What Is The Episcopal Church?

Episcopalians can claim a heritage that is both catholic and reformed. For most Episcopalians, the Eucharist (or Communion, or Mass) is the focal point of the week. The other sacraments: holy baptism, matrimony, confirmation, penance, unction, and Holy Orders are all available. Special emphasis is made on the Bible and the importance of regular reading of the scriptures as a guide to living.

The Anglican Communion has no "leader" as such. It is really a kind of federation of churches, each with its own government and laws, but each historically linked to the see of Canterbury in England. the Archbishop of Canterbury, Rowan Williams, holds no real power, other than that of persuasion.

The worldwide Communion is divided into provinces, each with a Presiding Bishop (or "Metropolitan") and the provinces in turn are divided into dioceses. The Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church of the U.S.A. is The Most Rev. Dr. Katharine Jefferts Schori. Here in Taunton, we are part of the Diocese of Massachusetts. Our diocesan Bishop is The Rt. Rev. M. Thomas Shaw, S.S.J.E.; the suffragan Bishops are The Rt. Rev. Bud Cederholm and The Rt. Rev. Gayle Harris .

Each individual parish is administered jointly by the rector, and the "vestry." In our case the vestry is comprised of two wardens, a treasurer, a clerk and nine members of the congregation who are voted for at the Annual Meeting.

As well as spiritual matters, Anglicans are passionately concerned about moral, social and environmental issues. Archbishop Desmond Tutu of Cape Town, for example, is an Anglican.

We strive, often unsuccessfully, to model our lives on that of Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. We believe that the whole of life is a pilgrimage, and we seek to support and uphold one another in that pilgrimage through our corporate identity, as members of our church.