History
    English Roots
         The Anglican Church is a branch of the One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church instituted by Jesus Christ. The word 'Anglican' refers to our spiritual heritage and roots in the Church of England. During the Reformation, the Church of England emerged as a unique institution. It retained its 'Catholic' heritage enshrined in the Creeds, the decisions of the General Councils, its liturgy and sacraments, and in the threefold ministry of bishops, priest and deacons in Apostolic Succession.

     Members of the Church of England came to America in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries. In many of the original colonies, the Church of England was the established or official Church. After the Revolution, American Anglicans established an autonomous branch of the Church, which became known as the Episcopal Church. Many of the first colonists were members of the Church of England. They founded parishes in the original thirteen colonies. Many of the Founding Fathers of the United States were Anglicans.

     After the Revolution, the Church of England (Anglican) parishes formed the Protestant Episcopal Church. Gradually, Anglican churches throughout the world gained local independence but remained a union of churches called the Anglican Communion. For many years these churches were united by a common faith, a common form of church government, and a common worship. In recent years, member churches have tended to stress their independence rather than their unity. Differences in belief and worship have created tensions that unhappily divide Anglicans.

     Over 80 Million Worldwide.  2-3 million in US, Mexico and Central America.

Doctrinal belief
     Bible is the Word of God and only thing necessary for salvation.  Justification by faith alone, the  Trinity, the dual nature of
Jesus Christ.

    Evangelical
         The word evangelical means of the Gospel. The Gospel of Jesus Christ is found in the Holy Bible, God's Word written by inspired people. The Bible is the book of the Church. Anglicans cherish the Scriptures. They are read in public worship. The Prayer Book is Bible-based. Its words echo the teachings, words, and expressions of the Holy Scriptures

         Anglican faith is thoroughly grounded in Holy Scriptures. Anglicans believe "the Holy Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments as the authentic record of God's revelation of himself, his saving activity, and moral demands - a revelation valid for all men and for all times" The 'Apocryphal Books,' found in some, but not all Bibles are used also in our worship, being read for instruction, but they are not used to establish doctrine.

         They hold that the ancient creeds - the 'Apostles', 'Nicene', and 'Athanasian' - express the faith of the Church and are to be understood as they are written.  By them we are taught that God is one God in three Persons, Father, Son and Holy Spirit; that God the Son became man, born of a virgin as our Lord Jesus Christ; that by our Lord's sinless life, death and resurrection He gained access for us to God the Father and opened the way for us to be children of God and to live with Him for all eternity.

         St. Patrick Episcopal Church, Zachary, La. 'The Episcopal Church grants great latitude in the interpretation of doctrine. It tends to stress less to confession of particular beliefs than to the use of the Book of Common Prayer.'

Worship
     Anglicans are expected to pray. When we pray in private, each of us prays in his own way (although guidance and instruction are available for those who wish to grow in the life of prayer). When we pray together in services of worship, our "common prayers" are 'liturgical,' that is, they are structured. Only in this way can we truly share our worship of God.

     The English Reformers translated the old worship books then being used into English in what is known as the BOOK OF COMMON PRAYER. Anglicans are LITURGICAL Christians. Liturgy means hard work. We show our duty to God and our love for Him in corporate worship. The 1928 American edition of the BOOK OF COMMON PRAYER is the official liturgy of this province. It is basically the same form of service used by the first settlers.

     Many scholars maintain that this book, together with the King James' Version of the Bible (an Anglican translation), has affected the English language and the spiritual life of the English speaking people of the world more than any other published work.

     It is the custom upon entering church to kneel in one's pew for a prayer of personal preparation for worship. In many churches it is also the custom to bow to the altar on entering and leaving the church as an act of reverence for Christ. Episcopalians do not talk in church before a service but use this time for personal meditation and devotions. At the end of the service some persons kneel for a private prayer before leaving. Others sometimes sit to listen to the organ postlude.

    Vestments
        To add to the beauty and festivity of the services, and to signify their special ministries, the clergy and other ministers wear vestments. Choir vestments usually consist of an undergown called a cassock (usually black) and a white, gathered overgown called a surplice. The clergy may also wear cassock and surplice. Another familiar vestment is the alb, a white tunic with sleeves that covers the body from neck to ankles. Over it (or over the surplice) ordained ministers wear a stole, a narrow band of colored fabric. Deacons wear the stole over one shoulder, priests and bishops over both shoulders. At the Holy Eucharist a bishop or priest frequently wears a chasuble (a circular garment that envelopes the body) over the alb and stole. The deacon's corresponding vestment has sleeves and is called a dalmatic. Bishops sometimes wear a special headcovering called a mitre.

    Morning and Evening Prayer
         The Daily Offices of Morning and Evening Prayer are prayer services derived in many ways from the Synagogue worship of the Old Testament. They consist of readings from the Psalms, other Bible readings, canticles (songs), and prayers. They are provided in the Book of Common Prayer in a manner which makes their discipline of prayer, psalmody, and Holy Scripture the daily spiritual diet of the Church, clergy and lay folk alike.

    Sacraments
 Anglicans regard the two Gospel Sacraments of Baptism and the Eucharist as being "generally necessary to salvation". Five other sacramental rites, in their Biblical sense, are also termed sacraments.

        Baptism
             Baptism, or 'Christening' as it is sometimes called, is the way we make public our personal Christian commitment. Christians have baptized new believers as the sign of their own commitment to personal Christian discipleship.From the earliest times, Christians have baptized whole families, including children. Clearly, infants cannot make a personal commitment to Christian Discipleship, so the Christian parents or parent, helped by 'Sponsors', or 'God-Parents', make the promises on their behalf.

         The Parents and God-Parents promise to bring the Child up in a Christian home, to take part in Christian worship on a regular basis, and when the Child is old enough, to bring him or her to the Bishop so that the Child can 'Confirm' for him or her self the promises of personal Christian commitment that were made on his or her behalf at Baptism. Holy Baptism by means of water and in the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost (Matthew 28:19) conveys new birth (John 3:5; Romans 6:4) and forgiveness of sins (Acts 2:38; I Peter 3:21).

        The Holy Eucharist
             The center of our worship is the Holy Eucharist.  We believe  that the Eucharist is a spiritual sacrifice which must be administered by a bishop or a priest whose ministry derives in succession from the Apostles themselves. We express also our faith in Christ's Real Presence in the Eucharist.  Because of the seriousness of these affirmations, this Church does not presume to invite those who in good faith cannot yet accept these beliefs to compromise their conscience by receiving Holy Communion at our Altar. It is for these reasons that we are not an "open Communion" Church. Those who do so believe, and who have been confirmed by a Bishop in Apostolic Succession, and who are spiritually prepared, are welcome to receive Holy Communion.

         Preparation for Holy Communion generally takes the form of private prayers. In many Anglican parishes, those physically able to do so refrain from eating ordinary food prior to morning Communion, or for three hours prior to an evening Communion.

    Confirmation
         Conveys the strengthening gifts of the Holy Spirit (Acts 8:14-17; 19:1-7; Ephesians 1:13) for life as a mature Christian.

    Penance
         Conveys the forgiveness of sins (John 20:23; James 5:16) and the assurance of that forgiveness.

    Holy Unction
         Is the anointing with oil for healing (James 5:14; Mark 6:13) of body, mind, and soul.

    Holy Matrimony
         Is the union of one man and one woman for life before God. The relationship, St. Paul tells us (Ephesians 5:31-32), is like that between Christ and His Church.

    Holy Orders
         Denote the Apostolic Ministry of bishops, priest and deacons, instituted by Christ, and male in character (John 20:19-23; Matthew 16:18; Acts 6:1-6). Our Lord commissioned the Apostles and their successors, the bishops, to proclaim His work and salvation which He accomplished on Calvary. When Anglicans speak of Apostolic Succession, we mean an unbroken line of consecrations and commissions from our Lord to the present bishops, continuing the same teachings and ministry established by Jesus Christ Himself.

         The word episcopal means of bishops. Our Lord Jesus Christ sent His disciples into the world. They were called Apostles, or sent men. The Apostles added ministers to their ranks to care for the growing Church. These men became known as bishops. Our bishops are descendants of the Apostles and of the first Episcopal bishops in the United States.

         Anglicans and Episcopals now Ordain women to the ministry.

Government
     The laity are an integral part of the government of the traditional Anglican Church. The parish vestry (similar to a board of directors) is comprised of parish members and is charged with the management of the temporal affairs of the parish. Synods - or meetings - of the diocese have active lay participation. Each parish sends lay representatives to the diocesan synod.

     Each congregation owns its own property. Neither the bishops nor the synods of this Church attempt to make political decisions for the people of the Church. Christians are bound to make their political decisions and exercise their rights in the light of the Gospel.

     The Archbishop of Canterbury is selected by the government of Great Britain rather than by any unified church process. Bishops are over dioceses. Priests are Rectors or Vicars over parishes. Deacons are ordained.

Personal Christianity
     Anglicans take seriously our Lord's call to all Christians to serve Him. This means both a ministry within the Christian family and a ministry to the world to spread the Gospel and actively to show forth Jesus Christ in our lives. Bible Study Groups exist in most parishes of the traditional Anglican Church. These are open to Anglicans and non-Anglicans alike who wish to deepen their understanding of God's word in the Holy Scriptures. Other study topics of interest to most Christians: Church History, Worship, the life of prayer, etc. are investigated from time to time.

Homosexuality and the Anglican / Episcopal Church

THE BYLAWS OF INTEGRITY, INC.
Effective: April 29, 1994
PREAMBLE

 We, the Members of Integrity, Inc., recognizing the image of Christ in our gay brothers and lesbian sisters and in all whom God has created, and relying on the guidance of the Holy Spirit, have incorporated ourselves as a charitable, religious, educational, and literary not-for-profit organization for gay and lesbian ministry in the Episcopal Church, and do establish these bylaws as the statement of purposes, goals and principles of governance.

 We are a ministry for the encouragement and nurture of gay and lesbian persons in Christian life and community; and, equally, a ministry of gay and lesbian persons, offered to the Church and to the world seeking unity and peace in the body of Christ, justice and dignity for all people, regardless of their likeness to or difference from ourselves, the end to human oppression, especially the oppression of people who are gay or lesbian; and, the building of a world and a society as safer places in which to love. We proclaim the good news that the world and all people in it have been liberated and redeemed by Jesus Christ.

Gays can be priests

 A person's homosexual orientation was not a barrier to becoming a priest, the spiritual head of the Australian Anglican church said yesterday. In Canberra for the National Anglican Conference, Melbourne's Archbishop Keith Rayner, the Primate of the Australian Anglican Church, said sexual orientation was not a barrier to ordination."I take the view that one's sexual orientation is not a sin," Archbishop Rayner said. But although sexual orientation was not a sin, committing a homosexual act was, he said. "It's the practice that is a sin," he said. This meant that in order to retain their appointments, Australia's gay Anglican priests were expected to lead a chaste life.
 

Written Prayers for Gay Anglicans
GRACIOUS GOD, we pray to you for the mission and ministry of Integrity. Grant that we, seeing the image of God in one another, may be guided in the way of justice and truth, united in bonds of love, and strengthened to struggle against oppression; that all lesbians and gay men may know that peace which is the fruit of righteousness and show the power of your love to all among whom they live; through Jesus Christ, our Lover and Liberator. Amen.
(c) 1987, The Rev. L. Paul Woodrum

BLESS US, O GOD, your gay and lesbian people, and help us to love those who live in hatred and fear of our very existence; keep us from the pride and prejudice which we find so burdensome in others; put down our temptations to violence and recrimination; teach us to understand irrational and ignorant opponents and to minister to them in mercy and honesty; and reconcile us according to your highest demands for integrity and uprightness, through Jesus Christ, our Reconciliation and our Hope. Amen.
(c) 1985, The Rev. James K. Taylor

Episcopal/Lutheran
BISHOPS LEAVE KANUGA MEETING ENERGIZED ABOUT FULL COMMUNION WITH LUTHERANS BY JAMES SOLHEIM

     In a letter issued March 13 , the bishops said, "The call to enter into full communion with another church is a call to conversion and an opening of the heart" because the Concordat of Agreement with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) "offers both of our churches an opportunity for conversion to a deeper living of the Gospel and greater transparency in fulfilling Christ's continuing ministry of reconciliation and making all things new."

 After what Bishop Craig Anderson of the General Theological Seminary in New York called "two days of solid theological reflection," many bishops expressed excitement over the possibilities for mission. "The clarity was exceptional," Anderson added, "and we have the opportunity to send a message to the Lutherans."

 Full communion would open a wide range of cooperation in ministry between the two churches, including interchangeability of clergy and joint consecrations of bishops.

Reformed Episcopal
  -Similar in doctrine to the parent Anglican (Episcopal) church but with a few distinctions.
       -They hold to a more Baptistic view of communion. Memorial/celebration.
       -Christ is not present in the elements and he is not sacrificed at each communion.
       -They hold to baptismal regeneration.
       -They do not cll their pastors (Priests).
       -They have a revised Book of Common Prayer.