Episcopal Church (United States)

{{short description|Anglican denomination}} {{redirect|The Episcopal Church|other uses|Episcopal Church (disambiguation)}} {{redirect|American Episcopal Church|Continuing Anglican denominations|Continuing Anglican movement}} {{use American English|date=March 2019}} {{use mdy dates|date=March 2019}} {{Infobox Christian denomination | icon = | icon_width = | icon_alt = | name = The Episcopal Church | image = Episcopal Shield.svg | imagewidth = 150px | alt = | caption = [[Coat of arms|Arms]] of The Episcopal Church: ''Argent a cross throughout gules, on a canton azure nine cross crosslets in saltire of the field''.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.episcopalarchives.org/sites/default/files/publications/1940_GC_Journal.pdf|title=Journal of the General Convention of the Protestant Episcopal Church in the United States of America|publisher=The Episcopal Church|page=288|date=1940}}</ref> | abbreviation = | type = | main_classification = [[Protestantism|Protestant]] | orientation = [[Anglican]]{{efn|group=nb|[[Broad church]] (including variations of [[high church]] and [[low church]])}} | scripture = [[Protestant Bible|Protestant Bible]] | theology = [[Anglican doctrine]]{{efn|With various theological and doctrinal identities, including [[Anglo-Catholic]], [[Liberal Christianity|Liberal]] and [[Evangelical Anglicanism|Evangelical]]}} | polity = [[Episcopal polity|Episcopal]] | governance = Unitary{{efn|[[General Convention of the Episcopal Church in the United States of America]].}} | leader_title = [[List of presiding bishops of the Episcopal Church in the United States of America|Presiding bishop]] | leader_name = [[Sean Rowe|Sean W. Rowe]] | leader_title1 = President of the <br /> House of Deputies | leader_name1 = Julia Ayala Harris | leader_title2 = Chief of Mission | leader_name2 = Lester V. Mackenzie | leader_title3 = | leader_name3 = | fellowships_type = Communion | fellowships = [[Anglican Communion]] | fellowships_type1 = | fellowships1 = | division_type = Provinces | division = 9 | division_type1 = [[Ecclesiastical provinces and dioceses of the Episcopal Church|Dioceses]] | division1 = 106 | division_type2 = Parishes | division2 = 6,707 (2024)<ref>{{cite web | title=2024 Parochial Report shows continued post-COVID rebound in attendance | website=The Office of Public Affairs of the Episcopal Church | date=October 25, 2025 | url=https://www.episcopalchurch.org/publicaffairs/2024-parochial-report-shows-continued-post-covid-rebound-in-attendance/ | access-date=2025-10-25}}</ref> | division_type3 = | division3 = | associations = <br />[[National Council of Churches]]<br />[[World Council of Churches]]<br />[[Christian Churches Together in the USA]] | full_communion = {{plainlist}} * [[Evangelical Lutheran Church in America|ELCA]] (since [[Called to Common Mission|1999]]) * [[Moravian Church in North America|Moravians]] (since 2010) * [[Church of Sweden|CoS]] (since 2015)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://international.la-croix.com/news/religion/the-american-cathedral-in-paris-celebrates-100-years/17515|title=The American Cathedral in Paris celebrates 100 years|last=Lasserre|first=Matthieu|date=27 March 2023|access-date=28 March 2023|work=[[La Croix (newspaper)|La Croix]]|location=Paris|archive-date=March 29, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230329025420/https://international.la-croix.com/news/religion/the-american-cathedral-in-paris-celebrates-100-years/17515|url-status=dead}}</ref> * [[Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada|ELCIC]] (since [[Churches Beyond Borders|2018]]) * [[Evangelical Lutheran Church in Bavaria|ELKB]] (since 2025) * Churches in the [[Anglican Communion]] ([[Church of England|CoE]], [[Anglican Church of Canada|ACC]] and other [[Anglican]] [[Anglican Communion#Organisation|provinces]]) * Churches in communion with the [[Anglican Communion]] ([[Union of Utrecht (Old Catholic)|Old Catholic Union of Utrecht]]; [[Philippine Independent Church]]; [[Mar Thoma Syrian Church]]) {{endplainlist}} | area = [[United States]]{{efn|Further dioceses in [[Episcopal Church of Cuba|Cuba]], [[Episcopal Diocese of Haiti|Haiti]], [[Episcopal Diocese of Taiwan|Taiwan]], [[Province 9 of the Episcopal Church|Latin America and the Caribbean]], [[Convocation of Episcopal Churches in Europe|Europe]]}} | language = [[English language|English]]{{efn|[[Spanish language|Spanish]], and [[French language|French]] (both metropolitan and Canadian) as major spoken languages but parishes are open to use the language they please.}} | liturgy = [[Book of Common Prayer (1979)|1979 ''Book of Common Prayer'']] | headquarters = 815 [[Second Avenue (Manhattan)|Second Avenue]]<br />[[New York City]], New York<br />U.S. | territory = USA, Taiwan, Cuba, Honduras, Ecuador, Venezuela, Europe (partially) | possessions = | origin_link = | founder = | founded_date = {{start date and age|1785}} | founded_place = | independence = | reunion = | recognition = | separated_from = | branched_from = [[Church of England]] | merger = | absorbed = [[Protestant Episcopal Church in the Confederate States of America|PECSA]] (1865)<br />[[Church of Hawaii]] ([[Newlands Resolution|1898]]) | separations = {{plainlist}} * [[Protestant Episcopal Church in the Confederate States of America|PECSA]] (1861) * [[Reformed Episcopal Church|REC]] (1873) * [[Southern Episcopal Church|SEP]] (1953) * [[Orthodox Anglican Church|OAC]] (1964) * [[Anglican Catholic Church|ACC]] ([[Congress of St. Louis|1977]]) * [[Anglican Province of Christ the King|APCK]] (1977) * [[Episcopal Missionary Church|EMC]] (1992) * [[Anglican Mission in the Americas|AMiA]] (2000) * [[Anglican Church in North America|ACNA]] (2009) * [[Personal Ordinariate of the Chair of Saint Peter]] (2012) {{endplainlist}} | merged_into = | defunct = | congregations_type = | congregations = | members = 1,547,779 active baptized members (2023) <br />1,394,769 active baptized members in the U.S. (2023)<ref name="stat.usa.2023">{{Citation|url=https://extranet.generalconvention.org/staff/files/download/32590|title=FAST FACTS From Parochial Report Data 2023|publisher=The Episcopal Church|access-date=26 January 2025}}</ref> | ministers_type = Deacons, priests, bishops | ministers = | missionaries = | churches = | hospitals = | nursing_homes = | aid = Episcopal Relief and Development | primary_schools = | secondary_schools = | tax_status = | tertiary = | other_names = | publications = | website = {{official URL}} | website_title1 = The Archives of the <br /> Episcopal Church | website1 = www.episcopalarchives.org | slogan = "The Episcopal Church Welcomes You" | logo = | footnotes = [https://www.episcopalarchives.org/governance-documents/constitution-and-canons Constitution and Canons] }} {{Anglicanism}}

The '''Episcopal Church''' ('''TEC'''), also known as the '''Protestant Episcopal Church in the United States of America''' ('''PECUSA'''),<ref name="j777">{{cite web | title=Episcopal Church, The | website=The Episcopal Church | date=2012-05-22 | url=https://www.episcopalchurch.org/glossary/episcopal-church-the/ | access-date=2024-07-28}}</ref> is a member of the worldwide [[Anglican Communion]], based in the [[United States]]. It is a [[mainline Protestant]] denomination and is divided into nine [[Ecclesiastical provinces and dioceses of the Episcopal Church|provinces]]. The [[presiding bishop]] of the Episcopal Church is [[Sean Rowe|Sean W. Rowe]].<ref>{{cite news|url= https://episcopalnewsservice.org/2024/06/26/breaking-sean-rowe-elected-28th-presiding-bishop-will-begin-nine-year-term-nov-1/|title= Breaking: Sean Rowe elected 28th presiding bishop, will begin nine-year term Nov. 1|work=Episcopal News Service|first=David|last=Paulsen|date=June 26, 2024|access-date=June 26, 2024}}</ref>

In 2024, ''The Church of England Yearbook'' reported 2.4 million total members.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Anglican Communion Detail |url=https://www.crockford.org.uk/anglican-communion/31/31%20the%20protestant%20episcopal%20church%20in%20the%20united%20states%20of%20america |access-date=2025-10-31 |website=www.crockford.org.uk}}</ref> In 2025 the Episcopal Church was the 9th-largest Protestant denomination in the US, as measured by adherents.<ref name=":4">{{Cite web|title=Decline of Christianity in the U.S. Has Slowed, May Have Leveled Off|url=https://www.pewresearch.org/religion/2025/02/26/decline-of-christianity-in-the-us-has-slowed-may-have-leveled-off/|website=Pew Research Center|date=2025-02-26|access-date=2025-12-01|language=en-US|first=Gregory A. Smith, Alan Cooperman, Becka A. Alper, Besheer Mohamed, Chip Rotolo, Patricia Tevington, Justin Nortey, Asta Kallo, Jeff Diamant and Dalia|last=Fahmy}}</ref> A total of 1% of US adults, or approximately 2.7 million people, self-identify as mainline Episcopalians/Anglicans.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |title=Episcopalians/Anglicans in the mainline tradition {{!}} Religious Landscape Study |url=https://www.pewresearch.org/religious-landscape-study/religious-family/episcopalian-anglican-family-mainline-trad/ |access-date=2025-03-10 |website=Pew Research Center |language=en-US}}</ref> The church has seen a sharp decline in membership and Sunday attendance since the 1960s, particularly in the [[Northeastern United States|Northeast]] and [[Upper Midwest]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.episcopalnewsservice.org/2020/10/16/2019-parochial-reports-show-continued-decline-and-a-dire-future-for-the-episcopal-church/|title=2019 parochial reports show continued decline and a 'dire' future for The Episcopal Church|work=Episcopal News Service|publisher=The Episcopal Church|date=16 October 2020|access-date=3 November 2022|last=Millard|first=Egan}}</ref>

The church was organized after the [[American Revolution]], when it separated from the [[Church of England]], whose clergy are required to swear allegiance to the [[Monarchy of the United Kingdom|British monarch]] as [[Supreme Governor of the Church of England]]. The Episcopal Church describes itself as "[[Protestant]], yet [[Catholicity|Catholic]]",<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.episcopalchurch.org/library/article/what-makes-us-anglican |title=What makes us Anglican? Hallmarks of the Episcopal Church |publisher=Episcopalchurch.org |access-date=June 1, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170606011423/http://www.episcopalchurch.org/library/article/what-makes-us-anglican |archive-date=6 June 2017 }}</ref> and asserts it has [[apostolic succession]], tracing the authority of its bishops to the [[Apostles in the New Testament|apostles]] via [[holy orders]]. The [[Book of Common Prayer (1979)|''Book of Common Prayer'']], a collection of [[Rite (Christianity)|rite]]s, blessings, [[Liturgy|liturgies]], and prayers used throughout the Anglican Communion, is central to Episcopal worship. A wide range of theological views is represented within the Episcopal Church, including [[Evangelical Anglicanism|evangelical]], [[Anglo-Catholic]], and [[broad church]] views.

Historically, members of the Episcopal Church have played leadership roles in many aspects of American life, including politics, business, science, the arts, and education.<ref name=mainline2000>McKinney, William. "Mainline Protestantism 2000", ''Annals of the American Academy of Political and Social Science'', Vol. 558, Americans and Religions in the Twenty-First Century (July, 1998), pp. 57–66.</ref><ref name="THE EPISCOPALIANS"/><ref name="Hacker 1957">{{cite journal |first=Andrew |last=Hacker |title=Liberal Democracy and Social Control |journal=[[American Political Science Review]] |year=1957 |volume=51 |issue=4 |pages=1009–1026 |jstor=1952449|doi=10.2307/1952449|s2cid=146933599 }}</ref><ref name="Davidson & Pyle">{{cite journal |first1=James D. |last1=Davidson |first2=Ralph E. |last2=Pyle |first3=David V. |last3=Reyes |title=Persistence and Change in the Protestant Establishment, 1930-1992 |journal=[[Social Forces]] |volume=74 |issue=1 |year=1995 |pages=157–175|doi= 10.1093/sf/74.1.157 |jstor=2580627}}</ref> About three-quarters of the signers of the US [[United States Declaration of Independence|Declaration of Independence]] were affiliated with the Episcopal Church, and over a quarter of all [[List of presidents of the United States|presidents of the United States]] have been Episcopalians.<ref name="pewresearch.org">{{cite web|url=https://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2017/01/20/almost-all-presidents-have-been-christians/|title=Almost all U.S. presidents, including Trump, have been Christians|date=20 January 2017|publisher=Pew Research Center}}</ref> Historically, Episcopalians were overrepresented among American scientific elite and [[Nobel Prize]] winners.<ref name="Sociology of Religion">{{cite book|editor-last1=Kivisto|editor-first1=Peter|editor-last2=Swatos J.|editor-first2=Willaiam H.|last1= Kivisto|first1=Peter|last2=Swatos J.|first2=William H.|last3=Christiano |first3=Kevin J.|title=Sociology of Religion: Contemporary Developments |publisher=Rowman & Littlefield|year=2015|page=97|isbn=978-1-4422-1693-8}}</ref><ref name="Scientific Elite: Nobel Laureates in the United Statesh"/> Numbers of the most [[Old money|wealthy and affluent American families]], such as [[The Four Hundred (Gilded Age)|the Four Hundred]], [[Boston Brahmin]], [[Old Philadelphians]],<ref name="Baltzell 2011 236">{{cite book|title=Philadelphia Gentlemen: The Making of a National Upper Class|first=E. Digby |last=Baltzell|year=2011| isbn=978-1-4128-3075-1| page =236|publisher=Transaction Publishers}}</ref> the [[First Families of Virginia]], [[Tidewater (region)|Tidewater]], and [[South Carolina Lowcountry|Lowcountry]] [[American gentry|gentry]] or [[old money]], are Episcopalians.<ref name="THE EPISCOPALIANS"/><ref name="W. Williams"/> In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, many Episcopalians were active in the [[Social Gospel]] movement.{{sfn|Bourgeois|2004}}

Since the 1960s and 1970s, the church has pursued a more [[liberal Christianity|liberal Christian]] course; there remains a wide spectrum of liberals and conservatives within the church. In 2015, the church's 78th triennial [[General Convention of the Episcopal Church in the United States of America|General Convention]] passed resolutions allowing the blessing of [[same-sex marriage]]s and approved two official liturgies to bless such unions.<ref name=":0" /> It has opposed the [[death penalty]] and supported the [[civil rights movement]]. The church calls for the full legal equality of [[LGBT]] people.<ref name="78th General Convention">{{cite web|work =Episcopal News Service |title =General Convention wrap-up: Historic actions, structural changes|date =July 7, 2015 |url = http://episcopaldigitalnetwork.com/ens/2015/07/07/general-convention-wrap-up-historic-actions-structural-changes/|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150802200740/http://episcopaldigitalnetwork.com/ens/2015/07/07/general-convention-wrap-up-historic-actions-structural-changes/ |archive-date = 2 August 2015}}</ref> In view of this trend, the conventions of four dioceses of the Episcopal Church voted in 2007 and 2008 to leave that church and to join the [[Anglican Church of the Southern Cone of America]]. Twelve other jurisdictions, serving an estimated 100,000 persons at that time, formed the [[Anglican Church in North America]] (ACNA) in 2008. The ACNA and the Episcopal Church are not in full communion with one another.

==Names== [[File:Flag of the Episcopal Church.png|thumb|Flag of the Episcopal Church]]

The "Protestant Episcopal Church in the United States of America" (PECUSA) and "the Episcopal Church" (TEC) are both official names specified in the church's constitution.<ref name=CandC /> The latter is much more commonly used.<ref name="EnBr" /><ref name="ODCC" /><ref name="ColEn" /> In other languages, an equivalent is used. For example, in Spanish, the church is called {{Lang|es|Iglesia Episcopal Protestante de los Estados Unidos de América}} or {{Lang|es|Iglesia Episcopal}},<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.episcopalchurch.org/index_esn.htm|title=Episcopal Church webpage in Spanish|publisher=Episcopalchurch.org|access-date=2008-11-16|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051214081055/http://www.episcopalchurch.org/index_esn.htm|archive-date=2005-12-14}}</ref> and in French {{Lang|fr|Église protestante épiscopale des États-Unis d'Amérique}} or {{Lang|fr|Église épiscopale}}.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.episcopalchurch.org/index_fra.htm|title=Episcopal Church webpage in French|publisher=Episcopalchurch.org|access-date=2008-11-16|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061212220807/http://www.episcopalchurch.org/index_fra.htm|archive-date=2006-12-12}}</ref>

Until 1964, "the Protestant Episcopal Church in the United States of America" was the only official name in use. In the 19th century, [[high church]] members advocated changing the name, which they felt did not acknowledge the church's [[Catholicity#Anglicanism|catholic]] heritage. They were opposed by the church's evangelical wing, which felt that the "Protestant Episcopal" label accurately reflected the Reformed character of Anglicanism. After 1877, alternative names were regularly proposed and rejected by the General Convention. One proposed alternative was "the American Catholic Church". Respondents to a 1961 poll in ''[[The Living Church]]'' favored "The American Episcopal Church".<ref>{{Cite magazine |last=TIME |date=1961-09-22 |title=Religion: Is Protestant a Bad Word? |url=https://time.com/archive/6811073/religion-is-protestant-a-bad-word/ |access-date=2024-06-16 |magazine=TIME |language=en}}</ref> By the 1960s, opposition to dropping the word "Protestant" had largely subsided. In a 1964 General Convention compromise, priests and [[lay preacher|lay]] delegates suggested adding a preamble to the church's constitution, recognizing "the Episcopal Church" as a lawful alternate designation while still retaining the earlier name.<ref name="White-Dykman4-6">{{cite book|last1=White|first1=Edwin|last2=Dykman|first2=Jackson|title=The Annotated Constitution and Canons for the Episcopal Church|year=1981|publisher=Church Publishing Incorporated|location=New York|isbn=978-0-89869-298-3|pages=4–6}}</ref>

The 66th General Convention voted in 1979 to use the name "the Episcopal Church" in the Oath of Conformity of the Declaration for Ordination.<ref>{{cite web|title=Acts of Convention # 1979-A125|url=https://www.episcopalarchives.org/cgi-bin/acts/acts_resolution-complete.pl?resolution=1979-A125 |date=1979}}</ref> The evolution of the name can be seen in the church's Book of Common Prayer. In the 1928 BCP, the title page read, "According to the use of The Protestant Episcopal Church in the United States of America", whereas on the title page of the 1979 BCP it states, "According to the use of The Episcopal Church".{{sfn|Zahl|1998|pp=56, 69|ps=: "Protestant consciousness within ECUSA, which used to be called PECUSA (i.e., the Protestant Episcopal Church in the U.S.A.) is moribund […] With the approval and lightning ascent of the 1979 Prayer Book came to the end, for all practical purposes, of Protestant churchmanship in what is now known aggressively as ECUSA".}}

"The Episcopal Church in the United States of America" (ECUSA) has never been an official name of the church but is an alternative commonly seen in English. Since several other churches in the Anglican Communion also use the name "Episcopal", including [[Scottish Episcopal Church|Scotland]] and the [[Episcopal Church in the Philippines|Philippines]], some, for example the Anglicans Online directory, add the phrase "in the United States of America".<ref name=Anglicansonline>{{cite web|url=http://morgue.anglicansonline.org/061029/|title=Anglicans Online&#124;The online centre of the Anglican / Episcopal world|publisher=Morgue.anglicansonline.org|access-date=February 28, 2015}}</ref>

The full legal name of the national church corporate body is the "Domestic and Foreign Missionary Society of the Protestant Episcopal Church in the United States of America",<ref name="CandC">{{cite web|url=http://www.episcopalarchives.org/e-archives/canons/CandC_FINAL_11.29.2006.pdf|title=Constitution & canons (2006) Together with the Rules of Order for the government of the Protestant Episcopal Church in the United States of America otherwise Known as The Episcopal Church|year=2006|publisher=The General Convention of The Episcopal Church|access-date=February 28, 2015|archive-date=February 23, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150223135822/http://www.episcopalarchives.org/e-archives/canons/CandC_FINAL_11.29.2006.pdf|url-status=dead}}</ref> which was incorporated by the legislature of New York and established in 1821. The membership of the corporation "shall be considered as comprehending all persons who are members of the Church".<ref name="CandC" /><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.epischicago.org/about/about-admin/history.cfm |access-date=7 July 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110726034317/http://www.episcopalchicago.org/about/about-admin/history.cfm |archive-date=2011-07-26 |title=About Us—The Episcopal Church: History/Profile |work=The Episcopal Diocese of Chicago}}</ref> This should not be confused with the name of the church itself, as it is a distinct body relating to church governance.<ref name="CandC" />

According to TEC's style guide, "Episcopal" is the adjective that should be used to describe something affiliated with the church, whereas "Episcopalian" is to be used "only as a noun referring to a member of the Episcopal Church."<ref>{{cite web | title=Episcopal / Episcopalian | website=The Episcopal Church | date=2023-04-14 | url=https://www.episcopalchurch.org/styleguide/episcopal-episcopalian/ | ref={{sfnref | The Episcopal Church | 2023}} | access-date=2024-08-05}}</ref>

==History== {{Main|History of the Episcopal Church (United States)}}

===Colonial era=== [[File:Newport parish west facade.jpg|thumb|[[St. Luke's Church (Smithfield, Virginia)|St. Luke's Church]], built during the 17th century near [[Smithfield, Virginia]] – the oldest Anglican church-building to have survived largely intact in North America]] The Episcopal Church has its origins in the [[Church of England]] in the [[Thirteen Colonies|American colonies]], and it stresses continuity with the early universal [[Western Christianity|Western Church]] and claims to maintain [[apostolic succession]]; while the Scandinavian Lutheran and [[Moravian Church|Moravian]] churches accept this claim, the Catholic and Eastern Orthodox churches do not recognize this claim.<ref name="Allen2016">{{cite web |last1=Allen |first1=David |title=The United Methodist Church takes a step towards full communion with the Moravian Church in North America |url=https://www.episcopalcafe.com/the-united-methodist-church-takes-a-step-towards-full-communion-with-the-moravian-church-in-north-america/ |publisher=Episcopal Cafe |access-date=25 January 2022 |language=English |date=28 May 2016 |quote=The Moravian Church is a full communion partner of the Episcopal Church. ... the Moravian Church's bishops are part of the historic Apostolic Succession.}}</ref><ref name="Hamilton1925">{{cite web |last1=Hamilton |first1=J. Taylor |title=The Recognition of the Unitas Fratrum as an Old Episcopal Church by the Parliament of Great Britain in 1749|url=https://anglicanhistory.org/moravian/hamilton_recognition1924.html |publisher=[[Moravian Historical Society]] |language=English |date=1925}}</ref>{{sfn|Sydnor|1980|p=64}}

The first [[parish]] was founded in [[Jamestown, Virginia]], in 1607, under the charter of the [[Virginia Company of London]]. The tower of [[Jamestown Church]] ({{circa}} 1639–1643) is one of the oldest surviving Anglican church structures in the United States. The Jamestown church building itself is a modern reconstruction.{{sfn|Sydnor|1980|p=72}}

Although no American Anglican bishops existed in the colonial era, the Church of England had an official status in several colonies, which meant that local governments paid tax money to local parishes, and the parishes handled some civic functions. The Church of England was designated the [[established church]] in [[Religion in early Virginia|Virginia]] in 1609, in [[Province of New York|New York]] in 1693, in [[History of Maryland#Protestant revolts|Maryland]] in 1702, in [[Episcopal Diocese of South Carolina (1785–2012)#Colonial origins (1660–1775)|South Carolina]] in 1706, in [[Province of North Carolina|North Carolina]] in 1730, and in [[Province of Georgia|Georgia]] in 1758.{{sfn|Douglas|2005|p=188}}

From 1635 the [[vestry|vestries]] and the clergy came loosely under the diocesan authority of the [[Bishop of London]]. After 1702, the [[Society for the Propagation of the Gospel in Foreign Parts]] (SPG) began missionary activity throughout the colonies. On the eve of [[American Revolution]] about 400 independent congregations were reported{{by whom|date=March 2017}} throughout the colonies.

[[File:Colonial Williamsburg Parish Church.jpg|thumb|left|[[Bruton Parish Church]] in [[Colonial Williamsburg]], established in 1674. The current building was completed in 1715.]]

Under the leadership of [[Lutheran]] bishop [[Jesper Swedberg]], parishes in colonial America that belonged to the Evangelical Lutheran [[Church of Sweden]] established [[ecumenism|ecumenical dialogue]] that resulted in [[altar and pulpit fellowship]] with the Episcopal Church in the 1700s, which led to a merger of many of the Swedish Lutheran churches there into the Episcopal Church by 1846. A number of Swedes later would establish the [[Augustana Evangelical Lutheran Church]] (a forerunner for the present-day [[Evangelical Lutheran Church in America]] and [[North American Lutheran Church]]).<ref name="n29_p13-16">Bente, Friedrich, 1858–1930. [https://archive.org/details/americanluthera01bentgoog/page/n29 <!-- pg=13 -->American Lutheranism Volume 1: Early History of American Lutheranism]: Lutheran Swedes in Delaware. St. Louis, Missouri: Concordia, 1919, pp. 13–16.</ref><ref name="SzucsLuebking1997">{{cite book |last1=Szucs |first1=Loretto Dennis |last2=Luebking |first2=Sandra Hargreaves |title=The Source: A Guidebook of American Genealogy |date=1997 |publisher=Ancestry |isbn=978-0-916489-67-0 |page=165 |language=en}}</ref>

===Revolutionary era===

More than any other denomination, the [[American Revolutionary War]] internally divided both clergy and laity of the Church of England in America, and opinions covered a wide spectrum of political views: [[Patriot (American Revolution)|patriots]], conciliators, and [[Loyalist (American Revolution)|loyalists]].{{sfn|Bell|2008}} While many Patriots were suspicious of Loyalism in the church, about three-quarters of the signers of the [[United States Declaration of Independence|Declaration of Independence]] were nominally Anglican laymen, including [[Thomas Jefferson]], [[William Paca]], and [[George Wythe]].{{sfn|Hein|Shattuck|2004}} It was often assumed that persons considered "[[High Church]]" were Loyalists, whereas persons considered "[[Low Church]]" were Patriots: assumptions with possibly dangerous implications for the time.

[[File:Old North Church Boston DSC 0816 ad.JPG|thumb|upright|[[Old North Church]] in [[Boston]]. Inspired by the work of [[Christopher Wren]], it was completed in 1723.]] Of the approximately three hundred clergy in the Church of England in America between 1776 and 1783, over 80 percent in New England, New York, and New Jersey were loyalists. This is in contrast to the less than 23 percent loyalist clergy in the four southern colonies.{{sfn|Hein|Shattuck|2004}} Many Church of England clergy remained loyalists as they took their two ordination oaths very seriously. Anglican clergy were obliged to swear allegiance to the king as well as to pray for the king, the royal family, and the [[Parliament of Great Britain|British Parliament]].{{sfn|Hein|Shattuck|2004}} In general, loyalist clergy stayed by their oaths and prayed for the king or else suspended services.{{sfn|Hein|Shattuck|2004}} By the end of 1776, some Anglican churches were closing.{{sfn|Hein|Shattuck|2004}} Anglican priests held services in private homes or lay readers who were not bound by the oaths held morning and evening prayer.{{sfn|Hein|Shattuck|2004}} During 1775 and 1776, the Continental Congress issued decrees ordering churches to fast and pray on behalf of the Patriots.{{sfn|Hein|Shattuck|2004}} Starting July 4, 1776, Congress and several states passed laws making prayers for the king and British Parliament acts of treason.{{sfn|Hein|Shattuck|2004}} The patriot clergy in the South were quick to find reasons to transfer their oaths to the American cause and prayed for the success of the Revolution.{{sfn|Hein|Shattuck|2004}} One precedent was the transfer of oaths during the [[Glorious Revolution]] in England.{{sfn|Hein|Shattuck|2004}} Most of the patriot clergy in the South were able to keep their churches open and services continued.{{sfn|Hein|Shattuck|2004}}

===Early Republic era=== In the wake of the Revolution, American Episcopalians faced the task of preserving a hierarchical church structure in a society infused with [[Republicanism in the United States|republican values]].

[[File:Old Swedes 2 NJ.JPG|thumb|left|upright|[[Trinity Church (Swedesboro, New Jersey)|Trinity Church]] in [[Swedesboro, New Jersey]]. Originally serving a [[Church of Sweden]] congregation, it became an Episcopal church in 1786, when this building was completed.]] When the clergy of [[Connecticut]] elected [[Samuel Seabury (1729–1796)|Samuel Seabury]] as their bishop in 1783, he sought [[consecration]] in England. The [[Oath of Supremacy]] prevented Seabury's consecration in England, so he went to Scotland; the [[Nonjuring schism|non-juring]] bishops of the [[Scottish Episcopal Church]] consecrated him in [[Aberdeen]] on November 14, 1784, making him, in the words of scholar Arthur Carl Piepkorn, "the first Anglican bishop appointed to minister outside the British Isles".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.lifeandwork.org/features/looking-back-first-overseas-bishop|title=Looking Back: First Overseas Bishop – Life and Work|website=www.lifeandwork.org}}</ref>{{sfn|Piepkorn|1977|p=199}} On August 3, 1785, the first ordinations on American soil took place at Christ Church in [[Middletown, Connecticut]].

That same year, 1785, deputations of clergy and laity met in the first General Convention. They drafted a constitution, proposed a first draft of an American Book of Common Prayer, and began negotiating with English Bishops for the consecration of three bishops. The convention met again in 1786 to make several changes that made their liturgy acceptable to the English bishops and to recommend three clergy (who had been elected by state meetings in Virginia, Pennsylvania, and New York) for consecration as bishops. General Convention met again in 1789, beginning a regular process of meeting every three years. At the 1789 convention they adopted a constitution and canons, and reorganized as a House of Deputies and a House of Bishops. The structure of the Episcopal Church was then complete.

Later, through the efforts of Bishop [[Philander Chase]] (1775–1852) of Ohio, Americans successfully sought material assistance from England for the purpose of training Episcopal clergy. The development of the Protestant Episcopal Church provides an example of how Americans in the early republic maintained important cultural ties with England.{{sfn|Clark|1994}}

In 1787, two priests – [[William White (Bishop of Pennsylvania)|William White]] of [[Pennsylvania]] and [[Samuel Provoost]] of [[New York (state)|New York]] – were consecrated as bishops by the [[archbishop of Canterbury]], the [[Archbishop of York|archbishop of York]], and the [[bishop of Bath and Wells]], the legal obstacles having been removed by the passage through Parliament of the Consecration of Bishops Abroad Act 1786. Thus there are two branches of [[Historical episcopate|apostolic succession]] for the American bishops: through the non-juring bishops of Scotland who consecrated Samuel Seabury and through the English bishops who consecrated William White, Samuel Provoost, and [[James Madison (Episcopal bishop)|James Madison]] (not the future President). All bishops in the American church are ordained by at least three bishops. The succession of each bishop can be historically traced back to Seabury, White, Provoost, and Madison. (''See [[Succession of Bishops of the Episcopal Church in the United States|Succession of Bishops of the Episcopal Church]].'')

From July 28 to August 8, 1789, representative clergy from [[List of Original Dioceses of ECUSA|nine dioceses]] met in Philadelphia to ratify the church's initial constitution; they also formally adopted the name Protestant Episcopal Church.<ref name=Episcopalname>{{cite web|title=Journal of a Convention of the Protestant Episcopal Church in the states of New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia and South Carolina|url=https://www.episcopalarchives.org/sites/default/files/publications/1789_GC_Journal.pdf|access-date=6 December 2024}}</ref> The fourth bishop of the Episcopal Church was James Madison, the first bishop of Virginia. Madison was consecrated in 1790 by the Archbishop of Canterbury and two other Church of England bishops. This third American bishop consecrated within the English line of succession occurred because of continuing unease within the Church of England over Seabury's [[Nonjuring schism|non-juring]] Scottish orders.{{sfn|Hein|Shattuck|2004}} The Episcopal Church thus became the first Anglican province outside the [[British Isles]].<ref name="ABC">{{cite book|author=The Archbishops' Group on the Episcopate|title=Episcopal Ministry: The Report of the Archbishops' Group on the Episcopate, 1990|year=1990|publisher=Church House Publishing|isbn=0-7151-3736-0|page=123}}</ref>

On 17 September 1792, at the triennial General Convention ([[synod]]) of the Episcopal Church at [[Trinity Church (Manhattan)|Trinity Church]] on [[Wall Street]], in [[New York City]], [[Thomas John Claggett]] who had been elected by the clergy and laity of Maryland, was consecrated by all four of the existing bishops. He was the first bishop of the Episcopal Church ordained and consecrated in America and the [[Succession of Bishops of the Episcopal Church in the United States|fifth bishop]] consecrated for the Episcopal Church in the United States.<ref>{{cite web|title=A history of the Episcopal Diocese of Washington|url=http://www.edow.org/about/the-diocese/about-the-diocese/history|work=History of the Diocese|publisher=Episcopal Diocese of Washington|access-date=26 December 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120204174152/http://www.edow.org/about/the-diocese/about-the-diocese/history|archive-date=4 February 2012}}</ref>

===Nineteenth century=== [[File:St. John's Episcopal Church.JPG|thumb|[[St. John's Episcopal Church, Lafayette Square|St. John's Episcopal Church]], built in 1816 in [[Washington, D.C.]], is known as the "Church of the Presidents" for the many presidents who have worshiped there.]]

[[File:Christ Episcopal Church, Walnut Street, circa 1877 - DPLA - 547659f5ed251cd846df560fa3e77b6a.jpeg|left|thumb|Christ Episcopal Church, [[Macon, Georgia]], c. 1877]]

In 1856, the first society for African Americans in the Episcopal Church was founded by [[James Theodore Holly]]. Named ''The Protestant Episcopal Society for Promoting The Extension of The Church Among Colored People'', the society argued that blacks should be allowed to participate in seminaries and diocesan conventions. The group lost its focus when Holly emigrated to Haiti, but other groups followed after the Civil War. The current [[Union of Black Episcopalians]] traces its history to the society.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.ube.org/Who%20We%20Are/ube-history.html|title=UBE History|work=The Union of Black Episcopalians – National|publisher=The Union of Black Episcopalians|access-date=2012-07-17}}</ref> Holly went on to found the [[Episcopal Diocese of Haiti|Anglican Church in Haiti]], where he became the first African-American bishop on November 8, 1874. As Bishop of Haiti, Holly was the first African American to attend the [[Lambeth Conference]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.episcopalchurch.org/5888_58502_ENG_HTM.htm|title=UBE History|publisher=Episcopalchurch.org|access-date=2008-11-16|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080710083139/http://www.episcopalchurch.org/5888_58502_ENG_HTM.htm <!-- Bot retrieved archive -->|archive-date=2008-07-10}}</ref> However, he was consecrated by the American Church Missionary Society, an Evangelical Episcopal branch of the Church.

Episcopal missions chartered by African Americans in this era were chartered as a [[Colored Episcopal Mission]]. All other missions (white) were chartered as an Organized Episcopal Mission. Many historically Black parishes are still in existence to date.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.episcopalarchives.org/Afro-Anglican_history/exhibit/legacy/black_parishes.php|title=The Church Awakens: African Americans and the Struggle for Justice {{!}} Historical African American Parishes|website=www.episcopalarchives.org|access-date=2017-08-01}}</ref>

[[File:St. John's Episcopal Montgomery Feb 2012 02.jpg|thumb|left|upright|[[St. John's Episcopal Church (Montgomery, Alabama)|St. John's Episcopal Church]] in [[Montgomery, Alabama]], established in 1834. The church building was completed in 1855. The Secession Convention of Southern Churches was held here in 1861.]] When the [[American Civil War]] began in 1861, Episcopalians in the South formed the [[Protestant Episcopal Church in the Confederate States of America]]. However, in the North, the separation was never officially recognized. In particular, the Episcopalian communities in Pennsylvania supported free black communities and the Underground Railroad.<ref>{{cite web |title=Van Leer Archives |date=November 8, 2021 |url=https://vanleerarchives.org/van-leer-cabins/}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last1=Lepley |first1=Kristin |title=The Charming Small Town In New Jersey That Is Home To One Of The State's Oldest Log Cabins And Churches |url=https://www.msn.com/en-us/travel/tripideas/the-charming-small-town-in-new-jersey-that-is-home-to-one-of-the-states-oldest-log-cabins-and-churches/ar-AA15vmQQ |website=MSN}}</ref> By May 16, 1866, the southern dioceses had rejoined the national church.{{sfn|Mason|1990}}

By the middle of the 19th century, [[Evangelical Anglicanism|evangelical Episcopalians]] disturbed by [[High Church]] [[Tractarianism]], while continuing to work in interdenominational agencies, formed their own voluntary societies, and eventually, in 1874, a faction objecting to the revival of ritual practices established the [[Reformed Episcopal Church]].{{sfn|Butler|1995}}

[[Samuel David Ferguson]] was the first black bishop consecrated by the Episcopal Church, the first to practice in the U.S. and the first black person to sit in the [[House of Bishops]]. Bishop Ferguson was consecrated on June 24, 1885, with the then-Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church acting as a consecrator.

In the following year, [[Henry C. Potter]], Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of New York, addressed his clergymen upon the question of Labor. [[Church Association for the Advancement of the Interests of Labor]] was formed in 1887.<ref name="Annual-1912">{{cite book |author1=New York (State) Dept of Labor |title=Annual Report of the Commissioner of Labor |year=1912 |publisher=State Department of Labor |pages=610–11 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=cycXAQAAIAAJ&pg=PA610 |access-date=3 November 2022 |language=en}} {{Source-attribution}}</ref> [[File:Saint Paul's Episcopal Church, interior, 1872 - DPLA - 604aa23b488c88554faa7c9fc1a78b0d.jpg|thumb|Saint Paul's Episcopal Church, interior, 1872]]

During the [[Gilded Age]], highly prominent laity such as bankers [[J. P. Morgan]], industrialist [[Henry Ford]], and art collector [[Isabella Stewart Gardner]] played a central role in shaping a distinctive upper class Episcopalian ethos, especially with regard to preserving the arts and history. These philanthropists propelled the Episcopal Church into a quasi-national position of importance while at the same time giving the church a central role in the cultural transformation of the country.{{sfn|Williams|2006}} Another mark of influence is the fact that more than a quarter of all [[President of the United States|presidents of the United States]] have been Episcopalians (see [[religious affiliations of presidents of the United States]]). It was during this period that the ''Book of Common Prayer'' was revised, first in 1892 and later in 1928.

===Era of change (1958–1970s)=== In 1955, the church's general convention was moved from Houston to Honolulu, due to continuing racial segregation in the former city.<ref>{{Cite magazine |last=TIME |date=1954-06-21 |title=Religion: The Eyes of the World |url=https://time.com/archive/6798315/religion-the-eyes-of-the-world/ |access-date=2024-06-16 |magazine=TIME |language=en}}</ref> At the 1958 general convention, a coalition of [[Liberalism in the United States|liberal]] church members succeeded in passing a resolution recognizing "the natural dignity and value of every man, of whatever color or race, as created in the image of God". It called on Episcopalians "to work together, in charity and forbearance, towards the establishment ... of full opportunities in fields such as education, housing, employment and public accommodations". A 2,500-word pastoral letter was sent by the House of Bishops to be read at all 7,290 Episcopal churches, urging justice in racial matters, with reference to the [[Cooper v. Aaron|Supreme Court decision]] on integration in public schools.<ref>{{Cite magazine |last=TIME |date=1958-10-27 |title=Religion: The Bishops' Five |url=https://time.com/archive/6870742/religion-the-bishops-five/ |access-date=2024-06-15 |magazine=TIME |language=en}}</ref> In response, the Episcopal Society for Cultural and Racial Unity (ESCRU) was founded in December 1959 in order to eliminate racial, ethnic, and class barriers within the Episcopal Church. Opposition from southern church leaders prevented the Episcopal Church from taking a strong stand on civil rights prior to 1963. One prominent opponent of the movement was [[Charles Carpenter (bishop)|Charles C.J. Carpenter]], the bishop of Alabama.{{sfn|Hein|Shattuck|2004|p=134}} By 1963, many church leaders felt more comfortable speaking out in support of racial equality. That year, Presiding Bishop [[Arthur C. Lichtenberger|Arthur Lichtenberger]] wrote a pastoral letter urging Christians to work "across lines of racial separation, in a common struggle for justice", and the House of Bishops endorsed civil rights legislation.{{sfn|Hein|Shattuck|2004|p=135}} Tensions around the civil rights movement persisted, however. At the 1964 General Convention, when the House of Deputies rejected a resolution sanctioning civil disobedience under special circumstances, [[Thurgood Marshall]], a deputy to the convention, led many African-American deputies in a "walk out" protest of the convention.<ref>{{cite news|title=MARSHALL QUITS CHURCH SESSION; Judge Is Reported Upset by Action of Episcopalians|newspaper=Marshall [[The New York Times]]|date= October 21, 1964 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1964/10/22/archives/marshall-quits-church-session-judge-is-reported-upset-by-action-of.html}}</ref>

In 1967, Lichtenberger's successor, [[John E. Hines|John Hines]], led the Episcopal Church to implement the General Convention Special Program (GCSP). The program was designed to redirect nine million dollars over a three-year period (a quarter of the church's operating budget at the time) to fund special grants for community organizations and grassroots efforts facilitating black empowerment in America's urban ghettos.{{sfn|Hein|Shattuck|2004|p=136}} The effectiveness of the GCSP was limited due to the reluctance of conservative bishops in southern dioceses, who objected to the awarding of grants to groups perceived as radical. The GCSP drew opposition from the recently formed Foundation for Christian Theology, a conservative organization opposed to "involv[ing] the Church in the social, political, and economic activities of our times". The Special General Convention also witnessed protests of the Vietnam War. During this time period, African-American clergy organized the [[Union of Black Episcopalians]] to achieve full inclusion of African Americans at all levels of the Episcopal Church.{{sfn|Hein|Shattuck|2004|p=137-8}}

Women were first admitted as delegates to the church's general convention in 1970.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.episcopalchurch.org/75383_73867_ENG_HTM.htm|title=News Coverage from the 75th General Convention of the Episcopal Church|publisher=Episcopalchurch.org|access-date=2010-11-28|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110117063650/http://www.episcopalchurch.org/75383_73867_ENG_HTM.htm|archive-date=2011-01-17}}</ref>

In 1975, Vaughan Booker, who confessed to the murder of his wife and was sentenced to life in prison, was ordained to the diaconate in [[State Correctional Institution – Graterford|Graterford State Prison]]'s chapel in Pennsylvania after having repented of his sins, becoming a symbol of redemption and atonement.<ref>{{cite journal|last=Rose|first=Christopher|title=He's a Walking Contradiction|journal=The Living Church|publication-date=1995-02-26|volume=210|issue=9|url=http://www.episcopalarchives.org/cgi-bin/the_living_church/TLCarticle.pl?volume=210&issue=9&article_id=1|page=11}}</ref>{{sfn|Frum|2000|p=17}}

===Recent history=== In recent decades, the Episcopal Church, like other [[Mainline Protestant|mainline]] churches, has experienced a decline in membership as well as internal controversy over [[Ordination of women#Anglican|women's ordination]] and the [[Homosexuality and Anglicanism|place of homosexuals in the church]]. The 1976 General Convention also passed a resolution calling for an end to [[apartheid]] in [[South Africa]] and in 1985 called for "dioceses, institutions, and agencies" to create [[equal opportunity employment]] and [[affirmative action]] policies to address any potential "racial inequities" in clergy placement. Because of these and other controversial issues including abortion, individual members and clergy can and do frequently disagree with the stated position of the church's leadership. In January 2016, the Anglican Primates Meeting at Canterbury, England, decided that in response to the "distance" caused by what it called "unilateral action on matters of doctrine without catholic unity", "for a period of three years, The Episcopal Church [would neither] represent [the Communion] on ecumenical and interfaith bodies… [nor] take part in decision making on any issues pertaining to doctrine or [[Ecclesiastical Polity|polity]]."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.anglicannews.org/news/2016/01/statement-from-primates-2016.aspx|title=Statement from Primates 2016}}</ref>

====Revised prayer book==== {{main|Book of Common Prayer (1979)}}

In 1976, the General Convention adopted a new prayer book, which was a substantial revision and modernization of the previous 1928 edition. It incorporated many principles of the [[ecumenism|ecumenical movement]] and [[liturgical movement]], which had been discussed at [[Vatican II]] as well.<ref name="Black2005">{{cite book |last1=Black |first1=Vicki K. |title=Welcome to the Book of Common Prayer |date=1 August 2005 |publisher=Church Publishing |isbn=978-0-8192-2601-3 |page=129 |language=English|quote=The ecumenical movements of the second half of the twentieth century led to a shared reading of Scripture in worship as well, with the current lectionaries for all liturgical denominations today having certain elements in common.}}</ref> This version was adopted as the official prayer book in 1979 after an initial three-year trial use. As such, the liturgies used by the Catholic, Lutheran, Episcopal, Presbyterian/ Reformed and Methodist traditions are "nearly identical".<ref name="Ramshaw2004">{{cite book|last=Ramshaw|first=Gail|title=The Three-Day Feast: Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, and Easter|year=2004|publisher=Augsburg Books|quote=Many Christians are already familiar with the ancient, and now recently restored, liturgies of the Three Days: Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, and the great Easter Vigil service of light, readings, baptism, and communion. The worship resources published by the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, the Episcopal Church, the United Methodist Church, the Presbyterian Church U.S.A. and the Catholic Church include nearly identical versions of these liturgies.|isbn=978-0-8066-5115-6|page=7}}</ref> Several conservative parishes, however, continued to use the 1928 version. In Advent of 2007, the use of the ecumenical [[Revised Common Lectionary]] in the Episcopal Church became the standard.<ref>{{cite book |title=The Revised Common Lectionary: Years A, B, C, and Holy Days According to the Use of the Episcopal Church |date=2007 |publisher=Church Publishing |isbn=978-0-89869-554-0 |language=English |quote=The RCL goes into official use in the Episcopal Church on the First Sunday of Advent 2007...}}</ref><ref name="Black2005"/> In 2018, the General Convention authorized a Task Force for Liturgical and Prayer Book Revision to consider further revisions, particularly to use more inclusive language and to give more attention to the [[Stewardship (theology)|stewardship of God's creation]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=The Task Force for Prayer Book and Liturgical Revision|url=https://www.episcopalcommonprayer.org/|access-date=2021-03-03|website=TASK FORCE FOR LITURGICAL AND PRAYER BOOK REVISION|language=en}}</ref>

====Ordination of women====

On July 29, 1974, a group of women known as the [[Philadelphia Eleven]] were irregularly ordained as priests in the Episcopal Church by bishops Daniel Corrigan, Robert L. DeWitt, and Edward R. Welles, assisted by [[Jose Antonio Ramos|Antonio Ramos]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.episcopalchurch.org/41685_3311_ENG_HTM.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101019161924/http://www.episcopalchurch.org/41685_3311_ENG_HTM.htm|archive-date=2010-10-19|title=Episcopal Church Women's Ministries: The Philadelphia 11|publisher=Episcopalchurch.org|access-date=2008-11-16}}</ref> On September 7, 1975, four more women (the "[[Washington Four]]") were irregularly ordained by retired bishop [[George W. Barrett (bishop)|George W. Barrett]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.episcopalchurch.org/41685_3410_ENG_HTM.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110114165306/http://www.episcopalchurch.org/41685_3410_ENG_HTM.htm|archive-date=2011-01-14|title=Episcopal Church Women's Ministries: The Washington 4|publisher=Episcopalchurch.org|access-date=2008-11-16}}</ref> In the wake of the controversy over the ordination of the Philadelphia Eleven, the General Convention permitted the ordination of women in 1976 and recognized the ordinations of the 15 forerunners. The first woman canonically ordained to the Episcopal priesthood was [[Jacqueline Means]] on January 1, 1977, followed shortly thereafter by [[Tanya Vonnegut Beck]]. Both were ordained at All Saints Church in Indianapolis, Indiana. The first woman to become a bishop, [[Barbara Clementine Harris|Barbara Harris]], was consecrated on February 11, 1989.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.episcopalchurch.org/5888_3916_ENG_HTM.htm |title=Office of Black Ministries |date=2009-08-08 |access-date=2014-07-26 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090808162703/http://www.episcopalchurch.org/5888_3916_ENG_HTM.htm |archive-date=August 8, 2009 }}</ref>

At the same time, there was still tolerance for those dioceses which opposed women's ordination. In 1994, the General Convention affirmed that there was value in the theological position that women should not be ordained. In 1997, however, the General Convention then determined that "the canons regarding the ordination, licensing, and deployment of women are mandatory" and required noncompliant dioceses to issue status reports on their progress towards full compliance.<ref name="1997-A053">The Archives of the Episcopal Church, [https://www.episcopalarchives.org/cgi-bin/acts/acts_resolution.pl?resolution=1997-A053 Acts of Convention: Resolution #1997-A053, Implement Mandatory Rights of Women Clergy under Canon Law]. Retrieved 2008-10-31.</ref>

In 2006, the General Convention elected [[Katharine Jefferts Schori]] as [[Presiding bishop#The Episcopal Church|Presiding Bishop]]. She was the first woman to become a [[primate (bishop)|primate]] in the Anglican Communion. Schori's election was controversial in the wider Anglican Communion because not all of the communion recognized the ordination of women.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.episcopalchurch.org/3577_77919_ENG_HTM.htm|title=Episcopal Diocese of Quincy seeks alternative oversight|publisher=Episcopalchurch.org|date=September 19, 2006|access-date=2008-11-16|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081112061319/http://www.episcopalchurch.org/3577_77919_ENG_HTM.htm|archive-date=November 12, 2008}}</ref>

At the time of the formation of the [[Anglican Church in North America]] (ACNA), three U.S. dioceses did not ordain women as priests or bishops: [[Episcopal Diocese of San Joaquin|San Joaquin]], [[Episcopal Diocese of Quincy|Quincy]], and [[Episcopal Diocese of Fort Worth (Episcopal Church)|Fort Worth]]. Following the departures of their conservative majorities to ACNA, all three dioceses within the Episcopal Church now ordain women. With the October 16, 2010, ordination of Margaret Lee, in the Peoria-based Diocese of Quincy, Illinois, women have been ordained as priests in all dioceses of the Episcopal Church in the United States.<ref name="lastepiscopol">{{cite web|url=https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/10/20/last-holdout-episcopal-di_n_770510.html |title=Last Episcopal Holdout Ordains Female Priest |date=October 21, 2010 |publisher=Huffingtonpost.com |access-date=2014-08-12}}</ref>

====LGBT issues==== The Episcopal Church affirmed at the 1976 [[General Convention]] that [[homosexuals]] are "children of God" who deserve acceptance and [[pastoral care]] from the church and [[equal protection]] under the law.<ref>General Convention, Journal of the General Convention of...The Episcopal Church, Minneapolis 1976 (New York: General Convention, 1977), p. C-109.</ref> The first openly [[gay]] person ordained as a priest was [[Ellen Barrett]] in 1977.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=950DE5D9173FF934A25751C1A96F948260&scp=17&sq=Ellen%20Barrett&st=cse|title=Openly Gay Priest Ordained in Jersey|work=The New York Times|first=Mireya|last=Navarro|date=1989-12-17}}</ref> Despite such an affirmation of [[Gay rights in the US|gay rights]], the General Convention affirmed in 1991 that "physical sexual expression" is only appropriate within the [[monogamous]] lifelong "union of husband and wife".<ref name="1991-A104">{{cite web|url=https://www.episcopalarchives.org/cgi-bin/acts/acts_resolution.pl?resolution=1991-A104 |title=Acts of Convention: Resolution # 1991-A104 |publisher=Episcopalarchives.org |access-date=2014-07-26}}</ref>

[[File:GeneRobinson.jpg|thumb|left|upright|Gene Robinson in 2013]] The church elected its first openly gay bishop, [[Gene Robinson]], in June 2003.{{sfn|Adams|2006}} News of Robinson's election caused a crisis in both the American church and the wider [[Anglican Communion]]. In October 2003, Anglican primates (the heads of the Anglican Communion's 38 member churches) convened an emergency meeting. The meeting's final communiqué included the warning that if Robinson's consecration proceeded, it would "tear the fabric of the communion at its deepest level".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.anglicancommunion.org/acns/articles/36/25/acns3633.html|title=ANGLICAN COMMUNION NEWS SERVICE|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20031103051256/http://www.anglicancommunion.org/acns/articles/36/25/acns3633.html|archive-date=November 3, 2003}}</ref> The news of his ordination caused such an outrage that during the ceremony Robinson wore a [[bullet-proof]] vest beneath his [[vestments]], and he also received numerous death threats following his installation as bishop of the [[Episcopal Diocese of New Hampshire]].<ref>{{cite web|url= https://www.pbs.org/independentlens/documentaries/love-free-or-die/|title=Love Free Or Die|publisher=[[PBS]]|access-date=16 September 2023|date=29 October 2012|first=Macky|last=Alston}}</ref>

In 2009, the General Convention charged the Standing Commission on Liturgy and Music to develop theological and liturgical resources for same-sex blessings and report back to the General Convention in 2012. It also gave bishops an option to provide "generous pastoral support", especially where civil authorities have legalized same-gender marriage, civil unions, or domestic partnerships.<ref name="2009-C056">{{cite web|url=http://38.149.19.55/ViewLegislation/view_leg_detail.aspx?id=898&type=Final|title=Resolution C056: Liturgies for Blessings|website=76th General Convention Legislation|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120424190216/http://38.149.19.55/ViewLegislation/view_leg_detail.aspx?id=898&type=Final|archive-date=April 24, 2012}}</ref>

On July 14, 2009, the Episcopal Church's House of Bishops voted that "any ordained ministry" is open to homosexual men and women. ''[[The New York Times]]'' said the move was "likely to send shockwaves through the Anglican Communion". This vote ended a moratorium on ordaining gay bishops passed in 2006 and passed in spite of Archbishop [[Rowan Williams]]'s personal call at the start of the convention that, "I hope and pray that there won't be decisions in the coming days that will push us further apart."<ref name="NYT20090715">{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2009/07/15/us/15episcopal.html|work=[[The New York Times]]|title=Episcopal Vote Reopens a Door to Gay Bishops|first=Laurie|last=Goodstein|date=2009-07-15|access-date=2010-05-02}}</ref>

On July 10, 2012, the Episcopal Church approved an official liturgy for the blessing of same-sex relationships. This liturgy was not a marriage rite, but the blessing included an exchange of vows and the couple's agreement to enter into a lifelong committed relationship.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/07/10/episcopal-church-gay-couples-same-sex-blessings_n_1663291.html|title=Episcopal Church Approves Gay Couples' Same-Sex Blessings|publisher=Huffington Post|date=10 July 2012|access-date=19 May 2016|author-first1=Jaweed|author-last1=Kaleem}}</ref>

On June 29, 2015, at the 78th General Convention of the Episcopal Church, a resolution removing the definition of marriage as being between one man and one woman was passed by the House of Bishops with 129 in favor, 26 against, and 5 abstaining.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thetablet.co.uk/news/2188/0/welby-voices-deep-concern-over-us-anglicans-gay-marriage-liturgy|title=The Tablet – News|work=thetablet.co.uk|access-date=July 1, 2015|archive-date=July 1, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150701081619/http://www.thetablet.co.uk/news/2188/0/welby-voices-deep-concern-over-us-anglicans-gay-marriage-liturgy|url-status=dead}}</ref> The then archbishop of Canterbury, [[Justin Welby]], expressed "deep concern" over the ruling.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/national/religion/anglican-head-expresses-concern-about-episcopal-vote-on-gay-marriage/2015/07/02/61dcc656-20e8-11e5-a135-935065bc30d0_story.html |title=Anglican Head Expresses Concern About Episcopal Vote on Gay Marriage |last=Grundy |first=Trevor |date=2 July 2015 |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]] |access-date=19 January 2016}}</ref> In 2016, Anglican leaders temporarily suspended the Episcopal Church from key positions in their global fellowship in response to the church changing its canons on marriage.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://abcnews.go.com/Health/wireStory/anglicans-sanction-us-episcopal-church-gay-marriage-36293320|title=Health Index|author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.-->|website=[[ABC News (United States)|ABC News]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.premier.org.uk/News/UK/PRIMATES-MEETING-OUTCOME-Episcopal-Church-suspended-from-full-participation-in-Anglican-Communion|title=Primates Meeting Outcome: Episcopal Church suspended from full participation in Anglican Communion|date=1 February 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=McGowan |first=Andrew |title=No, the Episcopal Church has not been suspended from the Anglican Communion | website=Saint Ronan Street Diary | url=https://abmcg.blogspot.com/2016/01/no-episcopal-church-has-not-been.html}}</ref>

[[Transgender]] people have also joined the priesthood in the Episcopal Church. The Rev. [[Cameron Partridge]], who transitioned in 2001 and was ordained in 2005,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://religionandpolitics.org/2013/01/03/crossing-boundaries-a-transgender-priest-becomes-a-university-chaplain/|title=Crossing Boundaries: A Transgender Priest Becomes a University Chaplain {{!}} Religion & Politics|date=2013-01-03|language=en-US|access-date=2020-04-12|archive-date=February 3, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220203105531/https://religionandpolitics.org/2013/01/03/crossing-boundaries-a-transgender-priest-becomes-a-university-chaplain/|url-status=dead}}</ref> was the first openly transgender priest to preach at the Washington National Cathedral.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.huffpost.com/entry/transgender-priest-national-cathedral-pride_n_5459762|title=Washington National Cathedral Welcomes First Trans Priest To Preach|last=Hafiz|first=Yasmine|date=2014-06-06|website=HuffPost|access-date=2020-04-12}}</ref> In 2022, the 80th General Convention of the Episcopal Church, affirmed its position in favor of access to gender affirming care, including all forms of medical transition for people of any age, as a part of the Baptismal call to "respect the dignity of every human being."<ref name="episcopalarchives.org">{{cite web |url=https://www.episcopalarchives.org/cgi-bin/acts/acts_resolution.pl?resolution=2022-D066 |title=The Acts of Convention: Advocate for Access to Gender Affirming Care |publisher=The Archives of the Episcopal Church |access-date=March 31, 2025}}</ref>

==== Separations from the church ==== [[File:ECUSA South Carolina.png|thumb|Many members and parishes of the historic [[Episcopal Diocese of South Carolina (before 2012)|Diocese of South Carolina]] left the Episcopal Church in 2012, eventually becoming a diocese of the [[Anglican Church in North America]].]] Following the ordination of Bp. Gene Robinson in 2003, some members of a number of congregations left the Episcopal Church.<ref name=":0">{{Cite news|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2009-oct-10-me-stlukes10-story.html|title=Conservative worshipers prepare for their exodus|last=Helfand|first=Duke|date=October 10, 2009|work=Los Angeles Times|access-date=December 26, 2018}}</ref> For example, in Cleveland, Ohio, four parishes "with about 1,300 active members, decided to leave the U.S. church and the local diocese because of 'divergent understandings of the authority of scripture and traditional Christian teaching.{{'"}}<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.cleveland19.com/story/4101733/four-episcopal-congregations-leave-us-church-over-gay-bishop/|title=Four Episcopal congregations leave U.S. church over gay bishop|agency=Associated Press|date=November 10, 2005|work=Cleveland 19 News|access-date=December 26, 2018}}</ref> Four dioceses also voted to leave the church; Pittsburgh, Quincy, Fort Worth, and San Joaquin. The stated reasons included those expressed by the Pittsburgh diocese, which complained that the church had been "hijacked" by liberal bishops.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2007/11/03/us/03episcopal.html|title=Pittsburgh Episcopal Diocese Votes to Leave the Church|last=Hamill|first=Sean D.|date=November 3, 2007|work=The New York Times|access-date=December 26, 2018}}</ref> A few years later, in 2012, the [[Anglican Diocese of South Carolina|Diocese of South Carolina]] voted to withdraw.

The Episcopal Church did not acknowledge any of the purported diocesan withdrawals, stating that under [[canon law]] an Episcopal diocese cannot withdraw itself from the larger Episcopal Church. In a "pastoral letter" to the South Carolina diocese, Presiding Bishop Schori wrote that "While some leaders have expressed a desire to leave the Episcopal Church, the Diocese has not left. It cannot, by its own action. The alteration, dissolution, or departure of a diocese of the Episcopal Church requires the consent of General Convention, which has not been consulted."<ref name=pastlet>Episcopal News Service (November 15, 2012). [http://episcopaldigitalnetwork.com/ens/2012/11/15/presiding-bishops-pastoral-letter-to-episcopal-diocese-of-south-carolina/ "Presiding Bishop's Pastoral Letter to Episcopalians in South Carolina"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121118033919/http://episcopaldigitalnetwork.com/ens/2012/11/15/presiding-bishops-pastoral-letter-to-episcopal-diocese-of-south-carolina/ |date=November 18, 2012 }}.</ref> She further wrote that the South Carolina diocese "continues to be a constituent part of The Episcopal Church, even if a number of its leaders have departed. If it becomes fully evident that those former leaders have, indeed, fully severed their ties with the Episcopal Church, new leaders will be elected and installed by the action of a Diocesan Convention recognized by the wider Episcopal Church, in accordance with our Constitution and Canons."

Many departing members joined the [[Continuing Anglican movement]] or advocated [[Anglican realignment]], claiming alignment with overseas Anglican provinces including the [[Anglican Province of the Southern Cone of America]] and the [[Church of Nigeria]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.diosc.com/sys/index.php?view=article&catid=1%3Alatest-news&id=452%3Athe-episcopal-church-takes-action-against-the-diocese-of-south-carolina-special-convetion-called&format=pdf&option=com_content&Itemid=75/|title=Episcopal Church Takes Action Against the Bishop and Diocese of SC|author=Episcopal Diocese of South Carolina|access-date=2013-06-25|url-status=usurped|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141029095941/http://www.diosc.com/sys/index.php?view=article&catid=1%3Alatest-news&id=452%3Athe-episcopal-church-takes-action-against-the-diocese-of-south-carolina-special-convetion-called&format=pdf&option=com_content&Itemid=75%2F|archive-date=October 29, 2014}}</ref> Some former members formed the [[Anglican Church in North America]] which, as of 2017, claimed over 1,000 congregations and 134,000 members.<ref name=churchfinder>{{cite web|url=http://www.anglicanchurch.net/?/main/locator/us |title=Anglican Church in North America |publisher=Anglicanchurch.net |access-date=2014-07-26}}</ref> Episcopal Church leaders, particularly former presiding bishop [[Katharine Jefferts Schori]], responded by taking a firm stance against the separatists. Litigation between the church and departing dioceses and parishes cost all parties tens of millions of dollars; one estimate has the Episcopal Church spending over $42&nbsp;million and separatists roughly $18&nbsp;million, for a total of over $60&nbsp;million in court costs.<ref name=legalcost60mil>{{cite web |url=http://www.anglicanink.com/article/what-ecusa-spending-lawsuits-updated-general-convention-2015 |title=What Is ECUSA Spending on Lawsuits? (Updated for General Convention 2015) |work=Anglican Ink |author-first1=A.S. |author-last1=Haley |date=1 June 2015 |access-date=1 June 2015 |archive-date=July 5, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150705201313/http://anglicanink.com/article/what-ecusa-spending-lawsuits-updated-general-convention-2015 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Litigation has largely centered on church properties. Episcopal leadership asserts that, as a hierarchical church, they retain ownership of parish property when parishioners leave. Departing groups, in contrast, assert that they should be able to retain ownership of individual church facilities and diocesan property.<ref name="wsj">{{cite news | url = https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424052970203476804576614932308302042 | title = Twenty-First Century Excommunication | access-date = 29 October 2012 | work=The Wall Street Journal}}</ref>{{sfn|Reeder|2006}}

====Church property disputes==== In a letter to the House of Bishops during summer 2009, Presiding Bishop [[Katharine Jefferts Schori]] instructed local dioceses not to sell parish property to departing groups. She stated: "We do not make settlements that encourage religious bodies who seek to replace the Episcopal Church".<ref name=schoriletter>{{cite web|last=Harmon |first=Kendall |url=http://kendallharmon.net/2009/08/the_presiding_bishop_writes_the_house_of_bishops/ |title=TitusOneNine – The Presiding Bishop Writes the House of Bishops |publisher=Kendallharmon.net |date=2009-08-03 |access-date=2014-02-04}}</ref>

Before Schori took this stand, prior bishops had treated parish property disputes as internal diocesan matters that are "not subject to the review or oversight of the presiding bishop". One example was when then-Presiding Bishop [[Frank Griswold]] told the Diocese of Western Louisiana on May 11, 2006, that the national church involved itself in parish property disputes only upon invitation of the local bishop and diocesan standing committees.<ref>{{cite news |title=Presiding Bishop steps in to prevent church sales |first=George |last=Conger |url=https://geoconger.wordpress.com/2009/08/13/presiding-bishop-steps-in-to-prevent-church-sales-cen-8-11-09/ |newspaper=Church of England Newspaper |date=2009-08-07| page=7 |access-date=24 November 2012}}</ref> Schori's letter stated that her firm stance was the consensus of the Council of Advice and expressed hope that "those who have departed can gain clarity about their own identity".<ref name=schoriletter />

After the South Carolina diocese voted to withdraw, it sued the national Episcopal Church to retain control over its property. The departing diocese mostly won on appeal to the South Carolina Supreme Court. Multiple parishes affiliated with the departing group were allowed to keep their property. Other church and diocesan property in the lawsuit remained with the Episcopal Church and its affiliated local diocese.<ref name="auto">{{cite web|url=https://www.postandcourier.com/news/state-supreme-court-partially-reverses-lower-court-ruling-in-episcopal/article_260f5402-778c-11e7-8710-5facadfd7bca.html|title=State Supreme Court rules The Episcopal Church can reclaim 29 properties from breakaway parishes|first1=Jennifer |last1=Berry Hawes|first2=Adam|last2=Parker|date=August 2, 2017 }}</ref> The name "Episcopal Diocese of South Carolina" and related names and marks were initially claimed by the departing group. In 2019, a federal court ruled that they legally belonged to the Episcopal Church. The departing diocese was renamed the Anglican Diocese of South Carolina.

==Membership== [[File:St. Mark's Cathedral, Shreveport, LA IMG 2361.JPG|thumb|St. Mark's Episcopal Cathedral in [[Shreveport, Louisiana]]]]

In 1986, the Episcopal Church adopted a "revised definition of membership," counting only active baptized members; previously, the church counted all baptized members.<ref>{{Cite book |title=Growth and decline in the Anglican communion: 1980 to the present |date=2017 |publisher=Routledge |isbn=978-1-4724-3364-0 |editor-last=Goodhew |editor-first=David |edition=1st |series=Routledge contemporary ecclesiology |location=London New York |pages=228}}</ref> As of 2023, the Episcopal Church had 1,547,779 active baptized members,<ref name="stat2022"> {{Citation|url=https://extranet.generalconvention.org/staff/files/download/32264|title=Baptized Members by Province and Diocese 2013-2022 (pdf)|publisher=The Episcopal Church|access-date=22 December 2023}}</ref> of whom 1,394,769 were in the United States.<ref name="stat.usa.2023"/>

According to a report by American Religious Identify Survey or ARIS/Barna in 2001, 3.5 million Americans self-identified as Episcopalians, highlighting "a gap between those who are affiliated with the church (on membership rolls), versus those who self-identify [as Episcopalians]".<ref>{{cite web |title=Largest denominations/denominational families in U.S. |url=http://www.adherents.com/rel_USA.html#families |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/19990508224844/http://www.adherents.com/rel_USA.html#families |url-status=usurped |archive-date=May 8, 1999 |website=Adherents.com |publisher=ARIS/Barna |access-date=February 11, 2016 |quote=[I]n 2001, 3.5 million American adults said they were Episcopalians. But in 2000 the Episcopal Church reported a total constituency of 2,317,794 people, including fully-committed &#91;sic&#93; members and inclusive adherents. This signifies a gap between those who are affiliated with the church (on membership rolls), versus those who self-identify with a particular denominational label but in most cases have no practical connection to the denomination and do not attend services.}}</ref><ref name=":2">{{Cite web |last1=Kosmin |first1=Barry |last2=Keysar |first2=Ariela |date=March 2009 |title=American Religious Identification Survey |url=https://commons.trincoll.edu/aris/files/2011/08/ARIS_Report_2008.pdf |access-date=May 6, 2025 |website=Trinity College}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2001 |title=Largest Religious Groups in the United States of America |url=https://cdn.ca9.uscourts.gov/datastore/library/2013/02/26/Spencer_relGroups.pdf |access-date=December 31, 2025 |website=United States Court for the Ninth Circuit}}</ref> More recently, in 2025, Pew Research found that approximately 1 percent of 267 million U.S. adults, around 2.67 million people, self-identified as mainline Episcopalian/Anglican.<ref name=":1" />

Total average Sunday attendance (ASA) for 2018 was 962,529 (933,206 in the U.S. and 29,323 outside the U.S.), a decrease of 24.7% percent from 2008.<ref name="2012-13StatTotals">{{Citation|url=http://www.episcopalchurch.org/sites/default/files/downloads/statistical_totals_for_the_episcopal_church_by_province_and_diocese_2012-2013.pdf|title=Statistical Totals for the Episcopal Church by Province and Diocese: 2012–2013|publisher=The Episcopal Church|page=5|publication-date=2014|access-date=October 27, 2014|ref=ref2012-13StatTotals |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141028053412/http://www.episcopalchurch.org/sites/default/files/downloads/statistical_totals_for_the_episcopal_church_by_province_and_diocese_2012-2013.pdf |archive-date=28 October 2014}}</ref> In 2024, reporting online attendance for the first time, in-person ASA was 413,034 with online ASA being 121,545; average weekly in-person attendance was 183,156 with online weekly attendance being 75,103.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Affairs |first=Office of Public |date=2025-10-25 |title=2024 Parochial Report shows continued post-COVID rebound in attendance |url=https://www.episcopalchurch.org/publicaffairs/2024-parochial-report-shows-continued-post-covid-rebound-in-attendance/ |access-date=2025-11-24 |website=The Episcopal Church |language=en-US}}</ref>

According to data collected in 2000, the District of Columbia, Rhode Island, Connecticut, and Virginia have the highest rates of adherents per capita, and states along the [[East Coast of the United States|East Coast]] generally have a higher number of adherents per capita than in other parts of the country.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thearda.com/Denoms/D_849_d.asp|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090630194516/http://www.thearda.com/Denoms/D_849_d.asp|url-status=dead|archive-date=June 30, 2009|title=Episcopal Church—Rates of Adherence Per 1000 Population (2000)|work=The Association of Religion Data Archives|access-date=7 July 2012}}</ref> New York was the state with the largest total number of adherents, over 200,000.<ref>{{cite web|title=Episcopal Church States (2000) |url=http://www.thearda.com/QuickLists/QuickList_177c.asp |work=The Association of Religion Data Archives |access-date=7 July 2012 |quote=Congregational "adherents" include all full members, their children, and others who regularly attend services. |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101206145043/http://www.thearda.com/QuickLists/QuickList_177c.asp |archive-date=6 December 2010 }}</ref> In 2013, the [[Episcopal Diocese of Haiti]] was the largest single diocese, with 84,301 baptized members, which constitute slightly over half of the church's foreign membership.<ref name="2012-13StatTotals" />

Roughly half (48%) of those identifying as Episcopalian are converts; the vast majority of converts (93%) were raised in another Christian denomination, with 37% coming from [[Mainline Protestantism]], 29% from [[Roman Catholicism]], 24% from [[Evangelical Protestantism]], and 3% from some other Christian tradition.<ref>{{cite web |title=Leaving and joining the Episcopal Church |url=https://episcopal.cafe/leaving-and-joining-the-episcopal-church/|publisher=Episcopal Café | date=January 13, 2019}}</ref> In the years preceding 2012 over 225,000 Roman Catholics became Episcopalians and as of 2012, there are "432 living Episcopal priests [who] have been received [as priests] from the Roman Catholic Church."<ref>{{cite web |title=Numbers: Episcopalians who join the ordinariate, Catholics who become Episcopalians |url=https://episcopal.cafe/numbers_episcopalians_who_join_the_ordinariate_catholics_who_become_episcopalians/ |publisher=Episcopal Café |access-date=14 May 2021 |language=English |date=23 January 2012}}</ref>

The Episcopal Church experienced notable growth in the first half of the 20th century, but like many mainline churches, it has had a decline in membership in more recent decades.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.episcopalchurch.org/3577_60792_ENG_HTM.htm|title=Mainline Protestant churches no longer dominate |date=30 March 2005 |publisher=Episcopalchurch.org|access-date=2008-11-16 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071231190210/http://www.episcopalchurch.org/3577_60792_ENG_HTM.htm |archive-date=31 December 2007}}</ref> Membership grew from 1.1 million members in 1925 to a peak of over 3.4 million members in the mid-1960s.<ref name="thearda.com">{{cite web|url=http://www.thearda.com/Denoms/D_849.asp|title=Data from the National Council of Churches' Historic Archive CD and Yearbook of American and Canadian Churches|publisher=thearda.com|access-date=November 11, 2009|archive-date=April 24, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210424224410/http://www.thearda.com/Denoms/D_849.asp|url-status=dead}}</ref> Between 1970 and 1990, membership declined from about 3.2 million to about 2.4 million.<ref name="thearda.com" /> Once changes in how membership is counted are taken into consideration, the Episcopal Church's membership numbers were broadly flat throughout the 1990s, with a slight growth in the first years of the 21st century.<ref name="RedBook2009">{{cite web|url=http://www.episcopalchurch.org/documents/2009_Red_Book_Table_of_Statistics_by_Prov__Diocese.pdf|title=Table of Statistics of the Episcopal Church|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111107053037/http://www.episcopalchurch.org/documents/2009_Red_Book_Table_of_Statistics_by_Prov__Diocese.pdf|archive-date=November 7, 2011}}</ref><ref name="GrowthReport2004">{{cite web|url=http://www.episcopalchurch.org/documents/2004GrowthReport(1).pdf|access-date=2007-10-25|title=Is the Episcopal Church Growing (or Declining)? by C. Kirk Hadaway Director of Research, The Episcopal Church Center|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111107045158/http://www.episcopalchurch.org/documents/2004GrowthReport(1).pdf|archive-date=November 7, 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.episcopalchurch.org/3577_55181_ENG_HTM.htm|title=Q&A Context, analysis on Church membership statistics|access-date=2007-10-25|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071013155009/http://episcopalchurch.org/3577_55181_ENG_HTM.htm|archive-date=2007-10-13}}</ref><ref name="fastfacts2005">{{cite web|url=http://www.episcopalchurch.org/documents/Domestic_FAST_FACTS_2005.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081028184531/http://www.episcopalchurch.org/documents/Domestic_FAST_FACTS_2005.pdf|title=Episcopal Fast Facts: 2005|access-date=2007-10-25|archive-date=October 28, 2008}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.episcopalchurch.org/documents/Text_Summary_of_Episcopal_Statistics_2005.pdf|title=Text Summary of Episcopal Statistics 2005|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081028184532/http://www.episcopalchurch.org/documents/Text_Summary_of_Episcopal_Statistics_2005.pdf|archive-date=28 October 2008}}</ref>

Some theories about the decline in membership include a failure to sufficiently reach beyond ethnic barriers in an increasingly diverse society, and the low fertility rates prevailing among the predominant ethnic groups traditionally belonging to the church. In 2025, Molly James, an interim executive officer, reported that the Episcopal Church's decline is "primarily because of a decline in birth rates: Episcopalians simply have fewer children than they did during the mid-20th century."<ref>{{Cite web|title=Religion Scholars Hear About Church Numbers|url=https://livingchurch.org/news/news-episcopal-church/religion-scholars-hear-about-church-numbers/|website=The Living Church|date=2025-11-26|access-date=2025-11-28|language=en-US|first=Greta|last=Gaffin}}</ref> In 1965, there were 880,000 children in Episcopal Sunday School programs. By 2001, the number had declined to 297,000.<ref>{{cite web|author-first1=Louie |author-last1=Crew|url=http://www.rci.rutgers.edu/~lcrew/dojustice/j325.html|title=Who Caused the Decline in Membership in the Episcopal Church?|publisher=Rci.rutgers.edu|date=1996-02-14|access-date=2012-04-23}}</ref>

===Political leanings===

The Episcopal Church used to be heavily associated with the [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican Party]], such that it was jokingly referred to as "the Republican Party at prayer."<ref>{{cite web |title=Embrace Your Oddness |url=https://edod.org/resources/articles/embrace-your-oddness/|website=Episcopal Diocese of Dallas |date=September 26, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Descent into the Episcopal Church |url=https://chroniclesmagazine.org/vital-signs/descent-into-the-episcopal-church/|website=Chronicles |date=June 1995}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Bishop Budde went viral because she showed us what's wrong with American religion |url=https://religionnews.com/2025/01/31/bishop-budde-went-viral-because-she-showed-us-whats-wrong-with-american-religion/|website=Religion News Service|date=January 31, 2025}}</ref> Episcopalians were often associated with the [[Rockefeller Republican]] wing of the Republican Party.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2006-07-05 |title=Co-dependence day |url=https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2006/jul/05/somuchforthefourthofjuly |access-date=2025-08-27 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}}</ref> This demonstrated the perception of many Episcopalians' "political conservatism [and] theological liberalism."<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Hayes |first=Alan L. |date=2004 |title=The Republican Party at Prayer St. Martin, Houston 25 April 2004 |url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/42612436 |journal=Anglican and Episcopal History |volume=73 |issue=3 |pages=398–405 |jstor=42612436 |issn=0896-8039}}</ref> During the 1970s, Episcopalian Republicans were associated with the more [[Social liberalism|socially liberal]] wing of the Republican Party.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Petersen |first1=Larry R. |last2=Mauss |first2=Armand L. |date=1976 |title=Religion and the "Right to Life": Correlates of Opposition to Abortion |url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/3710566 |journal=Sociological Analysis |volume=37 |issue=3 |pages=243–254 |doi=10.2307/3710566 |jstor=3710566 |issn=0038-0210|url-access=subscription }}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal |last=Williams |first=Daniel K. |date=2011 |title=The GOP's Abortion Strategy: Why Pro-Choice Republicans Became Pro-Life in the 1970s |url=https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/journal-of-policy-history/article/abs/gops-abortion-strategy-why-prochoice-republicans-became-prolife-in-the-1970s/C7EC0E0C0F5FF1F4488AA47C787DEC01 |journal=Journal of Policy History |language=en |volume=23 |issue=4 |pages=513–539 |doi=10.1017/S0898030611000285 |issn=1528-4190|url-access=subscription }}</ref>

In modern times, members of the Episcopal Church tend to identify more as moderate (38%) or liberal (32%) rather than conservative (28%).<ref name=":3" /> According to a 2025 [[Pew Research Center]] study with 627 self-identified Episcopalians, 57% describe themselves as [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democrats]] or Democratic-leaning independents, 37% describe themselves as [[GOP|Republicans]] or Republican-leaning independents, and 6% state that they do not identify with either party.<ref name=":3">{{cite web |title=Episcopalians/Anglicans in the mainline tradition {{!}} Religious Landscape Study |url=https://www.pewresearch.org/religious-landscape-study/religious-family/episcopalian-anglican-family-mainline-trad/ |website=Pew Research Center |access-date=16 June 2025}}</ref> ==Influence== {{Further|White Anglo-Saxon Protestant}} [[File:One World Trade Center and Trinity Church.JPG|thumb|[[Trinity Church (Manhattan)|Trinity Church]] in [[Manhattan]]]] In the twentieth century, Episcopalians tended to be wealthier<ref name="THE EPISCOPALIANS"/> and more educated (having more [[Academic degree|graduate]] and [[Postgraduate education|postgraduate]] degrees per capita) than most other religious groups in the United States,<ref name="ReferenceA">Irving Lewis Allen, "WASP—From Sociological Concept to Epithet," ''Ethnicity,'' 1975 154+</ref> and were disproportionately represented in the upper reaches of American [[business]],<ref>{{cite journal |first=Andrew |last=Hacker |title=Liberal Democracy and Social Control |journal=[[American Political Science Review]] |year=1957 |volume=51 |issue=4 |pages=1009–1026 [p. 1011] |doi=10.2307/1952449 |jstor=1952449 |s2cid=146933599 }}</ref> law, and politics.<ref>{{cite book |last=Baltzell |title=The Protestant Establishment |url=https://archive.org/details/protestantestabl00baltrich |url-access=registration |year=1964 |page=[https://archive.org/details/protestantestabl00baltrich/page/9 9] |publisher=New York, Random House }}</ref> Many of the nation's oldest [[Universities in the United States|educational institutions]], such as [[University of Pennsylvania]] and [[Columbia University]], were founded by Episcopal clergy or were associated with the Episcopal Church.<ref>{{cite book|title=Standing Against the Whirlwind: Evangelical Episcopalians in Nineteenth-Century America|first=Diana |last=Hochstedt Butler|year= 1995| isbn=978-0-19-535905-3| page =22|publisher=Oxford University Press|quote= Of all these northern schools, only Columbia and the University of Pennsylvania were historically Anglican; the rest are associated with revivalist Presbyterianism or Congregationalism.}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|title=Protestant Missionaries in the Levant: Ungodly Puritans, 1820–1860|first=Samir |last=Khalaf|year=2012| isbn=978-1-136-24980-8| page =31|publisher=Routledge|quote= Princeton was Presbyterian, while Columbia and Pennsylvania were Episcopalian.}}</ref> According to [[Pew Research Center]] Episcopal Church "has often been seen as the religious institution most closely associated with the American [[The Establishment|establishment]], producing many of the nation's most important leaders in politics and business."<ref>{{cite web|first = Michael |last = Lipka|url= https://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2018/07/02/5-facts-about-episcopalians/ |title=5 facts about Episcopalians |date =2 July 2018 |publisher=Pew Research Center}}</ref> About a quarter of the [[List of presidents of the United States|presidents of the United States]] (11) were members of the Episcopal Church.<ref name="pewresearch.org"/>

Historically, Episcopalians were overrepresented among American scientific elite and [[Nobel Prize]] winners.<ref name="Sociology of Religion"/><ref name="Scientific Elite: Nobel Laureates in the United Statesh"/> According to ''Scientific Elite: Nobel Laureates in the United States'' by [[Harriet Zuckerman]], between 1901 and 1972, 72% of American [[Nobel Prizes|Nobel Prize]] laureates have come from a [[Protestant]] background, mostly from Episcopalian, [[Presbyterian Church in the United States of America|Presbyterian]] or Lutheran background.<ref name="Scientific Elite: Nobel Laureates in the United Statesh">{{cite book |last=Zuckerman |first=Harriet |author-link=Harriet Zuckerman |title=Scientific Elite: Nobel Laureates in the United States |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=HAHCzJfmD5IC |year=1977 |publisher=The Free Press |location=New York |isbn=978-1-4128-3376-9 |page=68 |quote=Protestants turn up among the American-reared laureates in slightly greater proportion to their numbers in the general population. Thus 72 percent of the seventy-one laureates but about two thirds of the American population were reared in one or another Protestantone denomination mostly Presbyterian, Episcopalian, or Lutheran rather than Baptist or Fundamentalist.}}</ref> Citing [[Gallup (company)|Gallup]] polling data from 1976, Kit and Frederica Konolige wrote in their 1978 book ''The Power of Their Glory'', "As befits a church that belongs to the worldwide [[Anglican Communion]], Episcopalianism has the [[United Kingdom]] to thank for the ancestors of fully 49 percent of its members. ... The stereotype of the [[White Anglo-Saxon Protestant]] (WASP) finds its fullest expression in the Episcopal Church."<ref>{{cite book |last=Konolige |first=Kit |title=The Power of Their Glory: America's Ruling Class: The Episcopalians |last2=Konolige |first2=Federica |publisher=Wyden Books |year=1978 |isbn=0-88326-155-3 |location=New York |page=28}}</ref>

The ''[[Boston Brahmin]]s'', who were regarded as the nation's social and cultural elites, were often associated with the [[American upper class]], [[Harvard University]];<ref>{{cite book |last=Rosenbaum |first=Julia B. |title=Visions of Belonging: New England Art and the Making of American Identity |publisher=Cornell University Press |year=2006 |isbn=978-0-8014-4470-8 |page=45 |quote=By the late nineteenth century, one of the strongest bulwarks of Brahmin power was Harvard University. Statistics underscore the close relationship between Harvard and Boston's upper strata.}}</ref> and the Episcopal Church.<ref>{{cite book |last=Holloran |first=Peter C. |title=Boston's Wayward Children: Social Services for Homeless Children, 1830–1930 |publisher=Fairleigh Dickinson Univ Press |year=1989 |isbn=978-0-8386-3297-0 |page=73}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|title=Brahmin Prophet: Phillips Brooks and the Path of Liberal Protestantism|first=Gillis |last=J. Harp|year=2003| isbn= 978-0-7425-7198-3| page =13|publisher=Rowman & Littlefield Publishers}}</ref> [[Old Philadelphians]] were often associated with the Episcopal Church.<ref name="Baltzell 2011 236"/> [[Old money]] in the United States was typically associated with [[White Anglo-Saxon Protestant]] ("WASP") status,<ref>Irving Lewis Allen, "WASP—From Sociological Concept to Epithet", ''Ethnicity,'' 2.2 (1975): 153–162.</ref> particularly with the Episcopal and [[Presbyterian]] Church.<ref>{{cite journal |first1=James D. |last1=Davidson |first2=Ralph E. |last2=Pyle |first3=David V. |last3=Reyes |title=Persistence and Change in the Protestant Establishment, 1930–1992 |journal=[[Social Forces]] |volume=74 |issue=1 |year=1995 |pages= 157–175|doi= 10.1093/sf/74.1.157|jstor=2580627 }}</ref> In the 1970s, a ''[[Fortune (magazine)|Fortune]]'' magazine study found one-in-five of the country's largest businesses and one-in-three of its largest banks was run by an Episcopalian.<ref name="THE EPISCOPALIANS">{{cite news| first=B. Drummond Jr. |last=Ayres |url= https://www.nytimes.com/1981/04/28/us/the-episcopalians-an-american-elite-with-roots-going-back-to-jamestown.html |title=The Episcopalians: An American Elite with Roots Going Back to Jamestown |newspaper=The New York Times |date=1981-04-28 |access-date=2012-08-17}}</ref> Numbers of the most [[Old money|wealthy and affluent American families]] such as the [[Vanderbilts]], [[Astor family|Astors]], [[Du Pont family|Du Ponts]],<ref name="W. Williams"/> [[Whitney family|Whitneys]], [[Morgan family|Morgans]], [[Ford family|Fords]],<ref name="W. Williams"/> [[Mellon family|Mellons]],<ref name="W. Williams"/> [[Samuel Van Leer|Van Leers]], [[Nicholas Brown Jr.|Browns]],<ref name="W. Williams"/> [[Anthony Wayne|Waynes]] and [[Brown Brothers Harriman & Co.|Harrimans]] are Episcopalians.<ref name="THE EPISCOPALIANS"/> While the [[Rockefeller family]] are mostly [[Baptist]]s, some of the Rockefellers were Episcopalians.<ref name="W. Williams">{{cite book |last=Williams |first=Peter W. |title=Religion, Art, and Money: Episcopalians and American Culture from the Civil War to the Great Depression |publisher=University of North Carolina Press |year=2016 |isbn=978-1-4696-2698-7 |page=176 |quote=The names of fashionable families who were already Episcopalian, like the Morgans, or those, like the Fricks, who now became so, goes on interminably: Aldrich, Astor, Biddle, Booth, Brown, Du Pont, Firestone, Ford, Gardner, Mellon, Morgan, Procter, the Vanderbilt, Whitney. Episcopalians branches of the Baptist Rockefellers and Jewish Guggenheims even appeared on these family trees.}}</ref>

According to a 2014 study by the Pew Research Center, the Episcopal Church also has the highest number of [[Academic degree|graduate]] and [[post-graduate]] degrees per capita (56%)<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.pewforum.org/2015/05/12/americas-changing-religious-landscape/ |title=America's Changing Religious Landscape |publisher=[[Pew Research Center]]: Religion & Public Life |date=May 12, 2015}}</ref> of any other Christian denomination in the United States,<ref>{{Citation|url= http://religions.pewforum.org/pdf/report-religious-landscape-study-full.pdf |title=US Religious Landscape Survey: Diverse and Dynamic|publisher=The Pew Forum|page=85|publication-date=February 2008|access-date=2012-09-17|ref=refEducationLevel}}</ref> as well as the most [[American upper class|high-income earners]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://economix.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/05/13/faith-education-and-income/|title=Faith, Education and Income|work=The New York Times|access-date=May 13, 2011|first=David|last=Leonhardt|date=2011-05-13}}</ref> According to ''[[The New York Times]]'' Episcopalians tend also to be better educated and they have a high number of [[Academic degree|graduate]] (76%) and [[post-graduate]] degrees (35%) per capita.<ref>{{cite news |title=Faith, Education and Income |url=https://economix.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/05/13/faith-education-and-income/?_r=1 |last=Leonhardt |first=David |date=May 13, 2011 |work=Economix {{!}} The New York Times |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171201044513/https://economix.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/05/13/faith-education-and-income/?_r=1 |archive-date=December 1, 2017 |url-access=limited}}</ref> According to a 2014 study by the [[Pew Research Center]], Episcopalians ranked as the third wealthiest religious group in the United States, with 35% of Episcopalians living in households with incomes of at least $100,000.<ref name="Masci">{{cite web|url=http://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2016/10/11/how-income-varies-among-u-s-religious-groups/|title=How income varies among U.S. religious groups|date=11 October 2016 |publisher= [[Pew Research Center]]|first= David|last = Masci}}</ref> In 2014, roughly 70% of Episcopalians were living in households with incomes of $50,000 or above.<ref name="Masci"/> In recent years, the church has become much more economically and racially diverse<ref>{{cite book |last1=Griffiss |first1=James E. |title=The Anglican Vision |date=1997 |publisher=Cowley Publications |location=Boston, Massachusetts |isbn=1-56101-143-6 |pages=15–18 }}</ref> through evangelism, and has attracted many Hispanic immigrants who are often working-class.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Korkzan |first1= Shireen |title=Episcopal farmworker ministries respond to needs during COVID-19 pandemic |date= June 3, 2020 |url=https://www.episcopalnewsservice.org/2020/06/03/episcopal-farmworker-ministries-respond-to-needs-during-covid-19-pandemic/ |publisher=Episcopal News Service |access-date=21 June 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Lehman |first1=Chris |title=Episcopal Church Courts Latinos |url=https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=158535358 |newspaper=NPR.org |access-date=21 June 2020}}</ref> According to the Pew Research Center’s 2023–24 Religious Landscape Study, 67% of adherents of the Episcopal Church hold a bachelor’s degree or higher, making them one of the most highly educated Christian groups in the United States and the second most highly educated religious group overall in America.<ref>{{cite web|first =Patricia|last = Tevington|url= https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2026/02/19/which-us-religious-groups-are-most-highly-educated/?_gl=1*1eeu0tb*_up*MQ..*_gs*MQ..&gclid=CjwKCAiAzOXMBhASEiwAe14SaRuA00zLT_UGz_6nh9COCJMy1gEffKkWVwTDxVZuVtrlBREM7Q9-AhoCDhEQAvD_BwE&gbraid=0AAAAA-ddO9FBsFWkMpw1Extn33gd8l081|title=Which U.S. religious groups are most highly educated? |date =19 February 2026|publisher=Pew Research Center}}</ref>

==Structure== The Episcopal Church is governed according to [[episcopal polity]] with its own system of [[Canon law (Episcopal Church in the United States)|canon law]]. This means that the church is organized into [[dioceses]] led by [[bishop]]s in consultation with representative bodies. It is a [[Unitary state|unitary body]], in that the power of the [[General Convention of the Episcopal Church in the United States of America|General Convention]] is not limited by the individual dioceses. The church has, however, a highly decentralized structure and characteristics of a [[confederation]].{{sfn|Podmore|2008|p=130}}

===Parishes and dioceses=== {{Further|Ecclesiastical provinces and dioceses of the Episcopal Church}} At the local level, there are 6,447 Episcopal congregations, each of which elects a [[vestry]] or bishop's committee. Subject to the approval of its [[diocesan bishop]], the vestry of each [[parish]] elects a [[priest]], called the [[rector (ecclesiastical)|rector]], who has spiritual jurisdiction in the parish and selects assistant clergy, both [[deacon]]s and priests. (There is a difference between vestry and clergy elections – clergy are ordained members usually selected from outside the parish, whereas any member in good standing of a parish is eligible to serve on the vestry.) The diocesan bishop, however, appoints the clergy for all missions and may choose to do so for non-self-supporting parishes.{{citation needed|date=January 2024}}

The [[middle judicatory]] consists of a diocese headed by a bishop who is assisted by a standing committee.<ref name="09ConstArtIV">{{cite web|url=https://www.episcopalarchives.org/pdf/CnC/CandC_2009pp123-166.pdf|title=Governance Documents of the Church – The Archives of the Episcopal Church}}</ref> The bishop and standing committee are elected by the diocesan convention whose members are canonically resident clergy of the diocese and laity selected by the congregations. The election of a bishop requires the consent of a majority of standing committees and diocesan bishops.<ref name="09ConstArtII">{{Cite web |url=http://www.episcopalarchives.org/pdf/CnC/CandC_2009pp61-64.pdf |title=Archived copy |access-date=February 4, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120418014217/http://www.episcopalarchives.org/pdf/CnC/CandC_2009pp61-64.pdf |archive-date=April 18, 2012 }}</ref> Conventions meet annually to consider legislation (such as revisions to the diocesan constitution and canons) and speak for the diocese. Dioceses are organized into nine [[Ecclesiastical province|provinces]]. Each province has a [[synod]] and a mission budget, but it has no authority over its member dioceses.{{citation needed|date=January 2024}}

There are 106 dioceses in the United States, [[Colombia]], the [[Dominican Republic]], [[Ecuador]], [[Haiti]], [[Honduras]], [[Puerto Rico]], [[Taiwan]], [[Venezuela]], Cuba and the [[Virgin Islands]]. The [[Convocation of Episcopal Churches in Europe]] and the [[Navajoland Area Mission]] are jurisdictions similar to a diocese.<ref name="EnBr">{{cite encyclopedia |title=Episcopal Church USA |encyclopedia=Encyclopædia Britannica |publisher=Encyclopædia Britannica, Incorporated |url=https://www.britannica.com/eb/article-9061604/Episcopal-Church-USA |access-date=February 28, 2015}}</ref><ref name="ODCC">{{cite book|editor=F. L. Cross|editor2=E. A. Livingstone|title=The Oxford Dictionary of the Christian Church|edition=3rd|publisher=Oxford University Press|date=13 March 1997|location=USA|page=[https://archive.org/details/oxforddictionary00late/page/554 554]|isbn=0-19-211655-X|url=https://archive.org/details/oxforddictionary00late/page/554}}</ref><ref name="ColEn">{{cite encyclopedia|title=Episcopal Church|encyclopedia=The Columbia Encyclopedia, Sixth Edition|publisher=Columbia University Press|date=May 2001|url=http://www.bartleby.com/65/ep/Episcopal.html|access-date=2007-09-09|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081205094221/http://www.bartleby.com/65/ep/Episcopal.html|archive-date=2008-12-05}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.anglicancommunion.org/tour/province.cfm?ID=Y2|title=The Anglican Communion Official Website: Iglesia Episcopal de Cuba|publisher=Anglicancommunion.org|access-date=2008-11-16}}</ref>

===Governance=== {{Main|General Convention of the Episcopal Church in the United States of America}}

The [[Washington National Cathedral]] is the [[Cathedra|seat]] of the [[Presiding Bishop#Episcopal Church in the USA|presiding bishop]] of the Episcopal Church as well as the bishop of the [[Episcopal Diocese of Washington]].[[File:DCA 08 2009 National Cathedral 6981.JPG|thumb|The Cathedral Church of Saint Peter and Saint Paul in the City and Diocese of Washington, located in [[Washington, D.C.]], is operated under the more familiar name of [[Washington National Cathedral]].]]

The highest legislative body of the Episcopal Church is the triennial [[General Convention of the Episcopal Church in the United States of America|General Convention]], consisting of the [[House of Deputies]] and the [[House of Bishops]]. All active (whether [[diocesan bishop|diocesan]], [[Coadjutor Bishop|coadjutor]], [[suffragan bishop|suffragan]], or [[Assistant Bishop|assistant]]) and retired bishops make up the over 300 members of the House of Bishops. Diocesan conventions elect over 800 representatives (each diocese elects four laity and four clergy) to the House of Deputies. The House of Deputies elects a president and vice-president to preside at meetings. General Convention enacts two types of legislation. The first type is the rules by which the church is governed as contained in the Constitution and [[canon law|Canons]]; the second type are broad guidelines on church policy called resolutions.{{sfn|Swatos|2005|p=212}} Either house may propose legislation.<ref name="09ConstArtI">{{Cite web |url=http://www.episcopalarchives.org/pdf/CnC/CandC_2009pp11-60.pdf |title=Archived copy |access-date=February 4, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120608091222/http://www.episcopalarchives.org/pdf/CnC/CandC_2009pp11-60.pdf |archive-date=June 8, 2012 }}</ref> The House of Deputies only meets as a full body once every three years; however, the House of Bishops meets regularly throughout the triennium between conventions.

The real work of General Convention is done by interim bodies, the most powerful being the Executive Council, which oversees the work of the national church during the triennium. The council has 40 members; 20 are directly elected by the General Convention, 18 are elected by the nine provinces, and the presiding bishop and president of the House of Deputies are ''[[ex officio]]'' members.<ref name="09ConstArtI"/> Other interim bodies include a number of standing commissions ordered by the canons and temporary task forces formulated by resolutions of General Convention. Both types of bodies study and draft policy proposals for consideration and report back to the convention. Each standing commission consists of five bishops, five priests or deacons, and ten laypersons. Bishops are appointed by the Presiding Bishop while the other clergy and laypersons are appointed by the president of the House of Deputies.<ref name="09ConstArtI"/> Task forces vary in size, composition, and duration depending on the General Convention resolution that orders them.<ref name="09JointRuleIX">Joint Rule IX of the General Convention</ref>

The [[Presiding Bishop#Episcopal Church in the USA|presiding bishop]] is elected from and by the House of Bishops and confirmed by the House of Deputies for a nine-year term.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.episcopalchurch.org/67608_ENG_HTM.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101031203713/http://www.episcopalchurch.org/67608_ENG_HTM.htm|title=Church Governance|archive-date=October 31, 2010|publisher = episcopalchurch.org}}</ref> The presiding bishop is the chief pastor and [[Primate (bishop)#Anglican Communion|primate]] of the Episcopal Church and is charged with providing leadership in the development of the church's program as well as speaking on behalf of the church.<ref name="09CanonI.2">The Episcopal Church (2009), ''Constitution and Canons'', Title I Canon 2.</ref> The presiding bishop does not possess a territorial [[episcopal see|see]]; since the 1970s, however, the presiding bishop has enjoyed extraordinary jurisdiction (metropolitical authority) and has authority to visit dioceses for [[sacrament]]al and preaching ministry, for consulting bishops, and for related purposes.{{sfn|Swatos|2005|p=202}} The presiding bishop chairs the House of Bishops as well as the Executive Council of the General Convention. In addition, the presiding bishop directs the Episcopal Church Center, the national administrative headquarters of the denomination. Located at 815 Second Avenue, New York City, New York, the center is often referred to by Episcopalians simply as "815".<ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.episcopalchurch.org/lw_whatshappening.htm |title=What's Happening at 815?|publisher=Episcopalchurch.org|access-date=2008-11-16 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080709161014/http://www.episcopalchurch.org/lw_whatshappening.htm <!-- Bot retrieved archive -->|archive-date=2008-07-09}}</ref>

A system of [[ecclesiastical court]]s is provided for under [[Ecclesiastical court#Episcopal Church in the United States of America|Title IV of the canons]] of General Convention. These courts are empowered to discipline and depose deacons, priests, and bishops.

==Worship and liturgy== {{Further|Anglican church music}} [[File:Procession at St. Marys Episcopal Cathedral.jpg|thumb|A procession in [[St. Mary's Episcopal Cathedral (Memphis, Tennessee)|St. Mary's Episcopal Cathedral]], [[Memphis, Tennessee]], in 2002]] [[File:Rood Screen and Chancel ceiling, Church of the Good Shepherd (Rosemont, Pennsylvania).jpg|left|thumb|[[Rood screen]] and chancel ceiling at the Anglo-Catholic [[Church of the Good Shepherd (Rosemont, Pennsylvania)|Church of the Good Shepherd]] in [[Rosemont, Pennsylvania]]]] Worship according to the ''[[Book of Common Prayer (1979)|Book of Common Prayer]]'' (BCP) is central to the Episcopal Church's identity and its main source of unity. The current edition of the BCP was published in 1979 and is similar to other Anglican prayer books in use around the world. It contains most of the worship services (or [[liturgy|liturgies]]) used in the Episcopal Church.{{Sfn|Webber|1999|pp=28–31}}

The Episcopal Church has a sacramental understanding of worship. The Episcopal [[catechism]] defines a [[sacrament]] as "an outward and visible sign of an inward and spiritual grace given to us".{{Sfn|Webber|1999|pp=34}} Episcopalians believe that sacraments are material things that God uses to act in human lives.{{Sfn|Webber|1999|pp=34}} The BCP identifies [[Baptism]] and the [[Eucharist]] as the "two great sacraments of the Gospel". [[Confirmation]], [[ordination]], [[Christian views on marriage|holy matrimony]], [[reconciliation of a penitent]], and [[Anointing of the sick|unction]] are identified as "sacramental rites".{{Sfn|Webber|1999|pp=37}} [[Confession (religion)#Anglicanism|Private confession]] of sin is available in the Episcopal Church, though it is not as commonly practiced as in the Roman Catholic Church. This is in part due to the [[Act of Contrition#Anglican Communion|general confession]] provided for in Episcopal services.{{Sfn|Webber|1999|pp=37}}

The prayer book specifies that the Eucharist or Holy Communion is "the principal act of Christian worship on the Lord's Day".{{Sfn|Webber|1999|p=28}} The service has two parts. The first is centered on [[Bible]] readings and preaching. At each service, four scripture passages are read from the [[Old Testament]] and the [[New Testament]]. The readings are organized in a three-year cycle during which much of the Bible will have been read in church.{{Sfn|Webber|1999|pp=44}} The second part of the service is centered on the Eucharist. The Episcopal Church teaches the [[real presence]] doctrine—that the bread and wine truly become the [[Body of Christ|body]] and [[blood of Christ]]. However, it does not define how this happens, which allows for different views to coexist within the church.{{Sfn|Webber|1999|pp=31–33}} Generally, Episcopal churches have retained features such as the altar rail, the inclusion or exclusion of which does not elicit much controversy, but usually celebrate in the ''[[versus populum]]'' orientation.{{citation needed|date=April 2020}}

[[File:High altar at St. Mary's Episcopal Church..JPG|thumb|High altar of an Anglo-Catholic church ''[[ad orientem]]'' style]]

Often a congregation or a particular service will be referred to as ''Low Church'' or ''High Church''. In theory: * [[High Church]], especially the ''very'' high [[Anglo-Catholic]] movement, is ritually inclined towards the use of incense, formal hymns, and a higher degree of ceremony such as ''[[ad orientem]]'' in relation to the priest and altar. In addition to clergy vesting in [[alb]]s, [[stole (vestment)|stoles]], and [[chasuble]]s, the lay assistants may also be vested in [[cassock]] and [[surplice]]. The sung Eucharist tends to be emphasized in High Church congregations, with Anglo-Catholic congregations and celebrants using sung services almost exclusively. [[Marian devotion]] is sometimes seen in the Anglo-Catholic and some High Church parishes. * [[Low Church]] is simpler and may incorporate other elements such as informal praise and worship music. "Low" parishes tend towards a more "traditional Protestant" outlook with its emphasis of Biblical revelation over symbolism. Some "low" parishes even subscribe to traditional [[Evangelical]] theology (see [[Evangelical Anglicanism]]). The spoken Eucharist tends to be emphasized in Low Church congregations. [[Altar rails]] may be omitted in this type. * [[Broad Church]] indicates a middle ground. These parishes are the most common within the Episcopal Church. However, unlike the Anglican Church in England, most Episcopal "broad church" parishes make use of a liturgy that includes eucharistic vestments, chant, and a high view of the sacraments, even if the liturgy is not as solemn or lacks some of the other accoutrements typical of Anglo-Catholic parishes. Unlike many Roman Catholic churches, the altar rail has usually been retained and communion is usually served kneeling at the altar rail similar to a [[Tridentine Mass]], because the Episcopal Church teaches, through its Book of Common Prayer, a theologically high view of the church and its sacraments, even if not all parishes carry this out liturgically.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.gracechurchinnewark.org/how-the-episcopal-church-teaches.php |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130514143119/http://www.gracechurchinnewark.org/how-the-episcopal-church-teaches.php |archive-date=2013-05-14 |title=Grace Church in Newark}}</ref>

The Book of Common Prayer also provides the [[Daily Office (Anglican)|Daily Offices]] of Morning and Evening Prayer. The daily offices can be said by lay people at home.{{Sfn|Webber|1999|pp=37–38}}

The veneration of [[Calendar of saints (Episcopal Church)|saints in the Episcopal Church]] is a continuation of an ancient tradition from the early church which honors important people of the Christian faith. The usage of the term "saint" is similar to Roman Catholic and Orthodox traditions. There are explicit references in the 1979 Book of Common Prayer to invoking the aid of the prophets, patriarchs, saints, martyrs and the Virgin Mary as in an optional prayer in the committal at a funeral, p.&nbsp;504. In general Anglicans pray with the saints in their fellowship, not to them, although their intercessions may be requested. Those inclined to the Anglo-Catholic traditions may explicitly invoke saints as intercessors in prayer.{{citation needed|date=April 2020}} The 1979 edition contains a provision for the use of "traditional" (Elizabethan) language under various circumstances not directly provided for in the book.

==Belief and practice== [[File:ConsecrationSparks.jpg|thumb|right|Episcopal consecration of the 8th bishop of Northern Indiana in 2016 by the laying on of hands]] {{See also|Anglicanism|Anglican doctrine}}

At the center of Episcopal belief and practice are the life, teachings and Resurrection of [[Jesus in Christianity|Jesus Christ]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.episcopalchurch.org/visitors_16966_ENG_HTM.htm?menupage=43796|title=A Basic Introduction to Christianity|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100818035446/http://www.episcopalchurch.org/visitors_16966_ENG_HTM.htm?menupage=43796|archive-date=August 18, 2010}}</ref> The doctrine of the Episcopal Church is found in the canon of scripture as understood in the Apostles' and Nicene creeds and in the sacramental rites, the ordinal and catechism of the Book of Common Prayer.<ref>{{cite book |title=Constitution and Canons |pages=132–133 |url=https://www.episcopalarchives.org/sites/default/files/publications/2015_CandC.pdf |access-date=5 January 2019}}</ref> Some of these teachings include: * Belief that human beings "are part of God's creation, [[image of God|made in the image of God]]," and are therefore "[[free will|free to make choices]]: to love, to [[reason]], and to live in harmony with creation and with God."<ref>{{cite book |title=The Book of Common Prayer |date=January 15, 2008 |publisher=Oxford University Press |location=New York |isbn=978-0-19-528777-6 |page=854}}</ref> * Belief that [[sin]], defined as "the seeking of our own will instead of the will of God," has [[original sin|corrupted human nature]], "thus distorting our relationship with God, with other people, and with all creation," resulting in death.<ref>{{cite book |title=The Book of Common Prayer |date=February 2008 |publisher=Oxford University Press |location=London |isbn=978-0-19-528777-6 }}</ref> *Belief that "sin has power over us because we lose our liberty when our relationship with God is distorted," and that [[redemption (theology)|redemption]] is any act of God which "sets us free from the power of sin, evil, and death."<ref>{{cite book |title=The Book of Common Prayer |date=February 2008 |publisher=Oxford University Press |location=New York |isbn=978-0-19-528777-6 |page=849}}</ref> * The doctrines of [[the Incarnation]] and [[Resurrection of Jesus|Resurrection]] of Jesus Christ; Jesus Christ is [[Hypostatic union|fully human and fully God.]]<ref>{{cite book |title=The Book of Common Prayer |date=February 2008 |publisher=Oxford University Press |location=London |isbn=978-0-19-528777-6 |pages=848–850}}</ref> * Jesus provides forgiveness of sin and the way of eternal life for those who believe and are baptized.<ref>{{cite book |title=The Book of Common Prayer |date=February 2008 |publisher=Oxford University Press |location=London |isbn=978-0-19-528777-6 |page=850}}</ref> * [[The Trinity]]: God the Father, God the Son (Jesus Christ), and God the [[Holy Spirit in Christianity|Holy Spirit]] are one God in three distinct persons, collectively called the Holy Trinity ("three and yet one").<ref>{{cite book |title=The Book of Common Prayer |date=February 2008 |publisher=Oxford University Press |location=London |isbn=978-0-19-528777-6 |pages=846–853}}</ref> * The Holy Scriptures, commonly called the Bible, consist of the [[Old Testament]] and the [[New Testament]] and were written by people "under the [[Biblical inspiration|inspiration of the Holy Spirit]]."<ref>{{cite book |title=The Book of Common Prayer |date=February 2008 |publisher=Oxford University Press |location=London |isbn=978-0-19-528777-6 |page=853}}</ref> The [[Apocrypha]] are additional books that are used in Christian worship, but not for the formation of doctrine.<ref>{{cite book |title=The Book of Common Prayer |date=February 2008 |publisher=Oxford University Press |location=London |isbn=978-0-19-528777-6 |page=868}}</ref> * The Bible contains "all things necessary to salvation" and nothing can be taught as pertaining to salvation which cannot be proven by scripture.<ref>{{cite book |title=The Book of Common Prayer |date=February 2008 |publisher=Oxford University Press |location=New York |isbn=978-0-19-528777-6 |page=868}}</ref> * [[Anglican sacraments|Sacraments]] are "outward and visible signs of God's inward and spiritual grace."<ref>{{cite book |title=The Book of Common Prayer |date=January 15, 2008 |publisher=Oxford University Press |location=New York |isbn=978-0-19-528777-6 |page=857}}</ref> The two necessary sacraments are [[Baptism]] and [[Eucharist|Holy Communion]] (the latter is also called the Eucharist, the Lord's Supper, and the Mass).<ref>{{cite book |title=The Book of Common Prayer |date=February 2008 |location=London |isbn=978-0-19-528777-6 |pages=857–860}}</ref> [[Infant baptism]] is practiced and encouraged.<ref>{{cite book |title=The Book of Common Prayer |date=February 2008 |publisher=Oxford University Press |location=London |isbn=978-0-19-528777-6 |page=858}}</ref> Holy Communion is open to all persons baptized in any Christian denomination.<ref>{{cite web |title=What We Believe: Communion |url=https://www.episcopalchurch.org/what-we-believe/communion/ |website=The Episcopal Church |access-date=14 January 2022}}</ref> * Other sacraments are [[confirmation]], [[ordination]], [[marriage]], [[Confession (religion)|confession]], and [[unction]].<ref>{{cite book |title=The Book of Common Prayer |date=February 2008 |publisher=Oxford University Press |location=London |isbn=978-0-19-528777-6 |page=860}}</ref> Regarding these other sacraments the Book of Common Prayer states "Although they are means of grace, they are not necessary for all persons the same way that Baptism and the Eucharist are."<ref>[https://www.episcopalchurch.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2021/02/book-of-common-prayer-2006.pdf ''The Book of Common Prayer''], Episcopalchurch.org. 2006. p. 860. Retrieved September 10, 2021.</ref> * A general belief in an afterlife of [[Heaven in Christianity|Heaven]] and [[Christian views on hell|Hell]]. Heaven is defined as the [[universal resurrection|resurrection of the faithful]] to eternal life in the presence of God. Hell is defined as "eternal death" due to a willful rejection of God.<ref name="The Episcopal Church">{{cite web |url=https://www.episcopalchurch.org/glossary/hell/ |website=An Episcopal Dictionary of the Church |access-date=6 January 2022|title=Hell }}</ref> * Emphasis on the contents of the [[Sermon on the Mount]] and on living out the [[Great Commandment]] to love God and to love one's neighbor fully.<ref>Joseph Buchanan Bernardin, ''An Introduction to the Episcopal Church'' (2008) p. 63</ref> *Belief in an [[episcopal polity|episcopal]] form of church government and in the [[Anglican ministry|offices and ministries]] of the early church, namely the threefold order of bishops, priests and deacons; both men and women are eligible for ordination to the clergy.<ref>{{cite book |title=The Book of Common Prayer |date=February 2008 |publisher=Oxford University Press |location=London |isbn=978-0-19-528777-6 |page=855}}</ref> Clergy are permitted to marry.<ref>{{cite book |title=The Book of Common Prayer |date=February 2008 |publisher=Oxford University Press |location=London |isbn=978-0-19-528777-6 |page=874}}</ref> *[[Apostolic Succession]]: the belief that the Episcopal and wider Anglican bishops continue the apostolic tradition of the ancient church as spiritual heirs to the [[Apostles in the New Testament|Twelve Apostles]] of Jesus Christ.<ref>{{cite book |title=The Book of Common Prayer |date=February 2008 |publisher=Oxford University Press |location=London |isbn=978-0-19-528777-6 |page=854}}</ref> *Strong emphasis on [[prayer]] with specific reverence for the [[Lord's Prayer]] both in its original form and as a model for all prayer; principal kinds of prayer include [[adoration]], [[praise]], [[gratitude|thanksgiving]], [[penitence]], [[oblation]], [[intercession]], and [[supplication|petition]].<ref>{{cite book |title=The Book of Common Prayer |date=February 2008 |publisher=Oxford University Press |location=New York |isbn=978-0-19-528777-6 |page=856}}</ref> *Observance of the ancient [[Church Year]] (Advent, Christmas, Easter, Lent, etc.) and the celebration of [[calendar of saints|holy days dedicated to saints]].<ref>{{cite book |title=The Book of Common Prayer |date=February 2008 |publisher=Oxford University Press |location=London |isbn=978-0-19-528777-6 |page=211}}</ref> *Belief that [[Grace in Christianity|grace]] is "God's favor toward us, unearned and undeserved," by which God "forgives our sins, enlightens our minds, stirs our hearts, and strengthens our wills," and is continually conferred to Christians through the sacraments, prayer, and worship.<ref>{{cite book |title=The Book of Common Prayer |date=February 2008 |publisher=Oxford University Press |location=New York |isbn=978-0-19-528777-6 |page=858}}</ref>

The full catechism is included in the Book of Common Prayer and is posted on the Episcopal website.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.episcopalchurch.org/visitors_10898_ENG_HTM.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110611232640/http://www.episcopalchurch.org/visitors_10898_ENG_HTM.htm|archive-date=2011-06-11|title=Visitors' Center|publisher=Episcopalchurch.org|access-date=2008-11-16}}</ref>

In practice, not all Episcopalians hold all of these beliefs, but ordained clergy are required to "solemnly engage to conform" to this doctrine.<ref>{{cite book |title=The Book of Common Prayer |publisher=Church Publishing, Inc. |location=New York |page=513}}</ref> The Episcopal Church follows the ''[[via media]]'' or "middle way" between [[Protestant]] and Roman Catholic doctrine and practices: that is both Catholic and Reformed. Although many Episcopalians identify with this concept, those whose convictions lean toward either [[evangelical Anglicanism]] or [[Anglo-Catholicism]] may not.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.episcopalchurch.org/visitors_8950_ENG_HTM.htm|title=What makes us Anglican? Hallmarks of the Episcopal Church|publisher=Episcopalchurch.org|access-date=2008-11-16|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110612013931/http://www.episcopalchurch.org/visitors_8950_ENG_HTM.htm|archive-date=2011-06-12}}</ref>

A [[broad church|broad spectrum]] of theological views is represented within the Episcopal Church. Some Episcopal members or theologians hold [[evangelical]] positions, affirming the authority of [[sola scriptura|scripture over all]]. The Episcopal Church website glossary defines the sources of authority as a balance between scripture, tradition, and reason. These three are characterized as a "three-legged stool" which will topple if any one overbalances the other. It also notes:<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20090904145347/http://www.episcopalchurch.org/19625_13797_ENG_HTM.htm Authority, Sources of (in Anglicanism)] on the Episcopal Church site, accessed on April 19, 2007, which in turn credits Church Publishing Incorporated, New York, NY, from ''An Episcopal Dictionary of the Church, A User Friendly Reference for Episcopalians,'' Don S. Armentrout and Robert Boak Slocum, editors.</ref> {{blockquote|The Anglican balancing of the sources of authority has been criticized as clumsy or "muddy." It has been associated with the Anglican affinity for seeking the mean between extremes and living the via media. It has also been associated with the Anglican willingness to tolerate and comprehend opposing viewpoints instead of imposing tests of orthodoxy or resorting to heresy trials.}} This balance of scripture, tradition and reason is traced to the work of [[Richard Hooker]], a 16th-century apologist. In Hooker's model, scripture is the primary means of arriving at doctrine and things stated plainly in scripture are accepted as true. Issues that are ambiguous are determined by tradition, which is checked by reason.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20080723214242/http://www.anglicanlistening.org/anglican_listening_61766_ENG_HTM.htm Anglican Listening] on the Episcopal Church site goes into detail on how scripture, tradition, and reason work to "uphold and critique each other in a dynamic way".</ref> Noting the role of personal experience in Christian life, some Episcopalians have advocated following the example of the [[Wesleyan Quadrilateral]] of [[Methodist]] theology by thinking in terms of a "Fourth Leg" of "experience". This understanding is highly dependent on the work of [[Friedrich Daniel Ernst Schleiermacher|Friedrich Schleiermacher]].

A public example of this struggle between different Christian positions in the church has been the 2003 consecration of [[Gene Robinson]], an openly gay man living with a long-term partner. The acceptance/rejection of his consecration is motivated by different views on the understanding of scripture.<ref>As stated in section 2.16 of [https://web.archive.org/web/20050623174848/http://www.episcopalchurch.org/documents/ToSetOurHopeOnChrist.pdf To Set Our Hope On Christ (PDF)], because "the biblical writers [...] write at different times and in different circumstances, they do not always agree with one another. [...] For example, it is helpful to know that when Ezra (chapter 10) commands the men of Israel to divorce their wives, it is because they had married foreign wives, who are seen to be a danger to Israel in exile. But there is another belief about foreign wives in the Book of Ruth, probably written at about the same time. [...] Today, in some situations, it may be faithful to follow Ezra, while in most situations it is faithful to follow Ruth."</ref> This struggle has some members concerned that the church may not continue its relationship with the larger Anglican Church. Others, however, view this pluralism as an asset, allowing a place for both sides to balance each other.

Comedian and Episcopalian [[Robin Williams]] once described the Episcopal faith (and, in a performance in London, specifically the Church of England) as "Catholic Lite – same rituals, half the guilt".<ref>''Robin Williams: Live on Broadway''</ref>

===Social positions=== ==== Abortion ==== The Episcopal Church affirms that human life is sacred "from inception until death" and opposes elective abortion. As such, the Episcopal Church condemns the use of abortion as a method of birth control, gender selection, family planning, or for "any reason of convenience". The Church acknowledges the right of women to choose to undergo the procedure "only in extreme situations". It has stated that laws prohibiting abortions fail to address the social conditions which give rise to them. The 1994 resolution establishing the Episcopal Church's position gave "unequivocal opposition to any legislative, executive or judicial action on the part of local, state or national governments that abridges the right of a woman to reach an informed decision about the termination of pregnancy or that would limit the access of a woman to safe means of acting on her decision."<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.episcopalarchives.org/cgi-bin/acts/acts_resolution.pl?resolution=1994-A054 |publisher=The Archives of the Episcopal Church |title=The Acts of Convention: Resolution #1994-A054 |access-date=21 June 2016}}</ref> In 2022, the 80th General Convention of the Episcopal Church approved a resolution calling for the protection of "abortion services and birth control with no restriction on movement, autonomy, type, or timing."<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.vbinder.net/resolutions/326?house=HD&lang=en |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220625044321/https://www.vbinder.net/resolutions/326?house=HD&lang=en |url-status=dead |archive-date=June 25, 2022 |publisher=The Episcopal Church |title=D083: Addressing the erosion of reproductive rights and autonomy |access-date=19 December 2022 }}</ref>

====Capital punishment==== Holding that human life is sacred, the Episcopal Church is opposed to [[capital punishment]]. At the 1958 General Convention, Episcopal bishops issued a public statement against the death penalty, a position which has since been reaffirmed.<ref name="Pew Research Center">{{cite web |title=Religious Groups' Official Positions on Capital Punishment |url=https://www.pewforum.org/2009/11/04/religious-groups-official-positions-on-capital-punishment/ |website=Pew Research Center: Religion & Public Life |date=November 4, 2009 |access-date=8 April 2021}}</ref>

====Climate change==== The Episcopal Church website's Creation Care Glossary of Terms defines [[climate change]] as a "crisis" consisting of "severe problems that arise as human activity increases the level of carbon dioxide and other heat-trapping gases in the atmosphere, and the world's average global temperature soars", a statement which places the church's stance on climate change in line with global [[scientific consensus on climate change|scientific consensus on the matter]]. According to the church's website glossary, the climate crisis is one of "triple urgency" resulting from "the intersection of climate change, poverty and [[social inequality|inequality]], and [[biodiversity loss]]." The church's range of advocacy areas with respect to the environment include public support for net [[carbon neutrality]], [[environmental justice]], opposition to [[environmental racism]], support for [[renewable energy]] and for setting and meeting [[sustainability]] goals, and support for workers, communities, and economies as they undergo a "[[just transition]]" toward eco-friendly policies.<ref>{{cite web |title=An Episcopal Dictionary of the Church |url=https://www.episcopalchurch.org/ministries/creation-care/eco-justice-glossary/ |website=Creation Care & Eco-Justice Glossary of Terms |access-date=21 February 2022}}</ref>

====Economic issues==== In 1991, the church's general convention recommended parity in pay and benefits between [[Clergy#Anglicanism|clergy]] and [[Laity#Anglicanism|lay]] employees in equivalent positions.<ref>General Convention [https://www.episcopalarchives.org/cgi-bin/acts/acts_resolution-complete.pl?resolution=1991-D066 Resolution 1991-D066] Support a Policy of Pay Equity in the Church and Society</ref> Several times between 1979 and 2003, the convention expressed concern over [[affordable housing]] and supported work to provide affordable housing.<ref>General Convention [https://www.episcopalarchives.org/cgi-bin/acts/acts_resolution-complete.pl?resolution=2003-D040 Resolution 2003-D040] Reaffirm Commitment to Provide Affordable Housing for the Poor</ref> In 1982 and 1997, the convention reaffirmed the church's commitment to eradicating [[poverty]] and [[malnutrition]], and challenged parishes to increase ministries to the poor.<ref>General Convention [https://www.episcopalarchives.org/cgi-bin/acts/acts_resolution-complete.pl?resolution=1997-D030 Resolution 1997-D030] Challenge Congregations to Establish Direct Ministries to the Poor</ref>

The convention urged the church in 1997 and 2000 to promote [[living wage]]s for all.<ref>General Convention [https://www.episcopalarchives.org/cgi-bin/acts/acts_resolution-complete.pl?resolution=1997-D082 Resolution 1997-D082] Urge Church-wide Promotion of the Living Wage</ref><ref>General Convention [https://www.episcopalarchives.org/cgi-bin/acts/acts_resolution-complete.pl?resolution=2000-A081 Resolution 2000-A081] Urge Bishops and Diocesan Leaders to Support the National Implementation of a Just Wage</ref> In 2003, the convention urged U.S. legislators to raise the national [[minimum wage]], and to establish a [[living wage]] with [[Health benefits (insurance)|health benefits]] as the national standard.<ref>General Convention [https://www.episcopalarchives.org/cgi-bin/acts/acts_resolution-complete.pl?resolution=2003-A130 Resolution 2003-A130] Support the Establishment of a Living Wage</ref><ref>General Convention [https://www.episcopalarchives.org/cgi-bin/acts/acts_resolution-complete.pl?resolution=2003-C030 Resolution 2003-C030] Urge Legislation to Raise the Federal Minimum Wage</ref>

====Euthanasia==== The Episcopal Church disapproves of assisted suicide and other forms of [[euthanasia]], but does teach that it is permissible to withdraw medical treatment, such as artificial nutrition and hydration, when the burden of such treatment outweighs its benefits to an individual.<ref name=PewEndofLife>{{cite web|url=http://www.pewforum.org/2013/11/21/religious-groups-views-on-end-of-life-issues/|title=Religious Groups' Views on End-of-Life Issues|publisher=[[Pew Research Center]]|date=November 21, 2013|access-date=October 28, 2014}}</ref>

====Evolution==== The Episcopal Church accepts the empirical findings of biology and does not consider the theory of [[evolution]] to be in conflict with its understanding of Holy Scripture in light of reason. In 1982, the Episcopal Church passed a resolution to "affirm its belief in the glorious ability of God to create in any manner, and in this affirmation reject the rigid dogmatism of the 'Creationist' movement." The church has also expressed skepticism toward the intelligent design movement.<ref>{{cite web |title=Religious Groups' Views on Evolution |url=https://www.pewforum.org/2009/02/04/religious-groups-views-on-evolution/ |website=Pew Research Center: Religion & Public Life |date=February 4, 2009 |access-date=6 January 2022}}</ref>

====Healthcare==== In 2020, the Episcopal Church stated that it supported [[Universal health care|universal healthcare]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Office of Government Relations |date=2020-09-28 |title=Summary of Episcopal Church Policy and Advocacy on Healthcare in the United States |url=https://www.episcopalchurch.org/ogr/summary-of-episcopal-church-policy-and-advocacy-on-healthcare-in-the-united-states/ |access-date=2025-12-08 |website=The Episcopal Church |language=en-US}}</ref>

====Marriage equality, gender, and sexuality==== The Episcopal Church opposes laws in society which discriminate against individuals because of their sex, sexual orientation, or gender expression. The Episcopal Church enforces this policy of non-discrimination; women are ordained to all levels of ministry and church leadership.<ref>{{cite web |title=Acts of Convention: Implement Mandatory Rights of Women Clergy under Canon Law, 1997-A053 |url=https://www.episcopalarchives.org/cgi-bin/acts/acts_resolution.pl?resolution=1997-A053 |website=Archives of the Episcopal Church |publisher=The Episcopal Church |access-date=22 February 2022}}</ref> The church maintains an anti-sexism taskforce.<ref>{{cite web |title=Acts of Resolution: Create an Anti-Sexism Task Force, 2018-D023 |url=https://www.episcopalarchives.org/cgi-bin/acts/acts_resolution.pl?resolution=2018-D023 |website=Archives of the Episcopal Church |publisher=The Episcopal Church |access-date=22 February 2022}}</ref> Similarly, openly gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender individuals are eligible to be ordained.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/07/15/AR2009071503697.html|newspaper=The Washington Post|title=Episcopalians in Va. Divided Over Decision Allowing Ordination of Gay Bishops|first=William|last=Wan|date=2009-07-16|access-date=2010-05-02}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/07/09/episcopal-church-transgender-ordination_n_1660465.html|title=Episcopal Church Takes Bold Step On Transgender Priests|date=2012-07-09|website=The Huffington Post|access-date=2016-05-01}}</ref> The Episcopal Church affirms that marriage is the historic Christian standard for sexual intimacy between two people but does encourage clergy and laity to maintain ministry and dialogue with "the growing number of persons entering into sexually intimate relationships other than marriage."<ref>{{cite web |title=Acts of Convention: Call for Guidance on Intimate Relationships Other Than Marriage, 2018-A087 |url=https://www.episcopalarchives.org/cgi-bin/acts/acts_resolution.pl?resolution=2018-A087 |website=The Archives of the Episcopal Church |access-date=22 February 2022}}</ref>

At its 2015 triennial general convention, the church adopted "canonical and liturgical changes to provide marriage equality for Episcopalians". The "two new marriage rites" contain language that allows "them to be used by same-sex or opposite-sex couples".<ref name="78th General Convention" /> The blessing of same-sex relationships is not uniform throughout the Episcopal Church. Following the 2015 general convention, bishops were able to determine whether churches and priests within their dioceses were permitted to use the new liturgies. Bishops who did not permit their use were to connect same-sex couples to a diocese where the liturgies were allowed.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/acts-of-faith/wp/2015/07/01/why-the-episcopal-church-is-still-debating-gay-marriage/|title=The Episcopal Church approves religious weddings for gay couples after controversial debate|newspaper=Washington Post|access-date=2016-12-11}}</ref> However, following the 2018 general convention, resolution B012 was amended to "make provision for all couples asking to be married in this church to have access to these liturgies". This effectively granted all churches and clergy, with or without the support of their bishop, the ability to perform same-sex marriages. They may, however, refuse to do so.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.episcopalchurch.org/library/article/some-same-sex-couples-will-still-face-hurdles-accessing-churchs-marriage-rites|title=Some same-sex couples will still face hurdles accessing church's marriage rites|website=The Episcopal Church|access-date=2018-12-30}}</ref> The church also opposes any state or federal constitutional amendments designed to prohibit the marriages of same-sex couples.<ref name="PewSameSex">[http://www.pewforum.org/2012/12/07/religious-groups-official-positions-on-same-sex-marriage/ "Religious Groups' Official Positions on Same-Sex Marriage"]. Pew Research Center. December 7, 2012. Accessed October 28, 2014.</ref>

In 2022, the 80th General Convention of the Episcopal Church, affirmed its position in favor of access to gender affirming care, including all forms of medical transition for people of any age, as a part of the Baptismal call to "respect the dignity of every human being."<ref name="episcopalarchives.org"/>

====Racial equality==== In 1861, [[John Henry Hopkins]] wrote a pamphlet entitled, ''[[A Scriptural, Ecclesiastical, and Historical View of Slavery]]'', attempting to give a view of slavery from his interpretation of the New Testament: he argued that slavery was not a sin per se. Rather, Hopkins argued that slavery was an institution that was objectionable and should be abrogated by agreement, not by war. ''Bishop Hopkins' Letter on Slavery Ripped Up and his Misuse of the Sacred Scriptures Exposed'', written by [[G.W. Hyer]] in 1863, opposed the points mentioned in Hopkins' pamphlet and revealed a startling divide in the Episcopal Church, as in other American churches, over the issue of slavery. It was not, however, strong enough to split the church into Northern and Southern wings even after the war, as many other denominations did. And though the church did divide into two wings during the war, Hopkins was active in re-uniting them in 1865.<ref>G.W. Hyer, Bishop Hopkins' Letter on Slavery Ripped up and His Misuse of the Sacred Scriptures Exposed by a Clergyman of the Protestant Episcopal Church (New York: John F. Trow, 1863).</ref>

The Social Gospel movement within American Christianity was a mainstay of racial justice and reconciliation activism amongst Episcopal clergy and laity alike throughout in the nineteenth and early to mid-twentieth century, it stressed a view of sin as being "more than individual" and "to be the consequence of forces of evil in human society so that salvation must involve the redemption of the social order as well as the redemption of the individual."<ref>{{cite web |title=Social Gospel |url=https://www.episcopalchurch.org/glossary/social-gospel/ |website=An Episcopal Dictionary of the Church |access-date=22 February 2022}}</ref>

In 1991, the General Convention declared "the practice of racism is sin",<ref name="GC1991-B051">{{Citation|author=The 70th General Convention of the Episcopal Church|publisher=The Archives of the Episcopal Church|url=https://www.episcopalarchives.org/cgi-bin/acts/acts_resolution-complete.pl?resolution=1991-B051|work=Acts of Convention|title=Resolution #1991-B051, Call for the Removal of Racism from the Life of the Nation|access-date=2008-10-31}}</ref> and in 2006, a unanimous House of Bishops endorsed Resolution A123 apologizing for complicity in the institution of slavery, and silence over "[[Jim Crow laws|Jim Crow]]" laws, segregation, and racial discrimination.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.livingchurch.org/publishertlc/viewarticle.asp?ID=2189|title=Bishops Endorse Apology for Slavery Complicity|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071013164059/http://livingchurch.org/publishertlc/viewarticle.asp?ID=2189|archive-date=2007-10-13}}</ref> In 2018, following the [[Unite the Right rally|white nationalist rally in Charlottesville]], then-Presiding Bishop Michael B. Curry said that "the stain of bigotry has once again covered our land" and called on Episcopalians to choose "organized love intent on creating God's beloved community on Earth" rather than hate.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.episcopalnewsservice.org/2017/08/17/presiding-bishop-reflects-on-charlottesville-and-its-aftermath/|title=Presiding Bishop reflects on Charlottesville and its aftermath|date=2017-08-17|work=Episcopal News Service|access-date=2018-09-05}}</ref>

In April 2021, the Episcopal Church released the findings of a racial justice audit after three years of study, it cited nine areas of needed improvement within the church regarding [[systemic racism]].<ref>{{cite web |last1=Paulsen |first1=David |title=Episcopal Church releases racial audit of leadership, citing nine patterns of racism in church culture |url=https://www.episcopalnewsservice.org/2021/04/19/episcopal-church-releases-racial-audit-of-leadership-citing-nine-patterns-of-racism-in-church-culture/ |website=Episcopal News Service |date=April 19, 2021 |access-date=22 February 2022}}</ref>

In May 2025, the Episcopal Church announced that they would be terminating their participation in the [[United States Refugee Admissions Program]], as they were morally opposed to resettling white [[Afrikaners]] that the [[Second presidency of Donald Trump|Donald Trump administration]] was bringing into the country.<ref name="rns-12may2025">{{cite news |last1=Jenkins |first1=Jack |title=Episcopal Church refuses to resettle white Afrikaners, ends partnership with US government |url=https://religionnews.com/2025/05/12/episcopal-church-ends-refugee-resettlement-citing-moral-opposition-to-resettling-white-afrikaners/ |access-date=May 12, 2025 |work=[[Religion News Service]] |date=May 12, 2025}}</ref><ref name="ap-12may2025">{{cite news |last1=Smith |first1=Peter |title=Episcopal Church says it won't help resettle white South Africans granted refugee status in US |url=https://apnews.com/article/south-africa-refugees-white-afrikaners-us-trump-52024f6d86fca76cfe7460a9f9bc6110 |access-date=May 13, 2025 |work=[[Associated Press]] |date=May 12, 2025}}</ref>

====Vaccinations==== The Episcopal Church "recognizes no claim of theological or religious exemption from vaccination for our members and reiterates the spirit of General Convention policies that Episcopalians should seek the counsel of experienced medical professionals, scientific research, and epidemiological evidence", while similarly condemning the "spreading of fraudulent research that suggested vaccines might cause harm." In a similar vein, the church has expressed "grave concern and sorrow for the recent rise in easily preventable diseases due to anti-vaccination movements which have harmed thousands of children and adults." The Episcopal Church has endorsed stronger government mandates for vaccinations and has characterized the choice to be inoculated as "a duty not only to our own selves and families but to our communities", while describing the choice to not vaccinate, when it is medically safe to do so, as a decision which "threatens the lives of others."<ref>{{cite web |title=Advocacy for Stronger Governmental Vaccination Mandates, EXC062019.12 |url=https://www.episcopalarchives.org/cgi-bin/executive_council/EXCresolution.pl?exc_id=EXC062019.12 |website=The Archives of the Episcopal Church |access-date=21 February 2022}}</ref>

==Agencies and programs== The Society for the Increase of the Ministry (SIM) is the only organization raising funds on a national basis for Episcopal seminarian support. SIM's founding purpose in 1857 – "to find suitable persons for the Episcopal ministry and aid them in acquiring a thorough education". SIM has awarded scholarships to qualified full-time seminary students.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.simministry.org|title=The Society for the Increase of the Ministry – Investing in the future ordained leaders of The Episcopal Church since 1857|author=designthemes|work=simministry.org}}</ref>

[[Episcopal Relief & Development]] is the international relief and development agency of the Episcopal Church in the United States. It helps to rebuild after disasters and aims to empower people by offering lasting solutions that fight poverty, hunger and disease. Episcopal Relief and Development programs focus on alleviating hunger, improving food supply, creating economic opportunities, strengthening communities, promoting health, fighting disease, responding to disasters, and rebuilding communities.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.er-d.org/|title=Episcopal Relief & Development|publisher=Er-d.org|access-date=2010-11-28}}</ref>

There are about 60 trust funds administered by the Episcopal Church which offer scholarships to young people affiliated with the church. Qualifying considerations often relate to historical missionary work of the church among Native Americans and African-Americans, as well as work in China and other foreign missions.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.episcopalchurch.org/109539_110675_ENG_HTM.htm |title=Young Adults |website=The Episcopal Church |access-date=August 19, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110702204410/http://www.episcopalchurch.org/109539_110675_ENG_HTM.htm |archive-date=2 July 2011}}</ref><ref>{{citation |title= Scholarship Trust Funds |url=http://www.episcopalchurch.org/documents/ScholarshipTrustFunds121609.pdf |access-date=August 19, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111107024727/http://www.episcopalchurch.org/documents/ScholarshipTrustFunds121609.pdf |archive-date=7 November 2011}}</ref> There are special programs for both Native Americans<ref>{{cite web |title=The Indigenous Theological Training Institute |website=The Episcopal Church |url=http://www.episcopalchurch.org/109407_111434_ENG_HTM.htm |access-date=August 19, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111107030143/http://www.episcopalchurch.org/109407_111434_ENG_HTM.htm |archive-date=7 November 2011 }}</ref> and African-Americans<ref>{{cite web |title=Office of Black Ministries |url=http://www.episcopalchurch.org/109403_3941_ENG_HTM.htm |website=The Episcopal Church |access-date=August 19, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110611204451/http://www.episcopalchurch.org/109403_3941_ENG_HTM.htm |archive-date=11 June 2011}}</ref> interested in training for the ministry.

There are three [[historical societies]] of [[American Anglicanism|American Episcopalianism]]: [[Historical Society of the Episcopal Church]], the [[National Episcopal Historians and Archivists]] (NEHA), and the Episcopal Women's History Project.{{citation needed|date=February 2013}}<ref>{{Cite web |date=28 May 2022 |title=Historical Society of the Episcopal Church – TriHistory Conference |url=https://hsec.us/tri-history}}</ref>

Church Publishing Incorporated (Church Publishing Inc., CPI) began as the Church Hymnal Corporation in 1918, dedicated initially to publishing a single work, ''The Hymnal'' 1918, which still remains in print. It is the official publisher for the [[General Convention of the Episcopal Church in the United States]].{{citation needed|date=April 2020}} Imprints include Church Publishing, Morehouse Publishing (independently founded in 1884) and Seabury Books (the "trade" imprint).<ref name="ChurchPublishing">{{cite web | url=https://www.churchpublishing.org/footer-pages/churchpublishinginc/ | title=Church Publishing Inc. | work=ChurchPublishing.org | access-date=September 30, 2016}}</ref>

==Ecumenical relations== {{More citations needed section|date=April 2015}}

=== Full communion === Under the leadership of [[Lutheran]] bishop [[Jesper Swedberg]], parishes in colonial America that belonged to the Evangelical Lutheran [[Church of Sweden]] established [[ecumenism|ecumenical dialogue]] that resulted in [[altar and pulpit fellowship]] with the Episcopal Church in the 1700s, which led to a merger of all of the Swedish Lutheran churches there into the Episcopal Church by 1846.<ref name="n29_p13-16"/> The Episcopal Church entered into a full communion agreement with the Church of Sweden at its General Convention in [[Salt Lake City]] on June 28, 2015.

Like the other churches of the Anglican Communion, the Episcopal Church has entered into [[full communion]] with the [[Old Catholic Church]]es of the [[Union of Utrecht (Old Catholic)|Union of Utrecht]], the [[Philippine Independent Church]], and the [[Mar Thoma Syrian Church of Malabar]]. The Episcopal Church is also in a relationship of full communion with the [[Evangelical Lutheran Church in America]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.episcopalchurch.org/6947_9255_ENG_HTM.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091125063815/http://www.episcopalchurch.org/6947_9255_ENG_HTM.htm|archive-date=2009-11-25|title=Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (2001)|publisher=Office of Ecumenical & Interreligious Relations of The Episcopal Church|year=2001|access-date=2009-10-06}}</ref> and the Northern and Southern Provinces of the [[Moravian Church in America]].<ref>{{cite web|last1=Schjonberg|first1=Mary Frances|title=Moravian Church's Southern Province enters full communion with Episcopal Church|url=http://episcopalchurch.org/79425_124442_ENG_HTM.htm|website=Episcopal Life Online|access-date=11 September 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111028025418/http://www.episcopalchurch.org/79425_124442_ENG_HTM.htm|archive-date=28 October 2011|date=10 September 2010}}</ref>

In 2006 a relation of interim Eucharistic sharing was inaugurated with the [[United Methodist Church]], a step that may ultimately lead to full communion. In 2024, the United Methodist Church's General Conference approved full communion with the Episcopal Church, effective upon mutual approval by the General Convention, which is scheduled for as early as 2027.<ref>{{Cite web |title=April 30 wrap-up: Some LGBTQ bans lifted, Episcopal communion approved |url=https://www.umnews.org/en/news/april-30-wrap-up-some-lgbtq-bans-lifted-episcopal-communion-approved |access-date=2024-05-01 |website=United Methodist News Service |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Full communion with Episcopalians gets closer |url=https://www.umnews.org/en/news/full-communion-with-episcopalians-gets-closer |access-date=2024-05-01 |website=United Methodist News Service |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Woerman |first=Melodie |date=2024-05-01 |title=Full communion between Methodists, Episcopalians gets closer |url=https://episcopalnewsservice.org/2024/05/01/full-communion-between-methodists-episcopalians-gets-closer/?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR2W3DFclhm6-27n5j1X1rLRDpzqaA-Xv8HFeCCsQcGYQ_MJEsIAIv4VNx8_aem_AbVtDP3poFvYm_JVNW3TdOSCcgxJ81dm6gtGkrFxwBOQ4978mz43wuwfdcvjpJ6QrWVB7HK5RRZ-GamAVGtEIx47 |access-date=2024-05-06 |website=Episcopal News Service |language=en-US}}</ref>

In 2025, the Episcopal Church entered into full communion with the [[Evangelical Lutheran Church in Bavaria]].<ref>{{cite news |last1=Wilson |first1=Lynette |title=Episcopal and Bavarian Lutheran churches sign full-communion agreement |url=https://episcopalnewsservice.org/2025/06/09/episcopal-and-bavarian-lutheran-churches-sign-full-communion-agreement/ |access-date=30 June 2025 |agency=Episcopal News Service |date=9 June 2025}}</ref> The Evangelical Lutheran Church in Bavaria is a member church of the [[Evangelical Lutheran Church in Germany]], a federation of 20 independent Christian denominations in Germany. This agreement was authorized by the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Bavaria's synod in 2022 and by the Episcopal Church's General Convention in 2024. The full communion agreement is titled "Sharing the Gifts of Communion (Augsburg Agreement)."

=== Other ecumenical relations === The Episcopal Church maintains ecumenical dialogues with the [[United Methodist Church]], the [[Presbyterian Church (USA)]]<ref>{{Cite web |title=Presbyterian-Episcopal Dialogue |url=https://www.episcopalchurch.org/ministries/ecumenical-interreligious/presbyterian-episcopal-dialogue/ |access-date=2024-05-06 |website=The Episcopal Church |language=en-US}}</ref> and the Moravian Church in America, and participates in pan-Anglican dialogues with the [[Oriental Orthodox|Oriental Orthodox Churches]], the [[World Alliance of Reformed Churches]], and the Roman Catholic Church.

Historically Anglican churches have had strong ecumenical ties with the [[Eastern Orthodox|Eastern Orthodox Churches]], and the Episcopal Church particularly with the [[Russian Orthodox Church]], but relations in more recent years have been strained by the [[ordination of women]] and the consecration of [[Gene Robinson]], an openly homosexual priest, to the episcopate. A former relation of full communion with the [[Polish National Catholic Church]] (once a part of the [[Utrecht Union|Union of Utrecht]]) was broken off by the PNCC in 1976 over the ordination of women.

The Episcopal Church was a founding member of the [[Consultation on Church Union]] and participates in its successor, [[Churches Uniting in Christ]]. The Episcopal Church is a founding member of the [[National Council of Churches]], the [[World Council of Churches]], and the new [[Christian Churches Together|Christian Churches Together in the USA]]. Dioceses and parishes are frequently members of local ecumenical councils as well.

==See also== {{Portal bar|Christianity|United States}} * [[Christianity in the United States]] * [[Episcopal Youth Community]] * [[Anglican religious order|Anglican Religious Orders]] * [[List of bishops of the Episcopal Church in the United States of America|Historical List of bishops of the Episcopal Church in the United States of America]] * [[List of colleges and seminaries affiliated with the Episcopal Church]] * [[List of Episcopal bishops of the United States]] * [[List of the Episcopal cathedrals of the United States]] * [[Protestantism in the United States]]

==Notes== {{notelist}}

==References== {{Reflist}}

===Sources=== {{Refbegin|30em|indent=yes}} *{{cite book |last=Adams |first=Elizabeth |year=2006 |title=Going to Heaven: The Life and Election of Bishop Gene Robinson |publisher=Soft Skull Press |location=Brooklyn, New York |isbn=978-1-933368-22-1 }} *{{cite book |last=Baltzell |first=E. Digby |author-link=E. Digby Baltzell |year=1964 |title=The Protestant Establishment: Aristocracy and Caste in America |url=https://archive.org/details/protestantestabl00baltrich |url-access=registration |location=New York |publisher=Random House }} *{{cite book |last=Bourgeois |first=Michael |year=2004 |title=All Things Human: Henry Codman Potter and the Social Gospel in the Episcopal Church |series=Studies in Anglican History |location=Urbana |publisher=University of Illinois Press |isbn=978-0-252-02877-9 }} *{{cite book |last=Butler |first=Diana Hochstedt |author-link=Diana Butler Bass |year=1995 |title=Standing Against the Whirlwind: Evangelical Episcopalians in Nineteenth-Century America |series=Religion in America |location=New York |publisher=Oxford University Press |isbn=978-0-19-508542-6 }} *{{cite book |last=Bell |first=James B. |year=2008 |title=A War of Religion: Dissenters, Anglicans, and the American Revolution |publisher=Palgrave Macmillan |location=Basingstoke, England |isbn=978-0-230-54297-6 }} *{{cite journal |last=Clark |first=Jennifer |year=1994 |title='Church of Our Fathers': The Development of the Protestant Episcopal Church Within the Changing Post-Revolutionary Anglo-American Relationship |journal=Journal of Religious History |volume=18 |issue=1 |pages=27–51 |doi=10.1111/j.1467-9809.1994.tb00225.x }} *{{cite journal |last1=Davidson |first1=James D. |last2=Pyle |first2=Ralph E. |last3=Reyes |first3=David V. |year=1995 |title=Persistence and Change in the Protestant Establishment, 1930–1992 |journal=Social Forces |volume=74 |issue=1 |pages=157–175 |doi=10.1093/sf/74.1.157 |jstor=2580627 }} *{{cite book |last=Douglas |first=Ian T. |author-link=Ian Douglas (bishop) |year=2005 |chapter=Anglican Mission in Changing Times: A Brief Institutional History of the Episcopal Church, USA |editor-last=Roozen |editor-first=David A. |editor2-last=Nieman |editor2-first=James R. |title=Church, Identity, and Change: Theology and Denominational Structures in Unsettled Times |location=Grand Rapids, Michigan |publisher=Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co. |pages=188–197 |isbn=978-0-8028-2819-4 }} *{{cite book |last=Frum |first=David |author-link=David Frum |year=2000 |title=How We Got Here: The '70s |location=New York City |publisher=Basic Books |isbn=978-0-465-04195-4 |url=https://archive.org/details/howwegothere70sd00frum }} *{{cite journal |last=Hacker |first=Andrew |year=1957 |title=Liberal Democracy and Social Control |journal=American Political Science Review |volume=51 |issue=4 |pages=1009–1026 |doi=10.2307/1952449 |jstor=1952449 |s2cid=146933599 }} *{{cite book |last1=Hein |first1=David |last2=Shattuck |first2=Gardiner H Jr. |year=2004 |title=The Episcopalians |location=New York |publisher=Church Publishing |isbn=978-0-89869-497-0 }} *{{cite journal |last=Mason |first=Lockert B. |year=1990 |title=Separation and Reunion of the Episcopal Church, 1860–1865: The Role of Bishop Thomas Atkinson |journal=Anglican and Episcopal History |volume=59 |issue=3 |pages=345–365 |jstor=42610426 }} *{{cite book |last=Piepkorn |first=Arthur Carl |year=1977 |title=Profiles in Belief: The Religious Bodies of the United States and Canada |location=New York |publisher=Harper & Row |isbn=978-0-06-066580-7 |url=https://archive.org/details/profilesinbelief00piep }} *{{cite journal |last=Podmore |first=Colin |year=2008 |title=A Tale of Two Churches: The Ecclesiologies of The Episcopal Church and the Church of England Compared |journal=International Journal for the Study of the Christian Church |volume=8 |issue=2 |pages=124–154 |doi=10.1080/14742250801930822 |s2cid=214652376 }} *{{cite journal |last=Reeder |first=Kathleen E. |year=2006 |title=Whose Church Is It, Anyway? Property Disputes and Episcopal Church Splits |journal=Columbia Journal of Law and Social Problems |volume=40 |issue=2 |pages=125–171 }} *{{cite book |last=Swatos |first=William H Jr. |year=2005 |chapter=A Primacy of Systems: Confederation, Cooperation, and Communion |editor-last=Roozen |editor-first=David A. |editor2-last=Nieman |editor2-first=James R. |title=Church, Identity, and Change: Theology and Denominational Structures in Unsettled Times |location=Grand Rapids, Michigan |publisher=Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co. |pages=198–226 |isbn=978-0-8028-2819-4 }} *{{cite book |last=Sydnor |first=William |year=1980 |title=Looking at the Episcopal Church |publisher=Morehouse Publishing |isbn=978-0-8192-1279-5 |url=https://archive.org/details/lookingatepiscop00sydn }} *{{cite book | last = Webber | first = Christopher L. | title = Welcome to the Episcopal Church: An Introduction to Its History, Faith, and Worship | publisher = Morehouse Publishing | year = 1999 | url = https://books.google.com/books?id=zcAverD84rEC | isbn = 978-0-8192-1820-9 }} *{{cite journal |last=Williams |first=Peter W. |year=2006 |title=The Gospel of Wealth and the Gospel of Art: Episcopalians and Cultural Philanthropy from the Gilded Age to the Depression |journal=Anglican and Episcopal History |volume=75 |issue=2 |pages=170–223 |jstor=42612970 }} *{{cite book |last=Zahl |first=Paul F. M. |year=1998 |title=The Protestant Face of Anglicanism |location=Grand Rapids, Michigan |publisher=Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co. |isbn=978-0-8028-4597-9 }} {{Refend}}

==Further reading== {{Refbegin|30em}} * {{cite journal |date=19 May 2006 |title=Episcopalian Crisis: Authority, Homosexuality & the Future of Anglicanism |url=http://www.commonwealmagazine.org/article.php?id_article=1647 |journal=Commonweal |volume=133 |issue=10 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071020075038/http://www.commonwealmagazine.org/article.php?id_article=1647 |archive-date=20 October 2007 |access-date=December 19, 2006 |last1=Seltser |first1=Barry Jay}} An essay on Hooker and the present discontents.

* Goldberg, David M. "Drink Ye All of This." Anglican and Episcopal History 89.1 (2020): 1-26, on opposition to prohibition laws; [https://hsec.us/resources/Documents/Burr%20Recipients%20Articles/Drink%20Ye%20All%20of%20This%20The%20Episcopal%20Church%20and%20the%20Temprance%20Movement%20AEH%202020V89N1.pdf online] * "The Forgotten Evangelicals: Virginia Episcopalians, 1790–1876". Waukechon, John Frank. ''Dissertation Abstracts International,'' 2001, Vol. 61 Issue 8, pp 3322–3322 * {{cite journal |last=Tarter |first=Brent |year=2004 |title=Reflections on the Church of England in Colonial Virginia |journal=[[Virginia Magazine of History and Biography]] |volume=112 |issue=4 |pages=338–371 |jstor=4250211}} * ''Noble Powell and the Episcopal Establishment in the Twentieth Century''. Hein, David. (2001, 2007). Urbana: University of Illinois Press; paperback reprint, Eugene, Ore.: Wipf & Stock. * {{cite book |title=Episcopalians and Race: Civil War to Civil Rights |publisher=University Press of Kentucky |year=2000 |isbn=978-0-8131-2149-9 |series=Religion in the South |location=Lexington |last1=Shattuck |first1=Gardiner H Jr.}} {{refend}}

===Reference works=== * ''[[Anglican & Episcopal History]]''—[https://web.archive.org/web/20120719091010/http://www.hsec.us/anglican-episcopal-history The Journal of the Historical Society of the Episcopal Church] (articles, church reviews, and book reviews). * Articles on leading Episcopalians, both lay (e.g., [[George Washington]], [[Franklin D. Roosevelt]], [[Frances Perkins]]) and ordained, in ''American National Biography''. (1999). Edited by John A. Garraty and Mark C. Carnes. New York: Oxford Univ. Press. Also 100 biographical articles in Hein and Shattuck, ''The Episcopalians'': see below. * ''A Brief History of the Episcopal Church''. Holmes, David L. (1993). Harrisburg, Pennsylvania: Trinity Press International. * ''A Dictionary for Episcopalians''. Wall, John N. (2000). Boston, Massachusetts: Cowley Publications. * ''Documents of Witness: A History of the Episcopal Church, 1782–1985''. Armentrout, Don S., & Slocum, Robert Boak. (1994). New York: Church Hymnal Corporation. * ''Readings from the History of the Episcopal Church''. Prichard, Robert W. (Ed.). (1986). Wilton, Connecticut: Morehouse-Barlow. * '' An Episcopal Dictionary of the Church: A User Friendly Reference for Episcopalians''. Armentrout, Don S., & Slocum, Robert Boak. (Eds.). ([1999]). New York: Church Publishing Incorporated. * ''The History of the Episcopal Church in America, 1607–1991: A Bibliography''. Caldwell, Sandra M., & Caldwell, Ronald J. (1993). New York: Garland Publishing. * ''Historical Dictionary of Anglicanism'' by Colin Buchanan; (2nd ed. 2015) [https://www.amazon.com/Historical-Dictionary-Anglicanism-Dictionaries-Philosophies/dp/1442250151 excerpt] * Mullin, Robert Bruce. "Trends in the Study of the History of the Episcopal Church," ''Anglican and Episcopal History,'' June 2003, Vol. 72 Issue 2, pp. 153–165, historiography

==External links== * {{Official website}} * [https://www.churchpublishing.org/ Church Publishing, Inc.] * [https://www.thearda.com/us-religion/group-profiles/groups?D=295 Profile on the Association of Religion Data Archives website] * {{cite EB1911 |wstitle=Protestant Episcopal Church |volume=22 |pages=473–475 |first=Daniel Dulany |last=Addison |short=1}}

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