What is Episcopal

Attached are some talking point notes from last night's Monday dinner and discussion lead by our Peer Ministers and Intern at the KSU Canterbury House.  After a brief overview of the Episcopal Church, we began Q&A and then followed with sharing some of our stories about 'how we came to be here' and the impact that participation with Campus Ministry of the Episcopal Church is having on our Christian discipleship.  Kudos to Nic, Amanda, Kathryn, and Hannah for facilitating this... and for the great comfort food :-)

What is Episcopal?

(some notes from Monday night discussion at the KSU Canterbury House, 20 Sept 2010)

From the Greek episkopos and Latin episcopus (translated as ‘overseer’ and/or ‘bishop’) alluding to the ‘episcopate’ structure of the church and the bishop as a sign/symbol of authority and unity in each diocese.  “E/episcopal” is an adjective. “Episcopalian” is a noun.

The Episcopal Church (TEC), formerly the Protestant Episcopal Church in the United States and legally known as the Domestic and Foreign Missionary Society of the Protestant Episcopal Church in the United States of America, emerged in the 18^th Century in the U.S. (after the American Revolution) from Church of England (CofE) roots and has continually evolved/adapted, as have other churches of the Anglican tradition that were once part of the Church of England. E.g, both our polity and our Prayer Book have evolved from CofE origins. Today, TEC is one of the provinces of the global Anglican Communion (with Archbishop of Canterbury as a symbol of unity). TEC today maintains a ‘wide tent’ of spirituality/practice encompassing Anglo-Catholic as well as Protestant worship styles and beliefs (ref: history of the emergence of the CofE in the 17^th Century).  Ethos includes Anglican emphasis on creative interplay of Scripture, Tradition, and Reason (this is sometimes referred to as our three-legged stool) that some say resists religious absolutism.  TEC is also creedal, utilizing both the Apostles’ and Nicene Creeds in our liturgies, highlighting Trinitarian belief as well as belief in “one holy catholic and apostolic Church.”

Over 2.4 million members in 110 dioceses within 9 provinces throughout the U.S., Colombia, the Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Haiti, Honduras, Puerto Rico, Taiwan, Venezuela, the Virgin Islands, part of Europe, and in the Navajoland Area Mission.  Bi-cameral in polity – clergy and laity collaborate in decision making.  Orders of ministry are laity, deacons, priests, and bishops.  Primary sacraments are Holy Baptism and Holy Eucharist.  Sacramental rites (pastoral offices) also include Confirmation, Marriage, Reconciliation of the Penitent (similar to Confession), Ministration to the Sick, and Ministration at the Time of Death and Burial. In communion/common mission with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) and Eucharistic sharing relationship with the United Methodist Church.

The Episcopal Diocese of Kansas, formed in the 1850’s, is comprised of nearly 12,000 members in 50 church parishes between Kansas City and Wichita.  The Cathedral (seat of our Bishop) is in Topeka. The KSU Canterbury House is a mission and ministry of the diocese*, overseen by a Campus Missioner and a Bishop’s Committee that enables the local leadership of a resident intern and peer ministers (students).  *The vision of the Campus Ministry of the Episcopal Church is to welcome students on every campus in the Diocese of Kansas and invite them to grow in the knowledge and love of Christ through fellowship, worship, and service.  For more information about the Episcopal Diocese of Kansas: http://www.episcopal-ks.org

TEC “shield” and flag design.  The red cross (representing sacrifice on the cross and blood of martyrs) on a white field (representing purity) alludes to cross of St. George, patron saint of England.  The nine, white x-shaped crosses represent the nine original dioceses of TEC and are in the form of a St. Andrew’s cross, recalling the influence of the Scottish Episcopal church through the ordination of the first bishop in the U.S..  The crosses rest on a field of blue,   traditionally associated with the Blessed Virgin Mary and symbolic of the human nature that Jesus received from her.

For more information: www.episcopalchurch.org

Recommended Reading on history of the Episcopal Church and Anglican tradition:

Frequently Asked Questions covering many topics:

http://www.episcopalchurch.org/infoline_87500_ENG_HTM.htm

  

The Book of Common Prayer and Administration of the Sacraments and Other Rites and Ceremonies of the Church (1979: Church Publishing Inc) *particularly note pp.845-880 – “Outline of the Faith” and “Historical Documents of the Church”

The Episcopal Handbook (2008: Morehouse)

Chapman, Mark. Anglicanism: A very short introduction (2006: Oxford Univ Press)

Holmes, David L. A Brief History of the Episcopal Church (1993: Trinity Press, Harrisburg, PA)

Moorman, J.R.H. A History of the Church of England, 3^rd Ed. (1980: Morehouse)

Prichard, Robert.  A History of the Episcopal Church (1999: Morehouse)

Ramsey, Michael. The Anglican Spirit (2004: Church Publishing Inc)

Sachs, William L. The Transformation of Anglicanism: From state Church to global communion (2002: Cambridge Univ Press)

Schmidt, Richard H. Glorious Companions: Five Centuries of Anglican Spirituality (2002: Eerdmans)

Sykes, Stephen, et al. The Study of Anglicanism (2004: Fortress)

Sachs, William L. The Transformation of Anglicanism: From state Church to global communion (2002: Cambridge Univ Press)

Webber, Christopher L. Welcome to the Episcopal Church: An Introduction to Its History, Faith, and Worship (1999: Morehouse)

Westerhoff, The Rev. Dr. John H. A People call Episcopalians: A Brief Introduction to Our Peculiar Way of Life (1998: Morehouse)