Skip to content
Christianity AtlasChurch & Denomination Guide
Group guide

The Episcopal Church

Also known as: TEC, Episcopal Church USA

The U.S. province of the Anglican Communion, maintaining episcopal and liturgical continuity while encompassing a broad mainline theological range.

DenominationInside historic Nicene ChristianityShared historic core, with several important differences

60-second overview

The U.S. province of the Anglican Communion, maintaining episcopal and liturgical continuity while encompassing a broad mainline theological range.

History and identity

The Episcopal Church uses the Book of Common Prayer, ancient creeds, baptism including infants, and Eucharistic worship. Clergy and congregations range from evangelical to Anglo-Catholic to progressive. Formal liturgy may remain creedal even where preaching and doctrinal interpretation vary.

Core teachings and practices

  • Anglican episcopal and liturgical structure.
  • Book of Common Prayer.
  • Broad theological and ethical diversity.
  • Local parish assessment is necessary.

Variation across churches

High variation within the group

What it shares with the Reformed Baptist Base Beliefs

This group is within historic Nicene Christianity, with broad agreement on the Triune God and Jesus Christ’s full deity and humanity. Other important differences may still remain.

Important differences from the Reformed Baptist Base Beliefs

The Episcopal Church retains an official Nicene, Anglican, and sacramental core, but its denomination-wide breadth in scriptural authority, gospel and justification language, and sacramental theology can differ substantially from the reference beliefs. Episcopal administration is disclosed but is not the reason for this result; a specific parish may be closer.

How it relates to historic Nicene Christianity

Inside historic Nicene Christianity

This group is within historic Nicene Christianity.

Boundary guide
Important distinctions
  • The Episcopal Church and ACNA are separate Anglican church bodies.

Related groups with separate profiles

Related groups
AnglicanismAnglicanismAnglican Church in North America

Sources

The group’s own sources come first, followed by outside context and the guide’s comparison.

  1. The Episcopal Church — The Creeds
    VerifiedOfficial doctrine
  2. The Episcopal Church — Book of Common Prayer
    VerifiedOfficial liturgy
  3. Church of England — Articles of Religion
    VerifiedHistoric primary source
  4. The Episcopal Church — What We Believe
    VerifiedOfficial doctrine
  5. The Episcopal Church — Constitution and Canons
    VerifiedOfficial doctrine