I am a firm believer in the separation of Church and State, for many reasons. And I think it's fascinating to consider how the structure of the Episcopal Church, formed as it split from the Church of England during the American Revolution, mirrors the structure of the United States government. The same revolutionary leaders who were creating the United States by day were shaping the Episcopal Church by night, so the parallels are no accident. On this 4th of July weekend, I thought it would be interesting, for those who might not know, to share how it all unfolded.

When the U.S. declared independence in 1776, it cut ties not just with the British government, but also with the Church of England. That left American Anglicans, accustomed to English worship, with a big question: how do we keep our faith without the king of England? “Episcopal” means “governed by bishops,” and that was intentional. The new church would keep the tradition and worship style of Anglicanism, but it would no longer answer to a monarch. It was restructured to a shared leadership form, reflecting the democratic ideals of the new nation.

Just like the U.S. created a Congress with two houses, the Episcopal Church set up over-arching governance with two bodies:

• The House of Bishops (like the Senate) is made up of all the bishops.

• The House of Deputies (like the House of Representatives) includes clergy and laypeople chosen from every diocese.

These two groups vote on church laws, policies, and major decisions, much like the U.S. Congress does for the country. The similarities continue:

• At the national level, the Episcopal Church elects a Presiding Bishop, chosen by representatives from all over the church, to serve for a set term, similar to Presidential elections in the U.S.

• Each diocese (a regional group of churches) elects its own bishop, much like each state elects a governor.

• At the local level, each the congregation helps select their own priest, similar in spirit to the election of a city mayor, though the process is not an election per se.

• Each congregation also has a Vestry: a group of elected members who help make decisions about the church’s finances, buildings, and mission. This group is akin to a city council.

The Episcopal Church and the United States were built side by side with shared hopes: representative and balanced leadership rooted in community. One served spiritual life, the other the state, but the care for both systems rests with the people. The dream was never flawless leaders, but faithful communities around them. Not systems that never fail, but people that try to hold to what is good, just, and true. 

Even in the messiness, we’re called to be people of hope in both aspects of our common life, choosing persistence over perfection, and resilience over despair. My prayer for all of us this 4th of July weekend is for the strength to keep working, the courage to repair what’s broken, and the grace to keep trusting in the goodness that can often get buried. May it be so.

Blessings,
Jennifer