With many different denominations and churches available, finding a new church can be a real challenge. Christians may decide to join the Episcopal Church for a variety of reasons.
Episcopal Church Offers Both Communion and Scripture
Both Bible-centered and communion-centered, the Episcopal Church is a Protestant denomination that retains many Catholic traditions, including communion, bishops, priests, and saints. Many believers find that a combined emphasis on the Bible and Holy Communion enhances their faith.
Worship, Tradition Popular in Episcopal Church
Many people attracted to tradition and religious ceremonies will enjoy the Episcopal Church’s worship services. Episcopal services include pageantry, processions, and music that makes worship colorful, majestic, and meaningful for believers.
The Episcopal Church’s liturgy, or service order, goes back to the 16th century. Episcopalians honor saints going back to Jesus’ day and celebrate a variety of feast days, or celebrations in the Christian life, in a yearly cycle. This tradition creates a pattern of Episcopal worship attractive to many.
Marriage, Convenience Other Reasons to Be Episcopalian
Other people become Episcopalians due to marriage or personal convenience. Individuals in the process of "church shopping" may stumble upon an Episcopal Church based on a friend’s recommendation or as a result of a church's close proximity to one’s home.
Episcopal Church Offers Communion to All Christians
Once one has found an Episcopal Church to attend, he or she has certain privileges even though he/she is not a member. Episcopalians offer an open communion table, meaning that any baptized Christian is welcome to receive communion with the congregation.
A visitor's denomination (providing it's a Christian denomination) is irrelevant; he/she is welcome to join the Episcopal congregation as they receive bread and wine – the central Christian ritual marking Jesus Christ’s death and resurrection.
Although non-Christians cannot receive communion in most Episcopal Churches, they are welcome to come forward during communion to receive a blessing, a Christian prayer of God’s protection and love.
Membership in Episcopal Church Represents Christian Commitment
Though a Christian individual or family can technically attend an Episcopal Church and participate fully in church services without formal membership, it should be noted that membership has many benefits, including:
- Leading worship services, serving on the vestry (governing board), sharing the wine at communion, and reading the Holy Scripture during worship services;
- Minimal qualification to ordained ministry or the monastic life within the Episcopal Church;
- Learning more about the history, tradition, beliefs, and ritual of the Episcopal Church; and
- Fully embracing the Christian community represented by the Episcopal Church.
Becoming a member of the Episcopal Church — or any church, for that matter — represents a Christian's commitment to that particular community.
Though the Episcopal Church’s beliefs and worship may not appeal to every Christian, for many, the Episcopal Church provides a safe and welcoming place to express and practice their faith in Jesus Christ.
For more on the Episcopal Church, read Episcopal Church History and Beliefs: An Introduction to Who Episcopalians Are and What They Believe.
Melissa Roberts - A trained hospital chaplain, Melissa is a freelance writer, teacher, retreat leader, and spiritual director.
