Dioceses_of_the_Episcopal_Church_in_the_United_States_of_America

Ecclesiastical provinces and dioceses of the Episcopal Church

Ecclesiastical provinces and dioceses of the Episcopal Church

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The Episcopal Church (TEC) is governed by a General Convention and consists of 99 dioceses in the United States proper, plus eleven dioceses in other countries or outlying U.S. territories and the diocese of Convocation of Episcopal Churches in Europe, for a total of 111 dioceses.

A diocese, which is led by a bishop, includes all the parishes and missions within its borders, which usually correspond to a state or a portion of a state. Some dioceses includes portions of more than one state. For example, the Diocese of Washington includes the District of Columbia and part of Maryland.

Overview

Map of dioceses of the Episcopal Church, colored by province

The naming convention for the domestic dioceses, for the most part, is after the state in which they are located or a portion of that state (for example, Northern Michigan or West Texas).

Usually (though not always), in a state where there is more than one diocese, the area where the Episcopal Church (or Church of England before the American Revolution) started in that state is the diocese that bears the name of that state. For example, the Church of England's first outpost in what is now Georgia was in Savannah, hence the Diocese of Georgia is based in Savannah.

There are, however, many dioceses named for their see city or another city in the diocese. A few are named for a river, island, valley or other geographical feature. The list below includes the see city in parentheses if different from the name of the diocese or unclear from its name.

The see city usually has a cathedral, often the oldest parish in that city, but some dioceses do not have a cathedral. The dioceses of Iowa and Minnesota each have two cathedrals. Occasionally the diocesan offices and the cathedral are in separate cities.

Provinces

The dioceses are grouped into nine provinces, the first eight of which, for the most part, correspond to regions of the U.S. Province IX is composed of dioceses in Latin America. Province II and Province VIII also include dioceses outside of the U.S.

Unlike in many churches of the Anglican Communion, in which provinces are helmed by a primate or presiding bishop from the clergy, provinces of TEC are led by lay executive directors or presidents. Decisions are made at each province's Synod of the Province, consisting of a House of Bishops and House of Deputies. Lay and clergy Deputies are elected, two from each diocese.

Provinces of TEC are not to be confused with provinces of the Anglican Communion, as TEC itself is one such province of the Communion.

List of provinces and their dioceses

More information Province, Name ...

Former provinces and dioceses

Military diocese

Dioceses no longer in existence

Formerly missionary districts

The following were founded as missionary districts of the Episcopal Church but are now full, independent Provinces of the Anglican Communion.

See also

Notes

  1. [N 1]
    Since 2018, the dioceses of Western New York and Northwestern Pennsylvania have been in formal partnership and shared a bishop but have not merged.[4]
  2. [N 2]
    Since 2019, the dioceses of Eastern Michigan and Western Michigan have been in formal partnership and shared a bishop but have not merged.[5]
  3. [N 3]
    Since 2021, the dioceses of Eau Claire and Fond du Lac have been in formal partnership and shared a bishop, and both have been in formal discernment about their future with the Diocese of Milwaukee, but none of the three have merged.[6]
  4. [N 4]
    Since 2023, the dioceses of Indianapolis and Northern Indiana have been discerning a merger.[7]

References

  1. [1]
    "Table of Statistics of the Episcopal Church". Parochial Report Results from 2022. The Episcopal Church. Retrieved 18 September 2023.
  2. [2]
    "Baptized Members by Province and Diocese 2013-2022". Parochial Report Results from 2022. The Episcopal Church. Retrieved 18 September 2023.
  3. [3]
    "Average Sunday Attendance by Province and Diocese 2013-2022". Parochial Report Results from 2022. The Episcopal Church. Retrieved 18 September 2023.
  4. [4]
    "Western New York, Northwestern Pennsylvania ratify partnership". Episcopal News Service. Oct 26, 2018. Retrieved 28 February 2023.
  5. [5]
    Paulsen, David (Jun 14, 2019). "Two Michigan dioceses to share bishop, charting path forward together in spirit of innovation". Episcopal News Service. Retrieved 28 February 2023.
  6. [6]
    Paulsen, David (Mar 16, 2021). "With Diocese of Eau Claire at a crossroads, Wisconsin's three dioceses eye greater collaboration". Episcopal News Service. Retrieved 28 February 2023.
  7. [7]
    "Two Episcopal dioceses in Indiana begin reunification discernment". Episcopal News Service. Jan 30, 2023. Retrieved 28 February 2023.
  8. [8]
    "Episcopal Church in Micronesia homepage". Archived from the original on 2013-05-01. Retrieved 2012-11-09.
  9. [9]
    The Episcopal Church Annual, 2004, Harrisburg: Morehouse Publishing, p. 246
  10. [10]
    "Chicago, Quincy Dioceses To Reunite on September 1". Episcopal Diocese of Chicago. Retrieved 23 November 2013.
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