We affirm the ancient Christian beliefs as summed up in the Nicene and Apostles Creeds:
While we agree on these beliefs, we embrace diversity of opinion.
The Episcopal Church is a part of the Anglican Communion, a worldwide fellowship of churches, with over seventy million members, the third largest group of denomination. The word Episcopal derives from the Greek word episkopos, which means “overseer” or “bishop”. The Episcopal Church is a church with bishops and ours is the Right Reverend Dean E. Wolfe, Bishop of Kansas. For more information on the Episcopal Diocese of Kansas go to www.episcopal-ks.org.
Both. We trace our history back to the Protestant Reformation. Yet, of all the Protestant churches, we retained the most elements of the ceremony and worship of the Roman Catholic Church. Unlike many Protestants, our worship is centered on the Eucharist (Communion) every Sunday. We use wine (not grape juice), and our clergy wear vestments/robes. Unlike Roman Catholics our clergy (bishops, priests, and deacons) are permitted to marry, we ordain both women and men, and communion is open to ALL Christians. In determining matters of faith we rely on scripture, tradition and reason. Our church is governed democratically by both clergy and laity.
Our service has two basic parts. The first half is centered on the Word, in which we listen to Bible readings, a sermon and offer prayers. The second half is focused on the Sacrament of Holy Communion, during which we bring bread and wine to the altar table, asking God’s blessing so that they may become for us the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ.