What is the Episcopal Church?

The Episcopal Church is a "daughter" of the Church of England, and became an independent church after the American Revolution. Along with the Church of England and all of its other independent daughter churches worldwide, we form the Anglican Communion, with over seventy million members, the third largest group of Christians worldwide (after the Roman Catholic Church and the Eastern Orthodox Churches).

What does "Episcopal" mean?

It derives from the New Testament (Greek) word, episkopos, which is usually translated "overseer" or "bishop." Our bishop has his office here in Lubbock, and oversees the Episcopal Churches in northwest Texas (from the top of the Panhandle down to Odessa-Midland, San Angelo, and Abilene).

Are you Protestant or Catholic?

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 allowed to marry, we ordain both women and men, communion is open to all Christians, we rely most upon scripture in determining matters of faith, and our church is governed democratically.