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The '''Episcopal Church in the USA''' (ECUSA), now also known as '''The Episcopal Church''' (TEC), is the American branch of the worldwide [[Anglican Communion]]. From its founding until the middle of the twentieth century, the church was named the "Protestant Episcopal Church in the United States of America."  

The '''Episcopal Church in the USA''' (ECUSA), now also known as '''The Episcopal Church''' (TEC), is the American branch of the worldwide [[Anglican Communion]]. From its founding until the middle of the twentieth century, the church was named the "Protestant Episcopal Church in the United States of America."  

In 2005 the Church reported 7200 churches in the U.S., with 1.8 million full members and 15,900 clergy. It has been steadily shrinking in membership since its peak of 3.6 million in 1966.  It is undergoing a theological split as traditionalists break off over the issue of homosexual bishops.  It sponsors [[Sewanee]] University in Tennessee and a number of other colleges and seminaries across the United States.

In 2005 the Church reported 7200 churches in the U.S., with 1.8 million full members and 15,900 clergy. It has been steadily shrinking in membership since its peak of 3.6 million in 1966.  It is undergoing a theological split as traditionalists break off over a number of concerns, most notably the issue of homosexual bishops.  It sponsors [[Sewanee]] University in Tennessee and a number of other colleges and seminaries across the United States.

Episcopalians reject some of the doctrines held by Protestants such as [[Martin Luther]] and adhere to some traditions shared with the [[Catholic Church]].  The church is usually classed as a [[Mainline Protestant churches|Mainline Protestant denomination]], however.

Episcopalians reject some of the doctrines held by Protestants such as [[Martin Luther]] and share some traditions with the [[Catholic Church]].  The church is usually classed as a [[Mainline Protestant churches|Mainline Protestant denomination]], however.

==Worship==

==Worship==

Worship in the Episcopal Church is according to the [[Book of Common Prayer]], a book of worship services for use in the church.  The current edition was published in 1979.  The previous edition was published in 1928.  Worship styles within the Episcopal Church can range from "high church" (emphasizing ritual, sung liturgy, candles and incense, genuflecting, etc. with services resembling a [[Roman Catholic]] service before 1960) to "low church" (emphasizing preaching and personal conversion and eschewing elaborate ceremony, with services resembling other evangelical Protestant denominations).  Many Episcopal churches have a "broad church" stance, meaning they take a middle ground and try to incorporate elements of both high and low church styles.  The Episcopal Church has been active in ecumenical movements, and in 1948 it became a founding members of the [[World Council of Churches]].

Worship in the Episcopal Church is according to the [[Book of Common Prayer]], a book of worship services for use in the church.  The current edition was published in 1979.  The previous edition was published in 1928.  Worship styles within the Episcopal Church can range from "high church" (emphasizing ritual, sung liturgy, candles and incense, genuflecting, etc. with services resembling a [[Roman Catholic]] service before 1960) to "low church" (emphasizing preaching and personal conversion and eschewing elaborate ceremony, with services resembling other evangelical Protestant denominations).  Many Episcopal churches have a "broad church" stance, meaning they take a middle ground and incorporate elements of both high and low church styles.  The Episcopal Church has been active in ecumenical movements, and in 1948 it became a founding members of the [[World Council of Churches]].

==Theology==

==Theology==

Episcopal theology is summarized by the [[Thirty-Nine Articles of Religion]], principally written by [[Thomas Cranmer]]. The Articles were adopted by the Church of England in 1563 and by the new Protestant Episcopal Church in 1801. The influence of the Articles has decreased dramatically over the last few centuries, as the Anglican Communion has gradually moved further away from [[Protestantism]] and closer to [[Catholicism]].

Episcopal theology is summarized by the [[Thirty-Nine Articles of Religion]], principally written by [[Thomas Cranmer]]. The Articles were adopted by the Church of England in 1563 and by the new Protestant Episcopal Church in 1801. The influence of the Articles has decreased dramatically over the last few centuries, as the Anglican Communion has gradually moved further away from [[Protestantism]] and closer to [[Catholicism]].

==Politics==

==Politics==

The [[National Cathedral]] in Washington is an Episcopal church, and is the official seat of the Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church in the USA. Twelve of the forty-three Presidents have been Episcopalians, including [[George Washington]], [[Franklin D. Roosevelt]], [[George H. W. Bush]], and [[Gerald Ford]].   

The [[National Cathedral]] in Washington is an Episcopal church and is the official seat of the Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church in the USA. Twelve of the forty-three Presidents have been Episcopalians, including [[George Washington]], [[Franklin D. Roosevelt]], [[George H. W. Bush]], and [[Gerald Ford]].   

==Schisms==

==Schisms==

Changes made in the church during the 1970s, specifically the ordination of women and the adoption of a new Book of Common Prayer in 1979, led to a movement of breakaway churches called the [[Continuing Anglican]] movement.

Changes made in the church during the 1970s, specifically the ordination of women and the adoption of a new Book of Common Prayer in 1979, led to a movement of breakaway churches called the [[Continuing Anglican]] movement.

There is currently a controversy within the Episcopal Church about the role of homosexuals within the church. The church was given until September 30, 2007 to determine whether or not it would continue to consecrate homosexuals, but replied that it would not yield its autonomy. The Episcopal Church's liberal stance is alienating it from some members of the communion, specifically the churches in Africa, Southeast Asia, and Latin America.  

There is currently a controversy within the Episcopal Church about the role of homosexuals within the church. The church was given until September 30, 2007 to determine whether or not it would continue to consecrate homosexuals but replied that it would not yield its autonomy. In 2010, a lesbian priest became the second openly homosexual priest in the church to be approved for consecration as a bishop. The Episcopal Church's liberal stance is alienating it from some members of the communion, specifically the churches in Africa, Southeast Asia, and Latin America.  

Some U.S. Episcopal churches and dioceses opposed to the consecration of practicing homosexuals to the episcopate have chosen to remove themselves from ECUSA and instead place themselves under the authority of Anglican churches in Africa, Latin America, or Southeast Asia, thus attempting to remain (unlike those churches in the Continuing Anglican movement) in full communion with the worldwide Anglican Communion.  Along with the Reformed Episcopal Church and parishes established in North America by various overseas Anglican provinces, these Anglicans have now formed themselves into the new "Anglican Church in North America" and won recognition from a majority of the provinces of the Anglican Communion.

Some U.S. Episcopal churches and dioceses opposed to the consecration of practicing homosexuals to the episcopate have chosen to remove themselves from ECUSA and instead place themselves under the authority of Anglican churches in Africa, Latin America, or Southeast Asia, thus attempting to remain (unlike those churches in the Continuing Anglican movement) in full communion with the worldwide Anglican Communion.  Along with the Reformed Episcopal Church and parishes established in North America by various overseas Anglican provinces, these Anglicans have now formed themselves into the new "Anglican Church in North America" and won recognition from a majority of the provinces of the Anglican Communion.