What We Believe
All Are Welcome
The Church of the Good Shepherd is part of The Episcopal Church USA, an inclusive and affirming branch of Christianity that welcomes everyone regardless of race, class, age, gender, sexuality, or marital status.
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At the center of Episcopal teaching is the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ, who is fully human and fully divine, and who provides for us the way to eternal life. Our beliefs surrounding this holy mystery are expressed most succinctly in our baptismal covenant, which is a statement of faith and declaration of vows that every Christian makes at the time of baptism, and that we are called to renew each time we are present at the baptism of others.
Do you believe in God the Father?
I believe in God the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth.
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Do you believe in Jesus Christ, the Son of God?
I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord. He was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary. He suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried. He descended to the dead. On the third day he rose again. He ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again to judge the living and the dead.
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Do you believe in God the Holy Spirit?
I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting.
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Will you continue in the apostles' teaching and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in the prayers?
I will, with God's help.
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Will you persevere in resisting evil, and whenever you fall into sin, repent and return to the Lord?
I will, with God's help.
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Will you proclaim by word and example the Good News of God in Christ?
I will, with God's help.
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Will you seek and serve Christ in all persons, loving your neighbor as yourself?
I will, with God's help.
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Will you strive for justice and peace among all people, and respect the dignity of every human being?
I will, with God's help.
In the Episcopal Church, women are of equal worth and dignity with men and have full access to all orders of ministry including ordained priesthood and the office of bishop. Lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender persons are also full and equal members of our church, with access to the sacraments of ordination and holy matrimony.
Please visit our Leadership page to learn more about our church's governance, structure, and parish by-laws.
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A Middle Way
Drawing equally on Scripture, Tradition, and Reason as our threefold basis for theological understanding, the Episcopal Church is often referred to as the via media or "middle way" between tradition-based Orthodox and Roman Catholic churches, Scripture-oriented Protestant denominations, and experience-driven charismatic and Pentecostal communities.
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Our members come from a variety of faith backgrounds, bringing with them a diverse range of theological ideas, spiritual experiences, and Biblical understandings. What binds us together is our shared love of God in Jesus Christ, and our common worship as outlined in the Book of Common Prayer.
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Faith Through Practice
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The Episcopal Church follows the early Christian principle of lex orandi, lex cretendi, which means "the law of praying shapes the law of believing." In other words, our beliefs are shaped by our spiritual practices and devotional prayers. This is in keeping with the earliest Christians, who established and maintained their common liturgical traditions several centuries before defining doctrines, composing creeds, or deciding which writings would be considered part of the Biblical canon.
Rather than coming together around a set of theological doctrines or "belief statements," the Episcopal Church follows an embodied and lived faith that, like the early Christians, is expressed primarily in liturgical practices and prayerful participation in the world.
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The Book of Common Prayer contains the basic format for services in every Episcopal Church across the country and world. We follow the same structure in our worship that was used by the earliest churches, which also remains in use by many other Christian denominations including Roman Catholics, Lutherans, and some Methodists and Presbyterians. For this reason, our worship may feel very familiar to you, even if you are visiting us for the first time. Visit our Worship page to learn more about our services.
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The Jesus Movement
The Episcopal Church understands itself to be one branch of the "The Jesus Movement," a movement of faithful people from many denominations all over the world who are committed to following Jesus into loving, liberating, and life-giving relationships with God, with one another, and with all of creation. We participate in this movement by seeking every day to love God with our whole heart, mind, and soul, and to love our neighbors as ourselves (Matthew 22:36-40).
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Our presiding bishop, Rev. Michael Curry, has identified three specific areas for the Episcopal Church to focus on as part of this movement:
Evangelism
Listening for Jesus' movement in our lives and in the world, giving thanks to God in all things. Proclaiming and celebrating God's work in the world and inviting others to become witnesses as well.
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Reconciliation
Embodying the loving, liberating, and life-giving way of Jesus, particularly with regard to racial justice. Telling the truth about our past and present, rewriting the narrative for our future, and working to repair and restore our institutions and society.
Creation Care
Encountering and honoring the face of God in all of creation, and developing ways to pursue ecological justice at global, national, and local levels.
Want to learn more? Visit The Episcopal Church website.