ together and that prays for one another and the world.
We promise to resist the evil powers of this world, and when we sin, to ask forgiveness and seek reconciliation.
We promise to live by word and deed the Good News of the gospel.
We promise to love our neighbors as ourselves, and to love God by serving others.
We promise to strive for justice and peace for all people in the world, and to respect the dignity of every human being.
Across our membership, we value our diversity of religious backgrounds, life experiences, and opinions. But we share common values in our life together:
- Holy Communion may be received by all baptized Christians, not only members of the Episcopal Church.
- We uphold the Bible and worship with the Book of Common Prayer.
- Lay people exercise a vital role in the governance and ministry of our Church. All ages and abilities have gifts and leadership to share.
- We welcome men and women, married or celibate, gay or straight, to be ordained as bishops, priests, and deacons.
- We believe creation is a gift from God and it is our responsibility as disciples to be good stewards of God’s creation.
- We affirm that committed relationships are lifelong and monogamous. Episcopalians also recognize that there is grace after divorce and do not deny the sacraments to those who have been divorced.
- We support marriage between same-sex couples, and our clergy will perform these marriages.
- We celebrate our unity in Christ while honoring our differences, always putting the work of love before uniformity of opinion.
All are welcome to find a spiritual home in the Episcopal Church. By all, we mean ALL. No exceptions.