{"id":297,"date":"2019-03-26T16:35:49","date_gmt":"2019-03-26T20:35:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/stpauljxmi.org\/?page_id=297"},"modified":"2023-07-07T13:27:02","modified_gmt":"2023-07-07T17:27:02","slug":"episcopal-101","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/stpaulsjxn.org\/episcopal-101\/","title":{"rendered":"Episcopal 101"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\n\t<h3><strong>FAQ&#8217;s:<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p>Here you will find answers to such questions as:.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>What does it mean to be Episcopalian?<\/li>\n<li>What do Episcopalians believe?<\/li>\n<li>How is the Episcopal Church organized?<\/li>\n<li>What can I expect when I come to worship at St. Paul&#8217;s?<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>This section provides answers to many frequently asked questions and is designed for old Episcopalians and newcomers alike. All families have their own traditions and the Episcopal Church is no different. However, if you have ever spent a holiday with a friend, you may understand how lost and perhaps uncomfortable you can feel when out of your own &#8220;traditional&#8221; element.<\/p>\n<p>We want everyone to feel comfortable and welcome. As such, we wanted to make a place for you to find information about the theology, practices and traditions of the Episcopal Church.<\/p>\n<h3><strong>Contents<\/strong><\/h3>\n1 Holy Baptism<br \/>\n2 Baptismal Covenant<br \/>\n3 The Bible<br \/>\n4 Christ-Focused<br \/>\n5 Holy Communion<br \/>\n6 The Episcopal Church Seal<br \/>\n7 The Church Year<br \/>\n8 Confirmation, Reaffirmation, and Reception in the Episcopal Church<br \/>\n9 How Does A Bishop Become A Bishop?<br \/>\n10 History Of The Episcopal Church\n<p><strong>Holy Baptism <\/strong><\/p>\n<p>&#8220;Holy Baptism is full initiation by water and the Holy Spirit into Christ&#8217;s Body, the Church.&#8221; In the waters of baptism, we are reminded that we belong to God and nothing can separate us from the love of God. We also find ourselves part of an extended family, one with Christians throughout the ages and across the world, what we call the &#8220;one, holy, catholic [meaning &#8216;universal&#8217;], and apostolic Church.&#8221;<\/p>\n<strong>Baptismal Covenant <\/strong><br \/>\nA mini catechism used at baptisms and on Easter and other special occasions, the Baptismal Covenant opens with a question-and-answer version of the statement of faith that is the Apostles&#8217; Creed and adds five questions regarding how we, as Christians, are called to live out our faith.\n<p><strong>The Baptismal Covenant (words in italics are spoken by the priest) <\/strong><\/p>\n<em>Do you believe in God the Father? <\/em><br \/>\nI believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth.\n<em>Do you believe in Jesus Christ, the Son of God?<\/em><br \/>\nI believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord. He was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary. He suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried. He descended to the dead. On the third day he rose again. He ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again to judge the living and the dead.\n<em>Do you believe in God the Holy Spirit? <\/em><br \/>\nI believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting.\n<em>Will you continue in the apostles&#8217; teaching and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in the prayers? <\/em><br \/>\nI will, with God&#8217;s help.\n<em>Will you persevere in resisting evil, and, whenever you fall into sin, repent and return to the Lord?<\/em><br \/>\nI will, with God&#8217;s help.\n<em>Will you proclaim by word and example the Good News of God in Christ? <\/em><br \/>\nI will, with God&#8217;s help.\n<em>Will you seek and serve Christ in all persons, loving your neighbor as yourself?<\/em><br \/>\nI will, with God&#8217;s help.\n<em>Will you strive for justice and peace among all people, and respect the dignity of every human being? <\/em><br \/>\nI will, with God&#8217;s help.\n<strong>The Bible <\/strong><br \/>\nThe Bible is our foundation, understood through tradition and reason, containing all things necessary for salvation. Our worship is filled with Scripture from beginning to end.\n<p>The Episcopal Church takes reading the Bible very seriously. Approximately 70% of the Book of Common Prayer comes directly from the Bible, and Episcopalians read more Holy Scripture in Sunday worship than almost any other denomination in Christianity. The Bible Challenge, sponsored by the Center for Biblical Studies, helps individuals and parishes set goals to read the entire Bible, to receive its comfort, strength, wisdom, and guidance, and to gain a deeper understanding of how God has worked, and continues to work.<\/p>\n<p>The Episcopal Church has authorized the use of the following translations of the Bible:<\/p>\nKing James or Authorized Version (the historic Bible of The Episcopal Church)<br \/>\nEnglish Revision (1881)<br \/>\nAmerican Revision (1901)<br \/>\nRevised Standard Version (1952)<br \/>\nJerusalem Bible (1966)<br \/>\nNew English Bible with the Apocrypha (1970)<br \/>\nGood News Bible \/ Today&#8217;s English Version (1976)<br \/>\nNew American Bible (1970)<br \/>\nRevised Standard Version, an Ecumenical Edition (1973)<br \/>\nNew International Version (1978)<br \/>\nNew Jerusalem Bible (1987)<br \/>\nRevised English Bible (1989)<br \/>\nNew Revised Standard Version (1990)\n<strong>Christ-Focused <\/strong><br \/>\nAs Episcopalians, we are followers of Jesus Christ, and both our worship and our mission are in Christ&#8217;s name. In Jesus, we find that the nature of God is love, and through baptism, we share in his victory over sin and death.\n<strong>Holy Communion <\/strong><br \/>\nIn our tradition, Holy Communion goes by several names: Holy Communion, the Eucharist (which literally means &#8220;thanksgiving&#8221;), mass. But whatever it&#8217;s called, this is the family meal for<br \/>\nChristians and a foretaste of the heavenly banquet. As such, all persons who have been baptized, and are therefore part of the extended family that is the Church, are welcome to receive the bread and wine, and be in communion with God and each other.\n<strong>The Episcopal Church Seal<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/stpaulsjxn.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/Episcopal-Shield.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"213\" height=\"266\" \/><\/strong><br \/>\nThe Episcopal Church Seal, visible on many roadways in the United States to indicate the presence of an Episcopal Church, was officially adopted by the General Convention of 1940.\n<p>The seal has the same basic design as the Episcopal flag. The colors of both signify fidelity (blue), the blood of martyrs (red) and purity (white). A red St. George&#8217;s cross in the center divides the seal into four sections, three white and one blue.<\/p>\n<p>The nine crosslets in the upper-left blue section of the seal together create a St. Andrew&#8217;s cross.<\/p>\n<p>Since St. George is the patron saint of England and St. Andrew the patron saint of Scotland, the seal becomes a visual image of the heritage of the Episcopal Church. The first American Bishop, Samuel Seabury, received apostolic consecration from the Episcopal Church of Scotland after the American Revolution.<\/p>\n<p>The nine crosslets in the seal represent the nine original dioceses that met in 1789 to form the Protestant Episcopal Church in the United States of America&#8211;Connecticut, Delaware, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, South Carolina and Virginia.<\/p>\n<strong>The Church Year <\/strong><br \/>\nOne way the Church tells the story of God&#8217;s redemptive activity in the world is by its calendar. Within the cycle of a year, she unfolds the whole mystery of Christ. Recalling thus the mysteries of redemption, the Church opens to the faithful the riches of her Lord&#8217;s powers and mercies, so that they are in some way made present at all times, and the faithful are enabled to lay hold of them and become filled with saving grace.\n<p>Over the centuries, certain festivals and the seasons surrounding them have been established. The events celebrated did not necessarily occur on these dates; rather the dates have evolved to shape the whole year into a pattern of recollection. These patterns of worship provide a yearly cycle through which we remember our story and deepen our understanding of its meaning for us.<\/p>\n<p>The lectionary is not a chronological approach to reading the Bible, nor is it a book-by-book approach. Each week the scripture readings are closely linked to the seasons of the Church&#8217;s life cycle, its liturgical calendar. In the first half of the Church year, we follow the major events of the life of Jesus, including his birth, death, resurrection and the birth of the Church, and in the second half we study Jesus&#8217; actions and teachings.<\/p>\n<p>In addition, the lectionary provides an opportunity to remember great persons in Church history on saints&#8217; days and to celebrate special events in the life of a parish, such as confirmation. Throughout the year, scriptures have been chosen for their appropriateness for the occasions on which they are read.<\/p>\n<p>The repetitive nature of the three-year lectionary cycle means that catechists need not feel compelled to present all there is to know about any given reading in a particular session. The growing child, the questioning adolescent and the maturing adult will each encounter these scriptures again and again at progressive stages of understanding.<\/p>\n<p>The Church year is anchored by two important segments. The first is Advent-Christmas- Epiphany and the second is Lent -Holy Week-Easter. Both segments describe a passage from dark to light.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/stpaulsjxn.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/Church-Calendar.gif\" alt=\"\" width=\"500\" height=\"323\" \/><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><strong>Confirmation, Reaffirmation, and Reception in the Episcopal Church<\/strong><\/p>\n<strong>What is Confirmation? <\/strong><br \/>\nConfirmation is a pastoral rite in The Episcopal Church, which means it is not a rite that notes some fuller initiation into the Church, the Body of Christ. A person is a full member of the Church through Baptism. Confirmation, as defined in The Book of Common Prayer is &#8220;a mature public affirmation of faith and commitment to the responsibilities of Baptism.&#8221; At Confirmation, an individual receives the laying on of hands by the bishop, thereby affirming their own faith and visibly connecting to the broader Body of Christ.\n<p><strong>What is the difference between Confirmation, Reaffirmation, and Reception? <\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Confirmation is &#8220;a mature and public affirmation of faith and commitment to the responsibilities of Baptism&#8221; (BCP). Reaffirmation means that you choose to re-state your commitment to Christ in The Episcopal Church, honoring your growth in faith throughout your spiritual journey. For many people, their path has wandered in and out of various denominations. Reaffirmation is a way to honor their journey and their previous public commitment as an adult while also making this definitive sacramental gesture. Reception is common for people who have been active throughout their lives in other denominations. Often, individuals who made a public profession of faith in a faith tradition such as the Baptist Church will choose to be Received into The Episcopal Church.<\/p>\n<p><strong>&#8220;I was baptized as an infant in another denomination. Should I be confirmed in the Episcopal Church?&#8221; <\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Yes, because you have not made a mature affirmation of the faith. Your Baptism, once registered in the parish office, makes you a full member of The Episcopal Church. In terms of the sacraments, Confirmation is a way for you to reaffirm your faith and remain deeply connected to the Baptism of your childhood.<\/p>\n<p><strong>&#8220;I was baptized as an adult in another denomination. Should I be received in The Episcopal Church?&#8221; <\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Yes. Since Confirmation is a &#8220;mature and public affirmation,&#8221; it is redundant for you to make another mature and public affirmation; you made such an affirmation at your Baptism. And, The Episcopal Church honors your commitment to faith. Reception would mean that the bishop publicly recognizes the faith that has been present in your life, and you would be formally welcomed into The Episcopal Church through the laying on of hands. You may want to consider Reaffirmation if you feel your faith has grown substantially in the past few years. Remember that Confirmation is a pastoral rite of the Church, so its sacramental nature should connect with your present relationship with God.<\/p>\n<p><strong>What is the meaning of the bishop laying hands on those who are confirmed, reaffirmed, or received?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>The bishop is the individual who, symbolically, represents the unity of the entire diocese. The basic &#8220;unit&#8221; of The Episcopal Church is the diocese, and the bishop as a person is a visible means of reminding us of our common bond in Christ within The Episcopal Church. When the bishop lays hands on your head during the service, it is a very tangible way for you to experience your own faith journey being welcomed into the larger journey of the Body of Christ. For many people, this portion of the sacramental service is very meaningful. A sacrament is &#8220;an outward and visible sign of an inward and spiritual grace, given by Christ as sure and certain means by which we receive that grace.&#8221; In this way, the touch experienced in the laying on of hands forever remains in your memory as an experience of grace through the Church.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Am I a &#8220;full member&#8221; of The Episcopal Church without being confirmed? <\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Yes. The Book of Common Prayer defines Baptism as &#8220;full initiation by water and the Holy Spirit into Christ&#8217;s Body the Church. The bond which God establishes in Baptism is indissoluble.&#8221; Confirmation is a pastoral rite not in an initiatory rite. This means that the sacramental nature of confirmation connects with our growth in faith and in relationship with God. Through Holy Baptism, we join Christ&#8217;s Body, either as infants or adults.<\/p>\n<p><strong> Is confirmation ever required to participate in certain aspects of the Episcopal Church?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Yes. God may call some individuals, through the Church, into positions of guidance and leadership. For example, The Canons of The Episcopal Church state that Confirmation is required for certain leadership positions, such as Vestry members, and for some service positions such as Eucharistic Visitors, but this in no way precludes an unconfirmed individual from being considered a full member of the Body of Christ. Confirmation, in cases of leadership and guidance, emphasizes one&#8217;s public affirmation of faith within the tradition of The Episcopal Church.<\/p>\n<p><strong>How Does A Bishop Become A Bishop? <\/strong><\/p>\n<p>While bishops in the Episcopal Church are elected on the local level, they are not approved to serve as bishops until after the completion of a consent process by the leaders of the rest of the church. Ordination may take place only after these consents have been received. Generally, the process for electing bishops in the dioceses of the Episcopal Church is the same, whether the election calls for a bishop diocesan (who has jurisdiction over a diocese), a coadjutor (who will succeed a sitting bishop diocesan upon the latter&#8217;s retirement or resignation) or a bishop suffragan (who is elected to assist the bishop diocesan).<\/p>\n<p>After a process of discernment within the diocese, in which a selection of candidates is presented to the diocese, usually by a representative committee, an election is conducted on an appointed date. Upon election, the successful candidate is a bishop-elect. Following some procedural matters, including examinations, formal notices are then sent to bishops with jurisdiction (diocesan bishops only) with separate notices to the standing committee of each of the 110 dioceses in the Episcopal Church. These notices require their own actions and signatures. (Special procedures are used for elections that take place just before a meeting of General Convention.) It&#8217;s at this point that time starts ticking.<\/p>\n<p>In order for a bishop-elect to become a bishop, Canon III.11.4 (a) of the Episcopal Church mandates that a majority of diocesan bishops and a majority of diocesan standing committees must consent to the bishop-elect&#8217;s ordination as bishop. These actions &#8211; carried out separately &#8211; must be completed within 120 days from the day after notice of the election was sent to the proper parties. If the bishop-elect receives a majority (at least 50% plus one) of consents from the diocesan bishops as well as a majority from the standing committees, the bishop-elect is one step closer. Following a successful consent process, ordination and celebration are in order. If the majority of diocesan bishops do not consent, and\/or the majority of the standing committees do not consent, the Presiding Bishop, in accordance with Canon III.11.5, is required to declare the election null and void. In such a case, the person elected by the diocese will not be ordained, and the process must start anew.<\/p>\n<p>If the consents are received in time and good order, it is at this point, often more than four months after local election, that a bishop-elect is made a bishop by at least three ordained bishops through the Service Of Ordination.<\/p>\n<p><strong>History Of The Episcopal Church <\/strong><\/p>\n<p>The beginnings of the Church of England, from which the Episcopal Church derives, date to at least the second century, when merchants and other travelers first brought Christianity to England. It is customary to regard St. Augustine of Canterbury&#8217;s mission to England in 597 as marking the formal beginning of the church under papal authority, as it was to be throughout the Middle Ages.<\/p>\n<p>In its modern form, the church dates from the English Reformation of the 16th century, when royal supremacy was established, and the authority of the papacy was repudiated. With the advent of British colonization, the Church of England was established on every continent. In time, these churches gained their independence, but retained connections with the mother church in the Anglican Communion.<\/p>\n<p>For further information on our church&#8217;s history, click <a href=\"http:\/\/www.episcopalchurch.org\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">here<\/a> to go to our national church&#8217;s website. <a href=\"http:\/\/www.episcopalchurch.org\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">www.episcopalchurch.org<\/a><\/p>\n<p>Download a pdf version of this page by clicking on this link: <a href=\"https:\/\/stpaulsjxn.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/Episcopal-101.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Episcopal 101<\/a><\/p>\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>FAQ&#8217;s: Here you will find answers to such questions as:. What does it mean to be Episcopalian? What do Episcopalians believe? How is the Episcopal Church organized? What can I expect when I come to worship at St. Paul&#8217;s? This section provides answers to many frequently asked questions and is designed for old Episcopalians and&hellip;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/stpaulsjxn.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/297"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/stpaulsjxn.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/stpaulsjxn.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/stpaulsjxn.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/stpaulsjxn.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=297"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/stpaulsjxn.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/297\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2065,"href":"https:\/\/stpaulsjxn.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/297\/revisions\/2065"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/stpaulsjxn.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=297"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}