St. Thomas Church is part of a larger fellowship called the Episcopal Church. The word ‘Episcopal’ comes a word meaning overseer or bishop. A bishop has the responsibility of a number of churches in a given geographical area called a diocese. Our bishop is the Rt.. Rev. Paul Marshall of the Diocese of Bethlehem. Our Diocese is one of many dioceses that form the Episcopal Church in the United States. We have three million members. Our presiding bishop is the Rt.. Rev. Frank T. Griswold.

 

In turn, the Episcopal Church belongs to a world -wide family of national churches called the Anglican Communion. Our spiritual leader is the Archbishop of Canterbury, the Most Rev. Rowan Williams. The Anglican Communion is a part of our Lord Jesus Christ’s One Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church, numbering about 70 million members in all parts of the world. The Anglican Communion is an outgrowth of the missionary zeal of the Church of England, which took root following the 2nd century visits to the British Isles by missionaries from the Mediterranean.

 

What We Believe

 

Our basis for unity among ourselves and with other branches of the Christian church set forth the following principles:

 

1. The Holy Scriptures of the Old and New Testament as the revealed Word of God.

 

2. The Nicene Creed as the statement of the Christian Faith.

 

3. The two Gospel Sacraments of Holy Baptism and Holy Eucharist.

 

4. The Historic Episcopate - those leaders raised up by the Church trace their

Consecration back to the Apostles of Jesus Christ.

pastor.

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