How Welcoming is the Episcopal Church?

[spiritually inclined]

Could the Episcopal church tolerate an atheist in their midst, an atheist who found meaning in Progressive Christian concepts and the ritual and Eucharist?

James

 

[sojourner]

Episcopalians are, by-and-large, very accepting.. However, in order to participate in the Eucharist, you would have to be baptized which, if you're an atheist, is impossible. However, in most places, you'd be more than welcome to participate otherwise.

If, however, you've been baptized in the past, then you'd be most welcome to participate in the Eucharist. (You might want to speak with the rector or vicar beforehand, though.

 

[Terrywoodenpic]

The Anglican church has found it self from time to time with a number of non believing Clergy. It has always managed to accommodate them, as they are often very learned men, they has sometimes been used in a teaching capacity.

I would not say it is usual for members to be atheists but they would be welcome to attend the services.
To partake in the Eucharist you are expected to have undergone some instruction and to believe. If you did not and the priest was aware of it, he would only offer you a blessing when you came to the Altar.

However you would be welcome to attend all services and other functions.

Most of us would hope at some stage you would be able believe as we do.

 

[doppelganger]

I don't equate my identity to labels like "atheist" but most people seem to regard my methods as non-"theistic." I am nonetheless welcomed by most of the Episcopalians at the Church I attend, including the minister, who is a good friend of mine and who is quite familiar with my open-minded and independent approach to spiritual matters. Your results may vary considerably, and individual Episcopalians may react much more harshly to what they view as non-"Christian" beliefs, so I'm very careful about who I talk philosophy with. But by and large, I've found very little of the "right belief" or "anti-heresy" approach among the Episcopalians I know. Re: sojouner's comment, I was baptized by the Roman Catholic Church and as an evangelical, and they haven't asked for a re-baptism to be a part of their community.

 

[sojourner]

I don't equate my identity to labels like "atheist" but most people seem to regard my methods as non-"theistic." I am nonetheless welcomed by most of the Episcopalians at the Church I attend, including the minister, who is a good friend of mine and who is quite familiar with my open-minded and independent approach to spiritual matters. Your results may vary considerably, and individual Episcopalians may react much more harshly to what they view as non-"Christian" beliefs, so I'm very careful about who I talk philosophy with. But by and large, I've found very little of the "right belief" or "anti-heresy" approach among the Episcopalians I know. Re: sojouner's comment, I was baptized by the Roman Catholic Church and as an evangelical, and they haven't asked for a re-baptism to be a part of their community.

That's because the Episcopal stance on baptism is that there is only one baptism. If one has been baptized in the Name of the Trinity (which you would have been as an RC), that baptism is considered "valid." Even if you now consider yourself to be atheist, no Episcopal priest or bishop would think you needed "rebaptism," for there is no such thing.

BTW, since you are baptized, you would be more than welcome at the Eucharist, at least in most places.

 

[spiritually inclined]

Interesting. I am curious about becoming a member of some sort of church, though my previous experiences with Pentecostalism scare me away from religion enough to keep me from completely commiting to a particular religious path. *sigh*

The formula for baptism came up. I was in a very unusual sect of Christianity that baptizes in the name of Jesus, not the holy trinity. If I were to become a member, would I be required to be baptized in the name of the trinity? If I ever did seek membership, this is what I would prefer because I associate my previous baptism with entering a border-line cult and would like to leave it behind me.

James

 

[doppelganger]

Interesting. I am curious about becoming a member of some sort of church, though my previous experiences with Pentecostalism scare me away from religion enough to keep me from completely commiting to a particular religious path. *sigh*

My experiences with and among Fundamentalist Evangelical Christianity have made me very hesitant around Christians. The more I've been around Episcopalians, the more I've learned that Christianity can be so much more, without having to subscribe to some mantra or dogma. I'm no expert on their liturgy or anything at this point. But Sojourner, Terrywoodenpic and Lunamoth all seem pretty similar to the attitude toward the faith I've found in my off the 'Net dealings with Episcopalians.

 

[Terrywoodenpic]

Interesting. I am curious about becoming a member of some sort of church, though my previous experiences with Pentecostalism scare me away from religion enough to keep me from completely commiting to a particular religious path. *sigh*

The formula for baptism came up. I was in a very unusual sect of Christianity that baptizes in the name of Jesus, not the holy trinity. If I were to become a member, would I be required to be baptized in the name of the trinity? If I ever did seek membership, this is what I would prefer because I associate my previous baptism with entering a border-line cult and would like to leave it behind me.

James

If you have not been baptised with the trinity You are not baptised in the eyes of many main line Churches.
So you will need to be baptised for the first time.

You will find that Anglicans/Episcopalian are the easiest going churches around.
although they have a complete and detailed theology they do not push it down your throat and say you are dammed, if there is something you don't believe.

 

[sojourner]

Most Episcopalians are open-minded and fair. One of the "legs" of the basis of faith is Reason. In order to reason, one has to think and question. The Episcopal Church allows one room to do this -- and encourages it.

 

[spiritually inclined]

If I join this church, I think it will be better for me than the Catholic church, which I was also considering. I am surprised at how open most of you are.

James

 

[Izdaari]

Interesting. I am curious about becoming a member of some sort of church, though my previous experiences with Pentecostalism scare me away from religion enough to keep me from completely commiting to a particular religious path. *sigh*

The formula for baptism came up. I was in a very unusual sect of Christianity that baptizes in the name of Jesus, not the holy trinity. If I were to become a member, would I be required to be baptized in the name of the trinity? If I ever did seek membership, this is what I would prefer because I associate my previous baptism with entering a border-line cult and would like to leave it behind me.

James

I'm sorry you had bad experiences with Pentecostalism. I'm pretty new to it myself, but my church is trinitarian and orthodox but not fundamentalist. It isn't radically different from a Methodist church, except for the belief in and use of the Pentecostal gifts. You may be right in thinking your former church a borderline cult.

I often attend an Episcopal church in addition to my Assemblies of God church. It's a very different worship experience, and I like both in different ways. I love to listen to the Compline service live from St. Mark's Cathedral in Seattle. That's on the radio every Sunday night on KING-FM, my local classical station, and I think it's also streaming on the 'net.

 

[trinity2359]

Don't know about an atheist, but I was baptized an Episcoplian even after told the Priest flat-out that I didn't believe in the Trinity. His answer? There's support for that. So, yeah, the Episcopal church is very lenient on doctrinal matters.