As an Episcopal Church, we are:
A Communal Church
We believe that the Church is not a congregation of individuals, but that we are all one in the person of Jesus Christ. Together we proclaim the Good News of God’s love for the entire world in his name and believe that this unity extends to the whole worldwide Church.
A Biblical Church
We believe that the Bible is the Word of God reflecting the many centuries and writers in their experience of God. Episcopalians hold the Bible to be the most important Book of the Faith. However, Episcopalians are not Fundamentalistsand therefore tend to look at Sacred Scripture within its historical context, allegorically (as did the early Church) and as metaphor. We would say that the Bible is true without always being historically or scientifically accurate.
A Traditional Church
We affirm the place of the Apostles’ and Nicene Creeds as statements of Faith handed down from the Early Church as well as the writings of the Early Church Fathers (and occasionally Mothers!) Our liturgical life comes to us from The Book of Common Prayer (1979), a descendant of the English Prayer Books and the Liturgies of the Early Church. Our Church is governed by Bishops who are Successors to the Apostles and who guard the teachings of the Church as was the governance of the early church, and are the foundations of faith on which we are to build.
A Sacramental Church
We believe that the love Jesus Christ is given to us through “outward and visible signs” or sacraments, especially Baptism and The Holy Eucharist (Communion, the Lord’s Supper). We also celebrate the Sacraments of Confirmation, Marriage, Ordination, and Anointing of the Sick. Our Sunday Eucharist is an affirmation of our unity in Christ, “One Bread, One Body,” and that we are called to go into the world to be the Body of Christ in the name of Jesus.
A Prophetic Church
We believe that we are called to faithfully proclaim God’s gracious love for all people and to work for justice in the world especially on behalf of the poor, the marginalized and the outcast.
A Thinking Church
We believe that God gave each of us a brain to use rationally. We believe God reveals the Divine to us not only through the Bible and the Church but also through Science, Literature, and Beauty.
A Personal Church
We believe that each person is valued by God, and that the spiritual journey of each of us contributes to the growing faith of our Christian family.