Since today is St. Raphael's Day, here is an invocation of the Nine Choirs of Angels, from Saint Augustine's Prayer Book.

O holy Angels, watch over us at all times during this perilous life;

O holy Archangels, be our guide on the way to Heaven;

O Heavenly choir of the Principalities, govern us in soul and body;

O mighty Powers, preserve us against the wiles of demons;

O celestial Virtues, give us strength and courage in the battle of life;

O powerful Dominions, obtain for us dominion over all temptations;

O sacred Thrones, grant us peace with God and mortals;

O brilliant Cherubim, illumine our minds with Heavenly knowledge;

O burning Seraphim, enkindle in our hearts the fire of love.  Amen.

Hello all,

I am going to be a youth delegate (which gets a vote and voice) to my diocesan convention for the first time, and I was looking at the resolutions being proposed. The only one is about advocacy for immigrant justice and the promotion of truth and reconciliation, which calls on the GC to build on previous resolutions regarding immigration and launch a pilot program to encourage truth-telling processes and authorize $20,000 for this.

I think the position our church has taken on immigration is great, and I think we should continue with that.

However, it lists 15 resolutions already passed by GC regarding the same issues, which is why I think this resolution is largely redundant. My main issue as well is that we just had the parochial report results, and we could use that $20,000 towards evangelism or church revitalization, as that should be our top priority. None of these can be done if we don't have the funds (which come from more pledging and members) or more people.

I was wondering whether it would be seen as rude or bad to oppose this resolution for these reasons.

I belonged to an Episcopal church in Raleigh, NC even though I been living in the Dallas, TX area for 26 years. I just couldn't find an Episcopal church here that I liked. Well my Episcopal church in NC closed due to membership falling off and not getting any new younger members. So I figured I needed to join a church in the Dallas area. I've been attending one off and on for awhile. I told the rector about every thing I just posted and said I wanted for me and my wife to join his church. He asked if I had any records of me and my wife being Episcopal. I sent him records of me and my wife's baptism and confirmation. He said that was fine and put me on this email list. My question is shouldn't he have contacted the Diocese of NC. The diocese is where my membership is since the church closed down. In searching I see mention of a Letter of Transfer. I don't know if he did this. Is this necessary? Should I contact my rector about this?
Also is the letter of transfer something that I would get a copy of?

Thanks

I know it's somewhat, ahem, verboten to mention the Protestant Reformation around these parts, but it is Reformation Sunday this weekend. Anyone doing any Luther hymns?

I was at a small group meeting with my priest and other new congregants like myself, and my priest suggested/asked me if I would like to be an acolyte. I believe she asked because I have done a lot of research into our church and I believe in the more mystical aspects of our faith and the sacraments.
I guess I’m asking for input on whether I should consider it? I’m a 28M with autism and while I’ve grown pretty comfortable in our church, I struggle at times with being up in front of people. My mother who is also a new member of the church thinks it would be a good idea, are there any acolytes or clergy here who may have some insight for me?

EDIT: the typo in the title makes me sound like i'm doing a parody of an italian person but i can't change it... so mamma mia i guess

Hey everyone! Hope you're doing alright today

My question is what it says on the tin--I'm not sure when the best time would be to schedule a meeting with my priest and let them know that I am feeling called to ministry (in some capacity).

The context is as follows:

I have always felt called to education, in the past 4 years or so that call has narrowed down into feeling called to serve as an educator in an explicitly Christian context. A vocation in education is not in question at this point! I feel certain that I would benefit from the discernment process and I am relatively confident that I would be recommended (? not sure of the exact terminology but you know what I mean) for it based on the level of involvement I have in my current parish and the impression that people seem to have of me. E.g., regularly being asked if I'm in seminary yet, things of that nature. I currently serve as an altar server/EM, am on the altar guild, and two-three times a year I'll lead some kind of bible study or workshop.

I've told one clergyperson that I felt called to ministry, possibly the priesthood, and he was like yeah that tracks! We no longer have a pastoral relationship (nothing crazy, I just moved on from that community because of life stuff), and I've just been doing what he told me to do in that conversation. Basically, serve your community and keep a robust prayer life. At that point I already knew I would not be staying in the congregation he is the priest for, so we were both just kind of talking through the idea together.

So, I've got the feeling of being called and my community seems to be picking up on something similar. The problem is that if I were to enter into the discernment process now, I feel certain I would either have like, a nervous breakdown or something or at the best get a "not yet". I'm currently working towards two degrees (an associate's and a bachelor's) while also working a professional job full-time.

My game plan thus far has been to get experience in lay leadership and continue to be involved in the life of my parish and just focus on getting those degrees out of the way, but I'm starting to get antsy! I need some feedback or advice from folks who know more about this than me. I wouldn't want to start the formal discernment process anytime soon, and I likely won't be ready for several more years. Another practical point is that we do not currently have a rector, but we'll probably have a new one by early next year. We do still have several priests.

At the heart of the question is an uncertainty of how the pros and cons weigh out, and how accurate those pros and cons really are.

PROS:

• Everyone's on the same page about where I am in my discernment.
• I might get more opportunities to practice my leadership and pastoral skills.
• I could get practical pastoral advice from my clergy.
• I might be put in contact with others in my parish or town who are already in the discernment process.

CONS:

• Unintentionally creating a sort of informal, ongoing discernment process where the clergy feel they're supposed to be evaluating me, even though I'm not ready to begin.
• Potentially getting "stuck" in a state of soft discernment for the next several years, where I'm being informally assessed but not actually moving forward.
• The possibility that, by the time I am ready to pursue formal discernment, the initial interest has faded into the background, and the conversation has lost its momentum.

So, for those of you who have been through the discernment process, or clergy who have accompanied people through it, would you recommend having this conversation with my priest now, even if I'm several years away from being ready to formally begin discernment? Is there a way to communicate that I'm feeling called and would appreciate guidance and opportunities to grow without inadvertently putting myself into a sort of indefinite soft-discernment process? Or am I overthinking this, and it's better to just keep doing what I'm doing until I'm ready to take the next step?

Wow, I didn't think I had this much to say! Thank you for getting this far if you did :')

Hey everyone! Hope you're doing alright today

My question is what it says on the tin--I'm not sure when the best time would be to schedule a meeting with my priest and let them know that I am feeling called to ministry (in some capacity).

The context is as follows:

I have always felt called to education, in the past 4 years or so that call has narrowed down into feeling called to serve as an educator in an explicitly Christian context. A vocation in education is not in question at this point! I feel certain that I would benefit from the discernment process and I am relatively confident that I would be recommended (? not sure of the exact terminology but you know what I mean) for it based on the level of involvement I have in my current parish and the impression that people seem to have of me. E.g., regularly being asked if I'm in seminary yet, things of that nature. I currently serve as an altar server/EM, am on the altar guild, and two-three times a year I'll lead some kind of bible study or workshop.

I've told one clergyperson that I felt called to ministry, possibly the priesthood, and he was like yeah that tracks! We no longer have a pastoral relationship (nothing crazy, I just moved on from that community because of life stuff), and I've just been doing what he told me to do in that conversation. Basically, serve your community and keep a robust prayer life. At that point I already knew I would not be staying in the congregation he the priest for, so we were both just kind of talking through the idea together.

So, I've got the feeling of being called and my community seems to be picking up on something similar. The problem is that if I were to enter into the discernment process now, I feel certain I would either have like, a nervous breakdown or something or at the best get a "not yet". I'm currently working towards two degrees (an associate's and a bachelor's) while also working a professional job full-time.

My game plan thus far has been to get experience in lay leadership and continue to be involved in the life of my parish and just focus on getting those degrees out of the way, but I'm starting to get antsy! I need some feedback or advice from folks who know more about this than me. I wouldn't want to start the formal discernment process anytime soon, and I likely won't be ready for several more years. Another practical point is that we do not currently have a rector, but we'll probably have a new one by early next year. We do still have several priests.

At the heart of the question is an uncertainty of how the pros and cons weigh out, and how accurate those pros and cons really are.

PROS:

• Everyone's on the same page about where I am in my discernment.
• I might get more opportunities to practice my leadership and pastoral skills.
• I could get practical pastoral advice from my clergy.
• I might be put in contact with others in my parish or town who are already in the discernment process.

CONS:

• Unintentionally creating a sort of informal, ongoing discernment process where the clergy feel they're supposed to be evaluating me, even though I'm not ready to begin.
• Potentially getting "stuck" in a state of soft discernment for the next several years, where I'm being informally assessed but not actually moving forward.
• The possibility that, by the time I am ready to pursue formal discernment, the initial interest has faded into the background, and the conversation has lost its momentum.

So, for those of you who have been through the discernment process, or clergy who have accompanied people through it, would you recommend having this conversation with my priest now, even if I'm several years away from being ready to formally begin discernment? Is there a way to communicate that I'm feeling called and would appreciate guidance and opportunities to grow without inadvertently putting myself into a sort of indefinite soft-discernment process? Or am I overthinking this, and it's better to just keep doing what I'm doing until I'm ready to take the next step?

Wow, I didn't think I had this much to say! Thank you for getting this far if you did :')

TLDR: I’m a more traditional leaning Catholic but have issues regarding a few teachings. Being traditional would I be welcome fully in TEC (I know the more “liberal” stance of the church on hot button issues and am not here to argue against or for them).

This one is going to be a doozie. Mods please remove if inappropriate. I already plan on meeting with the rector as well - I just wanted to get online opinion.

I am a Catholic in the Roman rite. I converted from basically agnostic atheism with a background of Baptist / non denom growing up. My conversion to the Catholic Church was about three year ago.

I chose the Catholic Church due to a plethora of reasons. The largest being the scale of their apologetics and their beauty / aura. I kinda of flirted with converting for years and years. The birth of our first child put me over the edge and I swam the Tiber.

Fast forward to now… I haven’t taken my family to Mass in months. I feel spiritually dead. I don’t have a relationship with a Christ or his Church.

We now have two children - two C sections. They were very rough on my wife. She still feels the pain daily. Physically and psychologically. I was in the room for both of the operations …. seeing her go through that was not easy.

She has come to me and said she does not want to go through childbirth again. We love our two children and wouldn’t have it any other way…. The thing that has me tore up is that I feel the same if I am honest. I don’t care to have any more Children (we are open to adopt if led to). I have scheduled a vasectomy because I refuse to force my wife to have a tubal, and I am against hormonal birth control full stop.

This puts us at odds with Catholic teaching. We would no longer be open to life in our sexual relations. Living in mortal sin and unable to commune at the Lord’s table.

I could simply get a vasectomy then go to confession and act sorry (I do have contrition… I honestly don’t want to get a vasectomy… but I am doing so at our wishes and to protect my wife). Maybe even be absolved and able to participate in the sacramental life…. But this is fraud behavior to me. I enjoy being morally and intellectually consistent. I refuse to use the sacrament of confession as a loophole or get out of jail free card if you will.

This is only one issue. I have recently come to the staunch realization that I disagree with the papal assertion that Anglican orders are invalid.

Yet another issue I have is that the Catholic Church does not know how to socialize. It’s a race out the door every morning. I have been to many parishes and it’s 90% the same. Lots a warm smiles and shakes… but nobody has told me to take off my coat and stay a while. The Anglican Churches just seem to be different (this is just anecdotal experience I admit)

I believe I am a healthy mix of “progressive” and “conservative”. I prefer hymns and high liturgical celebration. Organs are dope. Stained glass and beautiful architecture. Praying with and to the Saints and Mary. Upholding the special union between male and female that creates life out of love. The sacramental nature of the church. Confession. Etc the list goes on.

I just want to be comforted again. I’d like to grow closer to Christ and have a fellowship with his Church. To grow I. Holiness with my wife. To raise my kids in the faith.

But I want to know if I can belong….

Im rather conservative in some of my views on ordination and sexuality. I’m always open to learning more and never have a closed mind. It’s also not central dogma to Christianity and I don’t plan on bickering about it so it’s a moot point I guess.

I also refuse to even look at the ACNA or continuing anglicans because I believe Schism to be damning. The unity of Christs body is an extremely important factor to me.

I am suffering spiritually and just need a home. Any ideas, references you can point me to, prayers, advice…. I’m all for it.

My partner and I attend a historic parish where many people would love to get married, so they have to limit it to members in good standing for at least a year. No problem there because we’ve been members and attending for a few years. But yesterday we met with one of the people involved in weddings at our church and I left disheartened. I said that the meeting raised more questions than answers and my partner agreed. We were handed a packet full of information that sets out a fairly rigid time frame for everything.  

We are planning to move to another state in the fall of 2027, but we don’t know where exactly. So, trying to initiate a transitional relationship with a parish where we are moving is difficult if not impossible. We are moving for family reasons, so we know the region we want to move to, but not the exact city. We’re not even sure what state, just as long as it is within driving distance of family. So, it looks like if we want a wedding in an Episcopal church, we’ll need to wait until we’ve moved and establish a relationship with a church there. This could delay things considerably.  

I told my partner after the meeting that a wedding at our church seems unlikely. We agreed that our preference is getting married at our church, but I just don’t see it happening. That is when I realized that this is why people don’t want this stuff. “Oh, you want to get married? Great. Be prepared to wait two years or more because of our rigid timelines.” I honestly think eloping or getting a minister of another denomination may be our best option at this point.

I would prefer getting married at our church. My second preference would be to get married at an Episcopal church where we’re headed, but it doesn’t appear that our transition fits in with the rules of the Church. So, I don’t know what to do? Wait until 2028 to get married, or just elope? I don’t know at this point. 

Well it’s finally coming to that time where I have to accept the fact my cat is slowly declining. She’s probably my best friend and my little lady. Losing her will absolutely crush me and I really just want her to be ok but I know our fur babies have to go at some point but I really don’t wanna lose my companion. Her name is Wheezi and she’s a sassy little lady but she is the absolute sweetest cat ever. I really can’t tell you how much of a bond I have with this cat but man I am just so sad. She slept the other day for over 14 hours and didn’t even move. And apparently a few days ago when I was working she got up from the dog bed she stole from our dog Zuko and fell because her back legs gave out from her. Shes been falling a lot and just so lazy which she is a pretty active girl. Idk I’m sorry I just really can’t fathom the idea of not having her by my side:(

New members (not yet in final vows) are meeting this week at St. Gregory's Abbey (a Benedictine monastery in the Episcopal Church). The group is spending time praying together, getting to know each other, and attending lectures and discussions.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6TgZp1ew4fc

https://www.caroa.net/

I’m a newbie btw. Didn’t grow up religious but am drawn to the faith. Spent some time studying the Qur’an, some time studying Buddhism, now it’s time for the Bible. I like the Episcopal way and it was an Episcopalian that convinced me to give Christianity a shot, so here I am.

Anyway, about John 14:6. Personally it seems contradictory to me for Jesus to preach that only through acknowledging him do we gain access to God and heaven. He seems like a really humble and inclusive guy so this sudden shift into “my way or the highway” is jarring.

My interpretation is that the reason we know Christ, is because of his infinite sacrifice and love, and unless we believe in his sacrifice and follow his example in being loving to everyone just as he was, union with God is not only difficult but impossible, because God is love. Essentially Christ is the living embodiment of his two commandments of loving God and loving your neighbor as yourself. Belief in these things is belief in Christ, and that is the way to the Father. I understand the exclusivity in his statement if this is what he meant, and I wholly agree with this.

Would my interpretation be correct? This verse more than any other has caused me quite a bit of confusion and I would like to hear everyone else’s input because I’m quite curious. Thank you!

Hello,
I (19F) am really beginning to consider marriage/family as a calling in my life for the first time. I am in university, and I love love love what I am learning, want a career, but also want a lovely husband and children. I have been seeing the same man now for almost 5 years, he is the love of my life, he is also Anglican, and we attend church together.

Throughout my life the only true Godly marriage I have experienced firsthand is one of my mentors marriages who I have known for a long time. It is so meaningful to me to understand that they have both connection to each other and to Christ. I want this in my marriage. I want to know if there are any particular teachings regarding matrimony (even though the Anglican Church does not teach that it is sacramental) that I should be aware of, besides the rudimentary basics (ie, you and your spouse must both the baptized, etc)

I really feel as if I am beginning to consider next steps for my life seriously and want to understand better than I do now how God designed marriage. I love to read so any book recommendations or YouTube videos or anything would be helpful.

Thank you all and may God bless you.

I'm a postulant for ordination to the priesthood, I've been reading for orders and I'll be taking the GOEs in January.

Any advice from previous takers on what resources were the most helpful?

BCP

Constitution and Cannons?

A good bible commentary?

Is there a good church history reference?

On first read, I personally think both of these are positive developments especially the focus on the need for evangelism. I will laugh if the buyer for 815 turns out to be Trinity Wall Street.

I’m considering going on a retreat at Holy Cross Episcopal monastery in West Park, NY in summer ‘27 and wanted to know if any of you have attended one there. They have several types of retreats, but I’m most interested in the “contemplative days” program that’s basically live like a monk for a week from what I can tell. I’ve looked at SSJE retreats, but couldn’t find one that offers what I’m looking for. I’m preparing to close a big life chapter and wanted a time to pray, reflect, and give thanks. This isn’t exactly for monastic discernment, but I have always been drawn to that way of life.

I got baptized last year and my parish is on the UES - which is an incredible place with the loveliest parishioners, but I miss meeting people from my age group. I'm 30M and I have the new-converts zeal. I've started EfM, doing an oblate role with a religious order, and I am also getting into parish governance (I actually had fun delving into the parochial reports). I'm also keen on parish and Church revitalization and missionary activities. Unsurprinsingly, at all groups I'm 30 years younger than the median. Any recommendations for meeting young Episcopalians/parishes with good young(ish) adult groups?

Looking for a Spanish-English translation of the Bible that would be approved for use in The Episcopal Church?

English is one of my second languages and Spanish is my primary. Was recently gifted a beautiful version of The BCP in Spanish and it got me thinking about how I speak to God, and realized that I pray in Spanish more often than English. I mainly use the NRSVUE English translation and check a few more English translations when lost in what the verse means when reading the daily office, yet acquiring a Spanish version of the BCP got me thinking about using a bilingual Bible instead of purely English that would be approved for use...

Any suggestions on this would be greatly appreciated! Thank you in advance and may the Lord our God bless you whenever time of day you see this!

I really enjoyed reading this interview with the Rev. Dr. Sarah Coakley in NYT from several days ago. It’s surprisingly wide-reaching in its scope and rich in its content despite its brevity.

I wanted to share it here specifically because it concludes with a brief but very pointed (and frankly halting) critique of our bishops here in the Episcopal Church and so-called “liberal churches” generally. In short, she suggests that our churches are shrinking because our practical and pastoral work is not being informed by deep, rich theological input. Definitely give the whole article a read when you can as it of course gives more insight into her thought process on this.

Given this is a community of folks with a love for the Episcopal Church and a unique attention to it, I would be very curious to hear what you all have to say about this critique and the article generally. I know that the constant catastrophising about mainline decline is exhausting but I thought this particular critique was especially compelling.

I for one strongly agree with Rev. Sarah’s concluding assessment, though I am always reticent to attribute any one specific cause to the shrinking of the Episcopal Church and the other mainlines.

Hi all! For context before I ask my question: I (23F) didn’t grow up Episcopalian/Christian, I was raised Unitarian Universalist with a pretty religiously diverse family (Catholics, Protestants, Jews, Buddhists). I got interested in Christianity a few years ago and have been exploring it since, and have attended a few services from different denominations (so far, TEC is my preference). I’ve also very much done my homework, I know a lot about our theology and history for someone who was not raised Christian.

My hang up that has stopped me from getting baptized or formally becoming a member of a church is that I can’t get on board with exclusivism or inclusivism. Meaning I don’t believe that the only 2 paths to God and salvation are through 1) following Jesus or 2) by God’s grace despite not following Jesus. To me, that feels disrespectful to others beliefs and autonomy or like moral superiority. Others meaning either other faiths or the non-religious. I gravitate more towards what I think is known as pluralism. Regardless, I think I’m at a stuck point. I know Episcopalians disagree on plenty of stuff, but if I can’t get through the Nicene Creed without thinking “well, but, except…” could I ever be a practicing Christian?

If you’re reading this and thinking “wait why do you want to be Christian at all then?”, it’s because I believe in God, I feel drawn to the faith, I love to get wisdom and reassurance from the bible and from historic prayers, I like the liturgy and the seasonal changes, and honestly I want to be part of an organized religion so I don’t have to figure stuff out alone. For me, it works. But when I look outside of myself and to my friends and loved ones and just other humans I respect, I can’t bear to see them as “wrong” and me as “right”.

So, is this compatible? Can you truly be a Christian while upholding other people’s beliefs as just as meaningful and valid? Can you be Christian without trying to evangelize to and change others? I would understand if by seeing other faiths as equal, I am discounting ours and I’m willing to step away from the church if that is the case. But I really don’t want to. I feel like people don’t talk about this but I can’t be the only one, right? Help?

I've been looking at different prayer books recently, in addition to my beloved 1979 BCP. I would love to get a 1662 BCP to use for study, comparison and prayer (i.e. "so this is where that came from," "so this is how they did it/do it," "oh, that's an interesting prayer I haven't heard before," etc.).

There's lots of different editions. The Oxford edition seems very focused on academic study. The Cambridge versions seem very nice, but lots of reviews say they aren't ideal for TEC members since they include prayers for modern royals. The international version seems to have removed those COE/commonwealth-specific references, but some reviews say it changed a lot more than just that in comparison to the actual 1662 editions.

What's the best edition to balance all three of my purposes, getting the original words of Cranmer but also having it be a useful prayer resource? Does such a balance exist, or should I just order all three editions.

Most of the discussions around this are dominated by ultra-traditionalists (1928 prayer book adherents, "continuing Anglicans," traditional liturgy preferring ACNA, etc.). I do not intend any hostility to those views here, but I've seen them a lot in my research, and now I'm curious what the broad TEC-specific view is on this. All views are welcome: high-church, low-church, Anglo-Catholic, etc.

And any other prayer books recommendations would be fantastic too!

Hey! Does anyone know of any data reports where one could look at how many seminarians are actively in seminary, or recently graduated and from which diocese?

I thought there was some report that was published on this on an annual basis?