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What is an
Episcopalian?
The Episcopal
Church in the United States is part of the worldwide Anglican
Communion.
The
Archbishop of Canterbury, the Most Reverend Rowan Williams, is the
titular leader of the Anglican Communion. In the United
States, the Presiding Bishop is the “Chief Pastor and Primate” of the
Episcopal Church. The individual elected to this position serves for
nine years. The current Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church in the
United States is the Most Reverend Katharine Jefferts Schori.
Bishop Jeffery
Lee was ordained and consecrated as the 12th Bishop of The
Episcopal Dioceses of Chicago in 2008 and seated as diocesan bishop in
St. James Cathedral Chicago.
The Episcopal Church offers a
thoughtful approach to religion. It believes faith involves a
measure of reason as well as emotion. Its doctrine is designed
to point out, not dictate, the response to God's continuing
revelation. The focus is on God's love and the invitation to
respond in mature freedom, in thanksgiving, and in loving
devotion. Basic beliefs are expressed in the Book of Common
Prayer and especially in the Catechism.
The Episcopal Church teaches that
morality is positive, rather than negative. It is rooted in
Jesus' summary of the law: 'to love God with heart, mind and
soul and to love one's neighbor as oneself." The focus of
Christian morality is not on laws and restrictions but on free
and mature response to God's love and in responsibility to our
neighbors.
It is a church that
encourages dialogue, discussion, ongoing study and active participation
in the liturgy and sacraments.
The Episcopal Church
embraces a diverse people united by the common recognition of
Scripture, Tradition, and Reason as authoritative in all that we
think, say and do
The Book of Common Prayer
is the source of much of our liturgy, sacramental rites, prayers and
theology, and is used by most Episcopal churches in the United
States.
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