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How are Episcopal missions different from self-supporting parishes?
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The Episcopal Church
Washington National Cathedral, Washington, D.C.
In the Episcopal Church, the primary distinction between a self-supporting parish and a mission lies in their governance and financial independence.1
- Parishes: These are self-supporting congregations that elect their own lay governing board, known as a vestry, to manage temporal affairs. They also elect their own rector to serve as the spiritual leader.1
- Missions: These congregations are not self-supporting and rely at least partially on mission funds provided by the larger religious organization. Because they lack full financial autonomy, they are directed by the bishop of the area rather than by a locally elected rector and vestry.21
Both parishes and missions function as part of a diocese, which is headed by a bishop and participates in the broader governance of the church through the General Convention.1