Theologically speaking, there is no difference between the Catholic Church and the Episcopal Church.
The way I describe the Episcopal Church is, “Catholic – no pope.” (Although we do have great respect for the current pontiff.)
Or as Ken Jennings described Episcopalians, “Catholics who failed Latin.”
The main differences between the two churches is their management style.
The Catholic Church is “Top-Down.” The pope rules the church and orders go “downhill.”
The Episcopal Church is “Bottom-Up”. The congregation elects the vestry, the vestry members are like the board of governors for the church and tell the rector what to do. At conference the rectors tell the bishop what to do and then the bishops get together and tell the presiding bishop what to do.
This is why I like to joke, “I’m not a member of any organized religion; I’m Episcopalian.”
Theologically speaking, there is no difference between the Catholic Church and the Episcopal Church.
The way I describe the Episcopal Church is, “Catholic – no pope.” (Although we do have great respect for the current pontiff.)
Or as Ken Jennings described Episcopalians, “Catholics who failed Latin.”
The main differences between the two churches is their management style.
The Catholic Church is “Top-Down.” The pope rules the church and orders go “downhill.”
The Episcopal Church is “Bottom-Up”. The congregation elects the vestry, the vestry members are like the board of governors for the church and tell the rector what to do. At conference the rectors tell the bishop what to do and then the bishops get together and tell the presiding bishop what to do.
This is why I like to joke, “I’m not a member of any organized religion; I’m Episcopalian.”