Top 10 Reasons – Explained! Week One

If you are reading this, you have probably seen our advertisements in the local paper and in the parish hall that feature comedian Robin William’s “Top 10 Reasons to be an Episcopalian”.  While humor is a wonderful gift in itself, these lines of humor are only the entry point to real conversation about, and discovery of, Episcopal faith.  Humor often plays on stereotypes, and usually negative ones at that, none of which do justice to the more complex story.  But good humor also has a grain of truth in it, and these lines offer us a chance to examine some bit of the truth that we all cherish as Episcopalians.  Below are some explanations that help elaborate some of the truths behind the laughter.

10. No Snake Handling.

Most Episcopal worship favors ceremony and symbolism, not overt demonstrations of power.  The desire is for worship to draw us into the great drama of God’s relationship to the world.  God’s love for the world is best expressed through Jesus Christ our Lord, and our worship works to draw us into that story.  We still believe in miracles and the incredible power of God, however!

9.  You can believe in dinosaurs.

Although there are Episcopal worshippers who follow more literal interpretations of the Bible, most Episcopalians accept that part of the Biblical story is metaphor and colored by the understanding of the world from when it was written.  The creation story provides us a rich window into understanding God’s intent in creation and how our relationship with Him is founded.  That meaning is not lost by accepting modern science and the amazing work of God gifted scientists and thinkers in trying to unlock history’s mysteries using modern tools and languages.

8.  Male and female God created them; male and female we ordain them.

As a church that is a direct descendant of the ancient traditions of Christianity, we uphold the sacred order of ordained ministry set forth in the earliest counsels of the church.  That ministry includes bishops, priests, and deacons.  But, as the most important ministry order of all, the non-ordained ‘lay’ members of the church, are made up of both men and women, the Episcopal church moved in the 1970’s to welcome all into the work of ordained ministry, too.  We are blessed to have men and women preaching, baptizing, and leading our churches.