The Episcopal Church strives to live by the message of Christ, in which there are no outcasts and all are welcome. Walking a middle way between Catholic and Protestant traditions, we are a sacramental and worship-oriented church that promotes thoughtful reflection about what God is calling us to do and be, as followers of Christ today. The Episcopal Church in the United States is a member of the world-wide Anglican Communion, a family of Christians with 100 million baptized members.

 

We are incarnational. We believe that God was fully alive and present in Jesus, and that God is also alive and present within every human being. We believe that God created life in this world as fundamentally good, despite many human choices to the contrary. Thus, we are devoted to stewardship of the earth, social responsibility, and to “seeking out and serving Christ in all persons.”

 

We are liturgical. In sacraments, such as Baptism and the Holy Eucharist (also known as Holy Communion and the Mass), we are made aware of God’s living presence in our lives. We believe that through the sacraments we are united to God and strengthened for service in the church and the world.

 

We are scriptural. We encourage each person’s critical study and appreciation of the richness of the Bible, following one’s own conscience and guided by the wisdom found in traditional and contemporary thinking and interpretation. Together, we strive to understand the meaning of scripture for life today.

 

We are inclusive, following the example of Jesus Christ, who preached loving inclusion, and against division. In that spirit, we invite all baptized persons to Holy Communion and share in dialogue with people of other faiths and backgrounds. We seek to build a community that reflects the Kingdom of God, embracing all of God’s beloved people. We seek common prayer, not always common doctrine.

 

We are a community of service. Following the example of Jesus, we approach life by coming “not be served, but to serve.”  We strive to live our faith in the church and in the world, sharing God’s love and serving those in need.

 

The best way to learn about the Episcopal Church is to spend time with us, observing, participating, and questioning.  Visit www.diomass.org or www.ecusa.anglican.org for more information about the Diocese of Massachusetts and The Episcopal Church.