The worldwide Anglican tradition

The Episcopal Church in the United States has about 2.5 million members, and is one of thirty-eight independent provinces of the world-wide Anglican Communion, which numbers roughly 70 million members in over 100 countries. The word "Anglican" is a traditional word for "English", indicating that the Anglican Communion has its roots in the Church of England where the Archbishop of Canterbury as the head, or Primate. The Archbishop is the symbol of unity of the Anglican Communion. The word "Episcopal" comes from the Greek word for "bishop", showing that the Churches of the Anglican Communion are governed by bishops. However, priests and lay people have a strong voice in Church leadership and decision-making.

The basic beliefs of the Episcopal Church are expressed in the Book of Common Prayer. This book first appeared in 1549 and has been revised several times since, but contains the creeds, formulas for worship, and teachings of the Church as it existed before the division into denominations. The faith, teachings, and practices of the ancient Church are expressed in traditional and contemporary ways in our services.