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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 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.

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 and, by 2011, had lost over 40 percent of the

churchgoers it counted in the mid-1960s. 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 share some traditions 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.

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. 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.  

There is currently an additional area of controversy in the Episcopal Church concerning the role of homosexuals within the church. The dispute involves both the establishment of rites for the blessing of same-sex marriages in the church and the consecrating of non-celibate homosexual persons as Episcopal bishops. 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 has alienated it from some other churches of the Anglican Communion, specifically national churches in Africa, Southeast Asia, and Latin America which have broken intercommunion with ECUSA while remaining with her as 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.

Some U.S. Episcopal congregations and dioceses opposed to the consecration of practicing homosexuals to the episcopate have removed themselves from ECUSA and instead placed themselves under the authority of Anglican churches in Africa, Latin America, or Southeast Asia, thus attempting to remain (unlike the 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 in 2010 formed themselves into the new "Anglican Church in North America" and won recognition from a majority of the provinces of the Anglican Communion.

Some of the churches which formerly belonged to ECUSA are currently involved in legal struggles with ECUSA over the fate of their historic church buildings. In its most recent decision on this issue, the Supreme Court of Virginia has ruled that "For these reasons, we will reverse the judgment of the circuit court and remand with direction to dismiss the CANA Congregations’ Code § 57-9(A) petitions." In other words, that particular suit was settled, pending appeal to a higher court, in favor of ECUSA and against the missionary jurisdiction in Virginia of the (Anglican) Church of Nigeria.

Some of the churches which formerly belonged to ECUSA are currently involved in legal struggles with ECUSA over the fate of their historic church buildings. Most often, the courts have held in favor of ECUSA and against the various churches that have declared their independence from her.

Some prominent Episcopalians are:

Some prominent Episcopalians are: