Episcopalian?

_The Episcopal Church is part of the one, holy, catholic, and apostolic Church founded by Jesus Christ. The word episcopal is derived from the Greek word for bishop, meaning that we are church guided by the pastoral direction of bishops. Episcopalians trace their roots to English settlers who arrived in America and founded the Church of England congregations, which is why we are also known as Anglicans. All Saints' was founded in 1837 and is one of the oldest parishes in the diocese of Michigan.

Unlike Roman Catholics, who are under the sole authority of the Pope, the Episcopal Church is guided by the decisions of the General Convention,  which is the legislative body of the Episcopal Church and includes the voices of all orders of ministry:  the laity, bishops, priest, and deacons. General Convention meets once every three years to create policies, set priorities, authorize programs, and approve the budget to fund the work of the Episcopal Church around the world.

The Episcopal Church is part of the worldwide fellowship known as the Anglican Communion, whose mother church is the Church of England. There are some 70 million Christians in the Anglican Communion in 28 independent, self-governing, national, and regional churches which include 64,000 congregations in 164 countries and on every continent. The Anglican Church is a multinational, multi-lingual, multiracial fellowship of faith, and we recognize the Archbishop Canterbury as one of the symbols of our unity. Although the Archbishop has no direct governing authority over the entire Communion, he is regarded as "first among equals," and his counsel and pastoral direction provide guidance to all the churches of the Communion.
he Diocese of Michigan
A diocese is the basic unit of the Episcopal Church. It is headed by a bishop, who may be assisted by bishops suffragan or assistant bishops and it covers a specific geographic region. Our diocesan bishop is the Right Reverend Wendell N Gibbs, Jr. Our diocesan headquarters is located in Detroit, Michigan. The diocese is governed by representatives of all its congregations serving as delegates to the annual Diocesan Convention and is led by the bishop, a standing committee (the Bishop’s Council of Advice), a diocesan council, and other elected or appointed leaders.  Click here to learn more through our Diocesan website.

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