Q. Who is the head of the Episcopal Church?
A. Christ himself.
Q. Who makes up the Ecclesiastical authority for the
Episcopal Church’s beliefs?
A. Archbishop of
&
Priests in local parishes.
Q. What is the source of the Episcopal Church’s beliefs?
A. The Holy Scriptures ~ “I solemnly declare that I do
believe the Holy Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments to be the Word of
God, and to contain all things necessary to salvation”.) Vow
taken by all Bishops and Priests at ordination.
Q. Does the Episcopal Church have any other source for
their beliefs?
A. Yes, we also rely on the Church traditions, as given
to us by the church Fathers from their historical writings.
Q. What is a Sacrament?
A. The Sacrament are outward and
visible signs of inward and Spiritual Grace, given by Christ as sure and
certain means by which we receive that Grace.
Q. What is Grace?
A. Grace is God’s favor towards us, unearned and
undeserved: by Grace God forgives our sins, enlightens our minds, stirs our hearts
and strengthens our wills.
Q. What is the definition of Grace?
A. Grace is the Free Gift of God – so it isn’t Grace that
we say at meals but blessing.
Q. Are you a
A. Most definitively – we have the Seven Sacraments as
revealed in Holy Scriptures:
1. Baptism
2. Confirmation
3. Holy Eucharist (These three are considered essential
Sacraments)
4. Penance (Confession
and absolution)
5. Unction (Healing) (These two are special gifts for our
well being)
6. Marriage
7. Ordination (These two are necessary if we are to marry
or become clergy.)
Q. Do you have an expression of your belief?
A. Yes,
and we do so each time we come together to worship by reaffirming our faith
when we say either the Nicene Creed or Apostolic Creed.
Q. What does
the word Episcopal mean?
A. The
meaning of Episcopal is from the Greek word episkopos
which means bishop. The Church is called Episcopal, it’s
parishioners are called Episcopalians. The Episcopal Church has authentic
Bishops by virtue of Apostolic succession commissioned
by Christ Himself.
Q. How old is your Church?
A. Locally we go back to 1737. Historically we have an unbroken line of Bishops to Christ Himself. We go back to the Great Commission of Christ as expressed in the Gospel of Matthew, Chapter 28:16-20. It is this unbroken line that gives us our clergy of Bishops, Priests and Deacons ( Apostolic Succession) and so authority of our Sacraments.