| Episcopal Church in the Diocese of Los Angeles | |
| Media Contacts: | |
| Mr. Robert Williams Director of Communications & Public Affairs 840 Echo Park Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90026 Mail: P.O. Box 512164, Los Angeles, CA 90051-0164 (213) 482-2040 ext. 240 email: media@ladiocese.org |
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| Belief Overview: | |
| The Episcopal Church, like the
wider Anglican Communion, generally adheres to the "Via Media," or the
Middle Way of expressing Christian faith that is at the same time both
Protestant and Catholic. This philosophy stems from the origins of the
Anglican Church at the time of its creation and the separation of the Church
of England from the Roman Catholic Church during the reign of British
monarchs Henry VIII and Elizabeth I. In the United States, the Episcopal
Church is one of 37 member provinces of the international 72-million-member
Anglican Communion. While each of these provinces is autonomous, each also
looks to the Archbishop of Canterbury as spiritual leader.
The 2.4-million-member Episcopal Church is frequently identified as a "bridge" linking not only diverse and various expressions of Christianity, but also as a path of connection between Christianity and other faith traditions. In addition, like the wider U. S. populace, Episcopalians represent diverse opinions, political viewpoints, and spiritual practice: some congregations adhere to "high church" Anglo-Catholicism, others to "low church" Protestantism, still others to a "broad church" centrist liturgical expression. Some Episcopalians are theologically conservative while others are moderates or liberals. Likewise, some Episcopalians are politically conservative while others are moderates or liberals. The creeds of the Episcopal Church, together with its central liturgies, are found in the denomination's Book of Common Prayer. At the center of the Church's worship and practice is the Trinity of God as Creator, Christ as Redeemer, Holy Spirit as Sustainer. While the creeds and practices of the Episcopal Church are informed by the Church's understanding of scripture, reason and tradition, it is generally understood that a great number of Episcopalians do not adhere to literal interpretation of the Old and New Testament. Ordained ministry within the Episcopal Church is categorized into the orders of Bishops, Priests and Deacons. Women and men alike are ordained in each order. Many of the clergy are married, and a number of gay and lesbian clergy are increasingly open about living in committed, monogamous, same-sex relationships. Among the traditions of the Episcopal Church are its emphases upon scholarship, musical and liturgical excellence, and hospitality, which is reflected in the church's national motto: "The Episcopal Church welcomes you." |
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| Demographics: | |
The Diocese of Los Angeles -- a community of 85,000 Episcopalians in 147 congregations, 37 schools, and 20 major institutions -- spans all of Los Angeles, Orange, San Bernardino, Santa Barbara, and Ventura Counties, and part of Riverside County. |
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| Facts: | |
| The Episcopal Church is a
community of more than 2.4 million members in congregations and dioceses in
the Americas and abroad. With its oldest parishes dating from the early
1600's, the Episcopal Church in the United States was formally established
in the United States in 1789 as an outgrowth of the Church of England.
The Domestic and Foreign Missionary Society of the Protestant Episcopal
Church in the United States of America - the corporate name by which the
Episcopal Church is legally identified - is headquartered in midtown
Manhattan at the Episcopal Church Center. Washington National Cathedral,
meanwhile, is the episcopal seat of the Episcopal Church's presiding bishop,
the denomination's chief pastor and chief executive.
The current presiding bishop, the Most Rev. Frank Tracy Griswold, III, was installed in January 1998 to serve a 9-year term. The chief legislative body of the Episcopal Church is tis bicameral General Convention, including the House of Bishops and the House of Deputies, which meet every three years and in conjunction with the national triennial meeting of the Episcopal Church Women. Between triennial meetings, the work of General Convention is overseen by the Church's national Executive Council. |
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| Publications and Other Resources: | |
| The Episcopal News is published bi-monthly in the Diocese of Los Angeles. Selected articles are made available at www.episcopalnews.com | |
| Other Web sites of Interest: | |
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http://ladiocese.org Diocesan Web Site http://handsinhealing.org An anti-violence initiative of the Episcopal Diocese of Los Angeles http://ecusa.anglican.org The national Episcopal Church Center http://cathedral.org Washington National Cathedral |
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