EPISCOPAL CHURCH (ECUSA)
The Episcopal Church should be avoided because:
- Abandoned biblical authority on sexuality and marriage
- Ordains openly LGBTQ clergy including bishops
- Performs and blesses same-sex marriages
- Many leaders deny core Christian doctrines (resurrection, virgin birth)
- Uses virtue signaling language ("inclusive," "affirming," "welcoming")
- Per "How to Find a Courageous Church": When a denomination officiates same-sex marriages, "they are divorced from God"
DENOMINATION BACKGROUND
The Episcopal Church traces its roots to the Church of England in colonial America. After the American Revolution, American Anglicans reorganized as the Protestant Episcopal Church in the United States of America (1789).
For most of its history, the Episcopal Church maintained traditional Christian doctrine, though always with a degree of theological breadth. The mid-20th century saw increasing liberal drift, accelerating dramatically after the 1960s.
Major departures from orthodoxy include the ordination of women (1976), the consecration of openly gay bishop Gene Robinson (2003), and approval of same-sex marriage rites (2015). These actions led to the departure of many conservative Anglicans to form the Anglican Church in North America (ACNA) in 2009.
The Episcopal Church has undergone dramatic doctrinal decline:
- 1970s: Ordained women as priests (1976) and bishops (1989)
- 1990s: Increasing acceptance of LGBTQ members and clergy
- 2003: Consecrated first openly gay bishop (Gene Robinson)
- 2009: Many conservative parishes left to form ACNA
- 2015: Approved same-sex marriage rites
- 2018: Removed gender-specific language from marriage rites
- Present: Fully affirms LGBTQ clergy and same-sex marriage
The denomination has abandoned historic Christian teaching on sexuality, biblical authority, and increasingly on core doctrines.
Historical orthodox leaders:
- Phillips Brooks (1835-1893): Author of "O Little Town of Bethlehem"
Leaders of liberal decline:
- John Shelby Spong (1931-2021): Bishop who denied resurrection, virgin birth
- Katharine Jefferts Schori: First female Presiding Bishop (2006-2015)
- Gene Robinson: First openly gay bishop (2003)
- Michael Curry: Current Presiding Bishop, known for royal wedding sermon
Note: These churches have departed from orthodox Christianity:
- Washington National Cathedral (Washington, DC) - Performs same-sex marriages
- Trinity Church Wall Street (New York, NY) - LGBTQ affirming
- St. John's Church Lafayette Square (Washington, DC) - "Church of the Presidents"
- Grace Cathedral (San Francisco, CA) - LGBTQ affirming
Many faithful Episcopal parishes have left for ACNA or other Anglican bodies.
