The word "Episcopal" is Greek in origin and comes from the Greek word for Bishop "episkopos." An Episcopalian is one who has been confirmed and chooses to worship in the Episcopal Church which takes its heritage from the Church of England. We chose the name Episcopal not because we thought it was a neat way to spell "pepsi-cola," but because we are truly a church governed and pastored by Bishops. The Episcopal Church has as its Presiding Bishop the Most Rev. Dr. Katharine Jefferts Schori.

She is the first woman to be elected to preside over the Episcopal Church in its over 200 year history. Here in Florida we have our own Bishop. Our Diocese stretches from Jacksonville to past Tallahassee going east to west and from the border with Georgia in the north to south just above the Orlando area.

A Map of the Diocese

Our Diocese is served by the Rt, Reverend Samuel Johnson Howard, the 8th Bishop of the Diocese of Florida.

Bishop Howard has made a commitment to the Episcopal University Center here in Tallahassee and to the work of College Chaplaincies throughout the Diocese.

Q. Do Episcopalians believe in the Bible?
A. Yeah! The reading of scripture is a vital part of our weekly worship called the Holy Eucharist. The Eucharist has two parts to it. The first part is called the Ministry of the Word and the second is called the Ministry of the Sacrament. In the Ministry of the Word, scripture is read from the Old and the New Testament as well as an appointed Psalm. After listening to these scriptures and allowing God to speak to us through God’s Word, we then read a passage from one of the four Gospels. This is usually the text on which the Clergy chooses to preach. If one would attend an Episcopal Church every Sunday for three years, one would have heard almost the entire Bible recited in the services. One thing for sure is that Episcopalians take the Bible very seriously. While some chose to read the Bible in a literal manner, others choose to use scholarship and reason to interpret scriptures. Both approaches are respected and valued in our Church. We say just read the scriptures and we are sure that God will speak to you through them in any way that God sees fit. All we have to do is be willing to listen!

Q. Do Episcopalians believe in Jesus?
A. Absolutely! Episcopalians, like other Christians, see the most perfect representation of God’s Love in the life and ministry of Jesus Christ. Jesus, through his obedience to God and his willingness to sacrifice his life for all of humanity by dying on the Cross, has conquered death forever and has promised eternal life for all that believe and follow him.We here at the Episcopal University Center strive to pattern our lives on the teaching of Jesus Christ and thereby transform not only ourselves but those with whom we come in contact.

Q. How do Episcopalians worship?
A. Many different ways! Here at the Episcopal University Center, we worship in a variety of ways. On Thursday, after dinner, we gather in the Chapel and praise God through the singing of songs and praise anthems. This service is very informal and we use lots of guitars and drums in our music. We usually sing for about 30-45 minutes and end with a prayer asking God to be with us and with those we love. On Sundays we celebrate Holy Eucharist in which all baptized Christians are invited to partake of Christ’s body and blood through the sacrament of Communion. This service is a little more formal, yet we still find opportunity to praise God with music and with hymns accompanied by organ music.

Q. Who can attend?
A. All are welcome! The ministry of the Episcopal University Center is geared to those students who attend Florida State University, Florida A&M University and Tallahassee Community College. Our goal is to provide a safe place for these students to explore their relationship with God while attending school. All are welcome to attend. If you are not a student or you are an alum of any of these institutions, we invite you to attend and share with us in this vital ministry.