In the Episcopal Church, we are called to live out our faith on a daily basis, whether we are at home, school, work or recreation.

The cornerstones of our faith are Scripture, tradition and reason.

Scripture:
Scripture is the word of God contained in the Old and New Testaments of the Bible. The 39 books of the Old Testament contain the story of God's love for creation and God's covenant with the people of Israel .

The New Testament contains the teaching's of Jesus Christ's accounts of his life as told by his followers and the beginning of the Church. It is written in 27 books. Within an Episcopal worship service, Scripture is read in the lessons, the Gospel (the life and teachings of Jesus), the Psalms (poems from the Old Testament) and other prayers. Additionally, two-thirds of our guide to worship, The Book of Common Prayer, comes directly from the Old and New Testaments.

Tradition:
We are not Christians in isolation but are part of a living faith that spans 2000 years. Tradition is the embodiment of our experience as Christians throughout the centuries. The heart of our tradition is expressed through the Bible, the Creeds (statement of faith, written in the first centuries of the Church's existence), the Sacraments of the Lord's Supper and Baptism and the ordained ministry passed on by Christ to his Church.

Our tradition is expressed with many voices, among which are a variety of worship styles, languages, cultures, architecture and music. Our tradition encourages this diversity. We seek to value the life and story each person brings to the community of faith. As in a multi textured tapestry, each person's offering is woven into the life of the whole, making it stronger and more beautiful.

Reason:
Each one of us, with God's help, makes a decision about how we use tradition and Scripture in our lives. A personal relationship with God allows us to realize and celebrate our lives to the fullest. The gift of reason, as a complement to Scripture and tradition, leads us to seek answers to our own questions and to grow spiritually. Being active in a community of faith strengthens us to carry our faith into the world. Weaving Scripture, tradition and reason together, we strengthen our faith and grow as children of God.