Reply to How would you compare the a Episcopalian Church with Presbyterian in terms of beliefs?

Forum Index » Religion

Reply to "How would you compare the a Episcopalian Church with Presbyterian in terms of beliefs?"

Subject:

Emoticons





More smilies

Text Color: Font: Close Marks

[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]Presbyterian USA is a bottom up organization and Episcopal is a top down.

Military is a top down, Girl and Boy Scouts, YMCA are top down

Campfire Girls/Boys, YWCA, elected government are bottom up

Top down: The top layer decides what happen - for the most part
Bottom UP: The membership drive policy and decides what happens.

Top Down- Clergy are assigned to the Congregation (some have some say, but the Bishop has the power)
Bottom Up- Clergy are called by the Congregation.[/quote]

I've attended by Episcopalian and Presbyterian churches.

The top-down vs. bottom-up aspect is true as far as organizational structure goes, but it's pretty limited way of comparing these churches. The comparison with the military and Boy Scouts actually seems pretty broad and not a little fatuous.

More relevant is comparing theologies. Obviously the theologies, being Christian, are broadly similar in regards to Christ's divinity, the resurrection, et cetera. The Presbyterian church started out in Scotland as following the idea of predestination (only a few, who are elected at birth, will go to heaven), but thankfully they've moved off that. I believe both churches follow the idea of transubstantiation.

As far as individual interpretation and belief go, both churches offer considerable latitude. The Presbyterian church does place a lot of emphasis on believers having a direct route to God, with ministers having a lesser role. That said, the Episcopalian church doesn't use priests as intercessors between the worshiper and God in the way that, for example, the Catholic church does. (I'm not a Catholic basher, and I respect the Catholic church a lot; I'm just pointing out differences in belief.) In both churches, it's highly unlikely (I'd almost say, nearly impossible) a priest or minister would exclude a member who questions tenets, although they might try to convince you. As I said, I say this as somebody who has attended both Episcopalian and Presbyterian churches.

I'm guessing, based on OP's choice of these two churches, that OP is looking for a liberal church in the sense of theology and/or diversity. Presbyterian "bright light" churches are very welcoming to LGBT and, at least 2-3 years ago, some were offering marriage-type ceremonies, although these were not official church weddings and were not offered in all Presbyterian churches. Episcopal churches universally welcome gays, in fact quite a few Episcopal priests are gay so you might say that tolerance for LGBT is a top-down policy.[/quote]

Options

	Disable HTML in this message
	Disable BB Code in this message
	Disable smilies in this message

Review message

Search Recent Topics Hottest Topics