What is Anglican/Episcopal worship like?

[Saint Frankenstein]

So I was thinking that if I ever went back to Christianity or just wanted to attend church for whatever reason, my best bet would be Anglican (or Episcopalianism, as it's called in the States). The denomination I have the most history with is Catholic but I can no longer be Catholic due to the Catholic Church's oppressive views about LGBT people. Especially when it comes to trans people. I would never be recognized as a man in Catholicism. I could never marry in the Church or even be a Godparent. I refuse to insult my dignity and debase myself by trying to be part of something that rejects who I am and where I can never be accepted. So that's done. The Episcopal Church in America affirms LGBT people as we are so that's a huge hurdle gone. I would be free to be myself.

But I still agree with Catholic theology and worship, as far as Christianity goes. I could never be a Baptist, Pentecostal or Evangelical. Not a Lutheran or Methodist (although I'd have some things in common with them). I believe in liturgical worship, traditional hymns and the Eucharist.

I know there's some diversity in Anglicanism and parish leanings very widely. But is there a set liturgy? Is the Sign of the Cross made? Are there fonts of holy water? Is there a Tabernacle to genuflect before before sitting in the pew?

I've never been in an Anglican church before so I've no idea what to expect. The one I'd like to check out is an old 19th century Gothic revival parish Downtown. So I'm hoping they lean towards the traditional in the liturgy.


So advice and tips?

 

[Unveiled Artist]

So I was thinking that if I ever went back to Christianity or just wanted to attend church for whatever reason, my best bet would be Anglican (or Episcopalianism, as it's called in the States). The denomination I have the most history with is Catholic but I can no longer be Catholic due to the Catholic Church's oppressive views about LGBT people. Especially when it comes to trans people. I would never be recognized as a man in Catholicism. I could never marry in the Church or even be a Godparent. I refuse to insult my dignity and debase myself by trying to be part of something that rejects who I am and where I can never be accepted. So that's done. The Episcopal Church in America affirms LGBT people as we are so that's a huge hurdle gone. I would be free to be myself.

But I still agree with Catholic theology and worship, as far as Christianity goes. I could never be a Baptist, Pentecostal or Evangelical. Not a Lutheran or Methodist (although I'd have some things in common with them). I believe in liturgical worship, traditional hymns and the Eucharist.

I know there's some diversity in Anglicanism and parish leanings very widely. But is there a set liturgy? Is the Sign of the Cross made? Are there fonts of holy water? Is there a Tabernacle to genuflect before before sitting in the pew?

I've never been in an Anglican church before so I've no idea what to expect. The one I'd like to check out is an old 19th century Gothic revival parish Downtown. So I'm hoping they lean towards the traditional in the liturgy.


So advice and tips?

I know a little bit of Episcopalian. They are LGBTQ and almost recently agreed to perform marriages between LGBTQ couples.

It's similar to Catholicism in pattern and some forms of ritual. They don't have the blessed eucharist through transubstantiation. For me it felt a bit off but, it's still blessed via communion of souls.

I don't know how modern Angelican church is.

Here is a list of A LGBTQ affirming churches
Find an Affirming Church - GayChurch.org

 

[Saint Frankenstein]

I know a little bit of Episcopalian. They are LGBTQ and almost recently agreed to perform marriages between LGBTQ couples.

It's similar to Catholicism in pattern and some forms of ritual. They don't have the blessed eucharist through transubstantiation. For me it felt a bit off but, it's still blessed via communion of souls.

I don't know how modern Angelican church is.

Here is a list of A LGBTQ affirming churches
Find an Affirming Church - GayChurch.org

I'm not sure what you mean with the Eucharist comment. They believe in the Real Presence of Christ in the Eucharist, too: Anglican eucharistic theology - Wikipedia

The specifics of Transubstantiation are a product of Catholic theology and even the Orthodox would explain it differently. Doesn't mean they don't have the Real Presence.

Thanks for the link.

 

[Terrywoodenpic]

There are Anglican/ Episcopalian churches both inside and outside the Canterbury communion.
Some outside are hard to differentiate from the catholic church but are unlikely to favour LGBT ideals.

However All Anglican/ Episcopal churches can have a massive difference in emphasis, even though they all follow the same liturgy ( which is remarkably similar to the Catholic one)
Most now use vestments identical in form to catholic ones, though at the other extreme there are some that only wear a simple white surplice and black stole.
(One of our Priests is of that Ilk) while two others wear albs and embroidered stoles in line with the church calendar for week day services, while most wear full vestments at the main services.

During special services like the one below, the bishop priests and deacon dress in all white. In this case to set aside a new lady chapel Altar, that I had made in memory of my late wife.
E-Bishop-Service_115web by Terry Andrews, on Flickr

 

[exchemist]

So I was thinking that if I ever went back to Christianity or just wanted to attend church for whatever reason, my best bet would be Anglican (or Episcopalianism, as it's called in the States). The denomination I have the most history with is Catholic but I can no longer be Catholic due to the Catholic Church's oppressive views about LGBT people. Especially when it comes to trans people. I would never be recognized as a man in Catholicism. I could never marry in the Church or even be a Godparent. I refuse to insult my dignity and debase myself by trying to be part of something that rejects who I am and where I can never be accepted. So that's done. The Episcopal Church in America affirms LGBT people as we are so that's a huge hurdle gone. I would be free to be myself.

But I still agree with Catholic theology and worship, as far as Christianity goes. I could never be a Baptist, Pentecostal or Evangelical. Not a Lutheran or Methodist (although I'd have some things in common with them). I believe in liturgical worship, traditional hymns and the Eucharist.

I know there's some diversity in Anglicanism and parish leanings very widely. But is there a set liturgy? Is the Sign of the Cross made? Are there fonts of holy water? Is there a Tabernacle to genuflect before before sitting in the pew?

I've never been in an Anglican church before so I've no idea what to expect. The one I'd like to check out is an old 19th century Gothic revival parish Downtown. So I'm hoping they lean towards the traditional in the liturgy.


So advice and tips?

In England, Anglicanism is very diverse, covering a broad spectrum ranging from "more-Roman-than-the-pope" Anglo-Catholicism which follows the Catholic form of the mass, more or less (and is chock full of gay priests, by the way) to low church evangelicals, who can often be detected by the blue paint they use on church noticeboards. It sounds as if you could get on quite well with some of the Anglo-Catholics. But I see you are in Columbus, Ohio, so what I'm saying may not entirely apply where you are.

 

[Unveiled Artist]

I'm not sure what you mean with the Eucharist comment. They believe in the Real Presence of Christ in the Eucharist, too: Anglican eucharistic theology - Wikipedia

The specifics of Transubstantiation are a product of Catholic theology and even the Orthodox would explain it differently. Doesn't mean they don't have the Real Presence.

Thanks for the link.

Sorry didn't put the church in. Episcopalian doesnt have transubstantiation the same as Catholics. There isn't a real presence if christ literally but communally. They do have a form of the eucharist, if I remember as many churches do but without transubstantiation.

That's why it's a bit off to me. If I were still christian I'd be in your shoes cause that's one big huge reasons I left the church. I can't worship anywhere that doesn't accept me as a person.

But anyway, you're welcome with the links. Good luck.

 

[Terrywoodenpic]

Sorry didn't put the church in. Episcopalian doesnt have transubstantiation the same as Catholics. There isn't a real presence if christ literally but communally. They do have a form of the eucharist, if I remember as many churches do but without transubstantiation.

That's why it's a bit off to me. If I were still christian I'd be in your shoes cause that's one big huge reasons I left the church. I can't worship anywhere that doesn't accept me as a person.

But anyway, you're welcome with the links. Good luck.

The idea of transubstantiation was not introduced to the Catholic church until the High Middle Ages, thereafter it became the dominant belief of the church.
However both before and since, the reality of the Eucharist has been hotly debated by theologians.

This is also the case in the Anglican church where perhaps only a few High Anglican churches still follow the Catholic belief in transubstantiation. the church however does believe in the real presence of Jesus in/at the Eucharist. but it is far from being dogmatic about explaining how this could be.

Some like me simply believe that there is only one Eucharist and we all share in it, through time, with the disciples, saints and angels and all who have gone before. Christ is there sharing his gift of bread and wine with us in his original words. they mean now, what the disciples know and knew them to mean both then and now, as they share in the Eucharist with us all.

This belief in the single Eucharist is ancient, and has been growing with in christian churches.
The Eucharist is the ultimate act of devotion and worship. as it is always in the real presence of Jesus.

The disciples knew nothing of transubstantiation. any more than many people profess to understand it today.

 

[GoodbyeDave]

As has been pointed out, Anglicanism is a very big tent. You can have an Anglican mass which looks just like a Catholic one or (very rarely) something that could pass for pentacostalism! The traditional Communion Service may not be the same as the Mass, but it's much closer than the typical protestant "hymn sandwich". It's certainly a fixed ritual, often very beautiful. The doctrine of Real Presence is accepted. Some churches have a reserved sacrament and a holy water stoup, some don't. Not many people use the sign of the cross much, but no-one will be surprised if you do. The fact that all Anglican churches are dedicated to saints and that they celebrate saint's days shows that they're not really protestant.

 

[GoodbyeDave]

i should have added that there are videos of several Anglican services, both English and North American, on Youtube.

I might also have said that Lutheranism is far closer to Anglicanism than you might think; I forgot, because we don't have Lutherans in the UK.

 

[Terrywoodenpic]

i should have added that there are videos of several Anglican services, both English and North American, on Youtube.

I might also have said that Lutheranism is far closer to Anglicanism than you might think; I forgot, because we don't have Lutherans in the UK.

On the contrary there are lutheran congregations in many towns and cities in the UK.
Anglicans are very close to Lutherans, in some countries their churches are in full communion.

 

[GoodbyeDave]

On the contrary there are lutheran congregations in many towns and cities in the UK.

I knew that there were Lutheran congreations for resident foreigners, but the Lutheran Church in Great Britain was new to me: probably because it only started in the 60s and there's only one London congregation that borrows an Anglican church for services.

 

[Terrywoodenpic]

I knew that there were Lutheran congreations for resident foreigners, but the Lutheran Church in Great Britain was new to me: probably because it only started in the 60s and there's only one London congregation that borrows an Anglican church for services.

There have been english lutheran churches in the UK since 1896 they are british congregations.
Evangelical Lutheran Church of England
I think you are being confuse by the fact that there a number of totally separate lutheran church orginsations
Present in the UK, some newer than others, and some mainly for foreign congregation.

 

[Rival]

I'm sure you'll find it very comfortable and familiar. As I said, the hymns generally aren't great but the Church you attend will likely have a different variety to the one I attended. It maybe won't be as atmospheric as the RCC, which uses scents and so on sometimes, but certainly the people usually make up for that with their welcoming ways. I hope the Vicar is good though, because that can make or break it.

 

[e.r.m.]

So I was thinking that if I ever went back to Christianity or just wanted to attend church for whatever reason, my best bet would be Anglican (or Episcopalianism, as it's called in the States). The denomination I have the most history with is Catholic but I can no longer be Catholic due to the Catholic Church's oppressive views about LGBT people. Especially when it comes to trans people. I would never be recognized as a man in Catholicism. I could never marry in the Church or even be a Godparent. I refuse to insult my dignity and debase myself by trying to be part of something that rejects who I am and where I can never be accepted. So that's done. The Episcopal Church in America affirms LGBT people as we are so that's a huge hurdle gone. I would be free to be myself.

But I still agree with Catholic theology and worship, as far as Christianity goes. I could never be a Baptist, Pentecostal or Evangelical. Not a Lutheran or Methodist (although I'd have some things in common with them). I believe in liturgical worship, traditional hymns and the Eucharist.

I know there's some diversity in Anglicanism and parish leanings very widely. But is there a set liturgy? Is the Sign of the Cross made? Are there fonts of holy water? Is there a Tabernacle to genuflect before before sitting in the pew?

I've never been in an Anglican church before so I've no idea what to expect. The one I'd like to check out is an old 19th century Gothic revival parish Downtown. So I'm hoping they lean towards the traditional in the liturgy.


So advice and tips?

LGBT is not a Catholic church issue, it's a Bible issue, as such many churches, if majority of them, deny gay marriages.

 

[Saint Frankenstein]

LGBT is not a Catholic church issue, it's a Bible issue, as such many churches, if majority of them, deny gay marriages.

Um, okay?

 

[e.r.m.]

Um, okay?

My apologies for not reading carefully. Thought I saw something about gay marriage. I am not too clear as to where I stand with trans. issues.

 

[Saint Frankenstein]

My apologies for not reading carefully. Thought I saw something about gay marriage. I am not too clear as to where I stand with trans. issues.

It's okay. No, this thread wasn't meant to be about LGBT stuff.