The Episcopal Church

In his sermon at the Royal Wedding of Prince Harry to Meghan Markel, the Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church, Michael Curry, described our church in this way:

"Jesus began the most revolutionary movement in all of human history: a movement grounded in the unconditional love of God for the world, a movement mandating people to live that love, and in so doing, to change not only their lives but the very life of the world itself."

The Episcopal Church understands Christianity as a movement, a “Jesus Movement” whose aim is to follow the teaching and example of Jesus Christ through the practices of justice and compassion, love and service, reconciliation and worship. Our Presiding Bishop calls us the “Episcopal Branch of the Jesus Movement.” 

The Episcopal Church has a legacy of inclusion, aspiring to tell and exemplify God’s love for every human being. Women and men serve as leaders at all levels of our church—as bishops, priests, deacons, and laypeople. Leadership is a gift from God and can be expressed by all people in our church regardless of age, gender, culture, race, sexual identity or orientation. We govern ourselves democratically as we discern God’s call to us as a church and as a movement, and we do our best to follow that call in word and deed. 

More information

• Read the Episcopal Church's excellent description of what we believe.
• The Episcopal Church’s Presiding Bishop, Michael Curry, understands Christianity not as an institution but as a movement, and our church as the “Episcopal Branch of the Jesus Movement.” In this short video, Bishop Curry explains what he means.
• Watch this video that explains why the Episcopal Church is not an institution or building; rather, it's based on loving, liberating, and giving.