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Why is the Episcopal Church considered an autonomous church?
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The Episcopal Church
Washington National Cathedral, Washington, D.C.
The Episcopal Church is considered an autonomous church because it functions as a self-governing national body within the Anglican Communion.21
While the church maintains a spiritual legacy and historical association with the Church of England, it separated from that institution following the American Revolution. Its autonomy is defined by the following characteristics:23
- Self-Governance: The church operates through its own General Convention, which meets triennially to conduct business, draft its own constitution, and manage its internal affairs.34
- Lack of External Jurisdiction: Although the archbishop of Canterbury holds moral authority within the Anglican Communion, he exercises no legal or administrative jurisdiction over the Episcopal Church.1
- Independent Structure: The church is organized into nine provinces and numerous dioceses, with its own presiding bishop and primate who lead the church independently of foreign ecclesiastical oversight.41
By organizing itself in 1789, the church established a structure that allows it to manage its own doctrine, worship, and ministerial order while remaining part of the broader global Anglican family.23