We, as Episcopalians, believe in a loving, liberating, and life-giving God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. The Episcopal Church is one of a family of 46 members within the Anglican Communion worldwide. We are descendants of and partners with the Church of England and the Scottish Episcopal Church. We are in full communion with our extended family, of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America.
We believe in following the teachings of Jesus Christ, whose life, death, and resurrection saved the world. We have a legacy of inclusion, and in the lifetime of St Ann’s have seen women and men serve equally as bishops, priests, and deacons. We believe that God loves you – no exceptions. And so do we!
As Episcopalians, we believe:
- The Holy Scriptures are the revealed word of God, which inspired the human authors of the Scripture, and which is interpreted by the Church under the guidance of the Holy Spirit.
- The Nicene Creed is the basic statement of our belief about God. It was adopted in the 300s by the early church founders and is said every Sunday in Episcopal and Anglican churches around the United States and the world..
- The two great sacraments of the Gospel, given by Christ to the Church, are Baptism and the Holy Eucharist. At Baptism we affirm the Baptismal Covenant: Found in the Book of Common Prayer, it is the pledge we make (or that is made on our behalf by parents, godparents, and all members of the congregation) at baptism. The operative phrase that qualifies the promises is “I will, with God’s help.” In the Holy Eucharist, the center of our worship life, we remember and participate in the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ until his coming again.
- Catechism: The teachings and beliefs of the Episcopal Church are articulated in this “Outline of the Faith.” It is designed in a question and answer format.
(The above is an excerpt from The Episcopal Diocese of Maine)
If you’d like more information about the Episcopal faith, Episcopal.org “What We Believe” page.