The Episcopal Church USA & The Anglican Communion

The Episcopal ShieldIn a broad way that connects the "body of Christ" throughout the world, ECOM is a campus ministry of the Protestant Episcopal Church in the United States of America (ECUSA), member of the worldwide Anglican Communion.  ECUSA formally was established October 16, 1789 at the meeting of the General Convention, culminating settlers' quest for religious freedom (separate Church and State).  ECOM (Episcopal Church at Ole Miss) and St. Peter's Parish Oxford are faithful to the doctrine and teachings of The Episcopal Church USA led by Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts-Schori and Anglican Communion led by Archbishop Rowan Williams.

The great Episcopal Anglican world is rich and historical, wide-open to the poor in spirit, fresh for all who seek to know and be known by God, right for one who seeks new life and rebirth, orthodox in the reading of the Holy Scriptures, supportive of free-thinking and reason, akin to the diversity and complexity of first-century Christianity, and full of endless excitement.  It offers great hope, peace, love, grace, and promise of eternal life that God promises faithful people of God.  And because the "Church" (definition for all traditions) is the universal body of sinners who seek redemption by the Risen Lord, we acknowledge the holy challenges, changes, and opportunities for growth in our midst.Anglican Communion Compass Rose  

The world of ECOM, St. Peter's, and the Episcopal Diocese of Mississippi is not, however, the same as recent, splinter "Anglican" groups (congregations, parishes, dioceses) in the USA, such as the Convocation of Anglicans in North America (CANA), Anglican Network in America, and Anglican Mission in America (AMiA).  ECOM, St. Peter's, and the Episcopal Diocese of Mississippi, as "Episcopalian-Anglicans", continue to pray for them and they for us, as we seek to remember what it means to be brothers and sisters in the body of Christ.  Certain "Anglican" groups express judgment of and disrespect for certain actions of the Episcopal Church USA, including the ordination of women and 'openly' homosexual persons.  Recently, such groups have found oversight from non-geographical bishops namely from Africa and Asia versus the American Episcopal House of Bishops, which governs the clergy and laity of Episcopal Church USA (ECUSA aka Episcopalian-Anglicans).  We uphold that the unity of the Church remains with God; may God save us all.  (For more dicussion about this spiritually complex situation, please contact the ECOM Chaplain or one of St. Peter's Clergy.)

"Come and see" the Christian Faith Experience in Word, Sacrament, Service, and Fellowship through life with ECOM - and never be the same.