While the Episcopal Church follows scripture and
tradition, reason plays an equally important role in the
faith and affairs of the Church. Therefore, the lay person in the
Episcopal Church should expect to take part in church life.
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The Episcopal Church baptizes with
water either by having a little poured over the person's head or by
full immersion. Photos above and to the right are of a baptism in
the Chetco River, August, 2008
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In temporal matters the
Episcopal Church functions democratically with clergy and lay deputies,
along with bishops, governing the life of the Church.
However, the Church is not a democracy in matters of faith; practices and belief are rooted in the apostolic proclamation of scripture, tradition, and reason. This Episcopal Church has no dogmas but rather a core of beliefs based on Holy Scripture and contained in the Book of Common Prayer. |
| Lay persons are part of the Episcopal Church first as communicants; then perhaps as members of the Bishop's Advisory Council ( BAC) of the mission which is charged with the temporal and physical needs of the mission and which calls or elects a new Vicar when a new Priest is needed. |
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Those chosen to serve in the priesthood of the Episcopal Church go through a rigorous process of selection and preparation before ordination, and in this, lay people have an important share, serving on the Bishop's Advisory Committee, the advisory/screening committee of a mission and on the Commission on Ministry of a diocese. |
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While the Episcopal Church in the United States is self-governing, creating its own canon law and liturgy, the Church is a part of the Worldwide Anglican Communion and sends bishops every ten years to a conference of all the Anglican bishops for consultation -- The Lambeth Conference held in England. |
