What We Believe
Beliefs of the Episcopal Church
The Beliefs We Teach
As Episcopalians, we are part of the worldwide Anglican Communion, rooted in scripture, tradition, and reason. We welcome all people to join us in worship and service as we seek to follow Jesus Christ.
The Holy Trinity
We believe in one God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. This foundational Christian doctrine guides our understanding of God’s nature as both unity and community, love in relationship.
Jesus Christ
We believe Jesus Christ is fully God and fully human, who lived, died, and rose again for our salvation. Through Christ, we are reconciled to God and called to new life in community with all creation.
Scripture, Tradition, and Reason
Our faith is grounded in the Holy Scriptures as the Word of God, informed by the traditions of the Church through the centuries, and guided by reason as we seek to understand God’s will in our time.
Common Prayer
What makes us distinctively Episcopal is our commitment to praying together, gathering around the shared words and rhythms of the Book of Common Prayer. We believe that it’s in our prayers that we express what we truly believe, or at least what we aspire to believe. When we worship together, something powerful happens: our voices join to amplify our praise to God while we support each other through the ups and downs of faith. There’s something beautiful about discovering that we don’t have to walk this path alone because faith grows stronger when we pray it together.
The Sacraments
We celebrate baptism as our entry into the Christian community and Communion as our ongoing nourishment in faith. These sacraments are outward and visible signs of God’s inward and spiritual grace. If you were baptized in another church, you don’t need to get baptized again. What matters is that you were baptized with water in Jesus Christ’s name. While baptism is the usual way to start receiving Communion, we don’t check credentials at the door. At Trinity Church, we believe including everyone is more important. Anyone who comes to God’s table with faith and respect is welcome to take Communion with us.
Inclusion and Welcome
We believe all people are created in God’s image and beloved by God. Our church welcomes everyone regardless of background, identity, or circumstance, for we are all called to be part of God’s family.
Christian Unity
We respect other Christian churches because what we share is more important than our differences. As part of the body of Christ, we recognize the faith and tradition that unites all Christians, while celebrating the unique gifts each denomination brings to God’s diverse family.
Service and Justice
Following Christ’s example, we are called to serve others, especially those who are marginalized or in need. We work for justice, peace, and the dignity of every human being as expressions of our faith.
Our Community
We gather as the Body of Christ to worship, learn, and grow together. Through prayer, fellowship, and service, we support one another on our spiritual journeys and seek to be Christ’s hands and feet in the world.
