Episcopal Church
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
- Proper noun:
- A Christian church that maintains the historic episcopate (a system of church government by bishops): Specifically refers to churches that are part of the Anglican Communion or share its traditions and governance structure, characterized by having bishops in the apostolic succession.
Usage and Examples
- Proper noun:
- She was confirmed in the Episcopal Church. (This specifies her membership in a particular denomination, specifically the Anglican church in the United States.)
- The Episcopal Church voted on the new measure at its general convention. (This refers to the autonomous governing body of that denomination taking an action.)
Advanced Usage
- The term is often capitalized when referring to a specific national church, such as "the Episcopal Church" (in the United States) or "the Scottish Episcopal Church," distinguishing it from a general "episcopal church" (any church governed by bishops).
- He is a bishop in the Episcopal Church, not the Roman Catholic Church.
- Used to describe the polity (form of governance) of a church.
- Anglicanism is an episcopal church tradition.
Variants and Related Words
- Episcopalian (noun/adjective): A member or pertaining to the Episcopal Church.
- She is an Episcopalian.
- Episcopacy (noun): Government of a church by bishops; the episcopal system.
- episcopal (adjective, lowercase): Of or relating to a bishop or bishops.
- The episcopal consecration was held in the cathedral.
Synonyms
- Anglican Church: Especially when referring to its global communion.
- Protestant Episcopal Church: A former name, sometimes used historically.
Notes on Different Meanings
- Lowercase "episcopal church": Can generically describe any Christian church that has a bishop-led structure (e.g., Roman Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, some Lutheran churches).
- Capitalized "Episcopal Church": Almost always refers specifically to the autonomous province of the Anglican Communion in a given country, most notably The Episcopal Church (TEC) in the United States. The reference context specifies the Scottish branch.
Noun
- United States church that is in communication with the see of Canterbury
- an autonomous branch of the Anglican Communion in Scotland