The term "via media" is a Latin phrase meaning "the middle way" or "the way between extremes," and it has been a defining feature of the Anglican/Episcopalian way of worship since the English Reformation. Our church emerged during decades of bloody religious warfare and persecution in Europe between supporters of the Roman Catholic Church and supporters of Protestantism. In shaping the character of this new church, its leaders sought not a weak-willed compromise but an opportunity to bring together the best parts of each tradition while rejecting the extremes that divided them.
As spaces for the respectful expression of difference dwindle in our society, the Episcopal Church remains more committed that ever to seeking out and celebrating the best expressions of Christ in one another. As the Apostle Paul reminds us in his letter to the Galatians, "In Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith...There is no longer Jew or Greek; there is no longer slave or free; there is no longer male and female, for all of you are one in Christ Jesus."
There are three pillars which shape the theology at the center of the Episcopal faith: Scripture, Tradition, and Reason. Taken together, these are often visualized as three legs of a stool. In order for the stool to be able to bear weight upon it, each leg must be strong, and it must be even. When any of the legs are stronger or weaker than the others, then our faith as a whole is weaker and less stable.
Scripture: Our Catechism defines Scripture as the books of the Old and New Testaments of the Bible, written by human authors inspired by God. Episcopalians believe that the Scripture contains all things necessary for salvation. All Episcopal worship services include readings from Scripture, which are often accompanied by a related sermon. Much of the language of our liturgy in the Book of Common Prayer is taken directly from the Bible. Because we take Scripture so seriously, most Episcopalians do not take the whole of the Bible literally. We accept the responsibility of engaging in life-long, prayful study of the Bible to discern the way Scripture is speaking to us, understanding that it is often full of nuance and challenges.
Tradition: When we speak about tradition, we mostly refer to the history of the Christian church, which itself is rooted in many of the traditions of the Jewish faith. We recognize that countless people of faith who came before us asked many of the same questions that we do today, and that their wisdom and faithful discernment of God's work in the world has informed much of what we believe. Tradition is especially valuable to us in areas of our spiritual life where Scripture may be unclear or silent. By drawing on the wisdom of godly people throughout the history of the church, we gain a fuller understanding of our faith. Tradition also offers us a beautiful treasury of hymns, prayers, and other instruments of worship; many of the prayers and hymns we say or sing today are hundreds of years old, and some originate in the early days of the church nearly a thousand years ago. Tradition connects us in worship with countless generations of Christians that have gone before us.
Reason: "I do not feel obliged to believe that the same God who has endowed us with senses, reason, and intellect has intended us to forgo their use." This quote, from the astronomer Galileo Galilei, is an excellent summary of the role of reason in our spiritual lives. As the Protestant Reformers offered critical reevaluations of Scripture and tradition, so we too must be willing to ask critical questions about why we believe certain things. We believe that faith can only be strengthened through inquiry, and that is why the Episcopal Church welcomes all seeking the answers to hard questions. We also welcome those who have doubts about God and the Christian faith, holding space for them to find their way on their journey.
There is a great diversity of thought in many areas of Episcopal theology, but our core beliefs are summarized neatly in the form of the Nicene Creed and the Apostles' Creed. The Nicene Creed was created at the First Council of Nicaea in 325, the first ecumenical council seeking to unify the practices and beliefs of the early church. The Apostles' Creed likely orginated from the Old Roman Creed, which was derived from the the Gospel of Matthew. It likely developed sometime in the mid-5th century in southern Gaul. We recite the Nicene Creed during services of Holy Eucharist, and the Apostles' Creed during services of Morning Prayer.
The Episcopal Church practices two sacraments, Baptism and Eucharist (Holy Communion), which were taught to us by Jesus. We also practice five additional sacramental rites taught by the church; these are Confirmation (adult affirmation of baptismal vows), Reconciliation of a Penitent (private confession), Holy Matrimony (Christian marriage), Holy Orders (ordination to deacon, priest, or bishop), and Unction (annointing with oil those who are sick or dying).
While we understand that God's grace towards us manifests in many different ways, we believe the sacraments to be a sure and certain means of receiving that grace. We also do not consider the sacraments to be merely symbolic. In the Holy Eucharist, we believe that Jesus becomes truly present in the bread and wine. In Baptism, we truly die to our old selves and are raised to new life in Jesus Christ.
Click here to learn more about Sacraments in the Episcopal Church.