To proclaim the Good News of the Kingdom. To teach, baptize and nurture new believers. To respond to human need by loving service. To seek to transform unjust structures of society, to challenge violence of every kind and to pursue peace and reconciliation. To strive to safeguard the integrity of creation and sustain and renew the life of the earth.
Welcome!
The Episcopal Church welcomes all who worship Jesus Christ, in 109 dioceses across 17 nations. We are a part of the worldwide Anglican Communion.
As a church that welcomes questions and exploration, the Episcopal Church offers a meaningful alternative in a somewhat conservative political and religious context. As we attempt to live our faith with compassion and intelligence, our long and rich history of liturgical worship and social action supports and sustains us in our diverse communities.
The mission of the church, as stated in the Book of Common Prayer’s catechism (p. 855), is “to restore all people to unity with God and each other in Christ.”
The Episcopal Church celebrates diversity of people and worship styles, yet all worship follows the form set out in the Book of Common Prayer. We are known for our engaging and beautiful worship services. For those who have grown up Roman Catholic, the service, known as the Mass, Eucharist or Holy Communion, will be familiar. For those of reformed tradition or those with no religious tradition, we think you may find a spiritual home in a church that respects its tradition and maintains its sense of awe and wonder at the power and mystery of God.
We honor tradition and strive to live by the example of Jesus Christ, welcoming the stranger and the outcast, helping our neighbors and offering love and forgiveness. The Episcopal Church has 2 million members in 7,500 congregations. The Anglican Communion has more than 70 million followers.
Our Values
The mission of The Episcopal Church is to “restore all people to unity with God and each other in Christ.” In Western Michigan, we live that mission through six core practices.
Forming youth and adults for faith-filled lives.
- Living our baptismal promises, inspired by the Holy Spirit.
- Empowering each other on our spiritual journey with Jesus Christ.
- Bringing God into our lives through prayer holy communion, meditation, and action.
- Faith formation programs for youth and adults.
- Building healthy congregations.
Service to Others
- Serving those in need, as modeled by Jesus.
- Joining in local, national, and international ministries.
Active Participation
- Bringing youth and adults together in the life of the church.
- Inviting all congregations to the ministries of the Episcopal Church and our diocese with the bishop as our chief pastor.
Acceptance & Respect
- Following Jesus’ commandment that we love one another.
- Respecting the dignity of every human being.
- Providing a safe, nurturing environment.
Sharing
- Living as faithful stewards of God’s gifts, grace, and love.
- Following Jesus’ example to share our abilities, time, and money beyond ourselves.
- Reaching out in love and accepting all people.
Worship
- Drawing closer to God through inspirational, scripture-based, Christ-centered worship.
- Honoring our sacred traditions and beauty of our ancient and modern worship.
We Believe
The Holy Scriptures are the revealed word of God, which inspired the human authors of the Scripture, and which is interpreted by the Church under the guidance of the Holy Spirit.
The two great sacraments given by Christ to the Church are Baptism and the Holy Eucharist.
The Nicene Creed is the basic statement of our belief in God.
The teachings and beliefs of the Episcopal Church are articulated in an “Outline of the Faith” in our Book of Common Prayer.
Our History
After a congenial split from the Diocese of Michigan, the bishop at the time, the Rt. Rev. Samuel A. McCroskey convened the first convention of the Episcopal Diocese of Western Michigan in December 1874 at St. Mark’s, Grand Rapids. At the convention, the newly created diocese elected their first Bishop, George Gillespie.
In the first few years of existence, St. Marks, Grand Rapids was identified as the Cathedral Church of the diocese. Bishop Bennison later moved the Cathedral to a new building in Portage – a large, unique brick building.
In an effort to reach financial solvency and increase transparency, we sold our Cathedral and Diocesan Center in Kalamazoo in 2005.
After years of study and dialogue, the diocesan convention voted in 2017 to complete a diocesan restructuring – moving from five deaneries into three regions. The regionalization will create three diocesan offices – one in the south near Kalamazoo, one near Traverse City, and one main headquarters to be held near Grand Rapids.
In 2019, the diocese partnered with the Episcopal Diocese of Eastern Michigan to engage in 3-5 years of exploratory conversation and intentional sharing, considering how church structures and resources may be collaboratively aligned to better serve the Kingdom of God from coast to coast.