What We Believe – St. James’ Church

At St. James’, we believe that God loves you—no exceptions. Whether you are new to New York City, navigating a major life change, or coming from a different faith background, you have a place here. As Episcopalians, we follow the teachings of Jesus Christ, whose life, death, and resurrection saved the world.

Serving Christ in All Persons

St. James’ embraces The Episcopal Church’s theology of inclusion. We aspire to exemplify God’s love for every human being.

We are fully-affirming | We celebrate the presence and leadership of LGBTQ+ parishioners in every level of our church.

We have open sacraments | Following The Episcopal Church’s theology of inclusion, all sacraments—including Holy Matrimony (Marriage) and Ordination—are open to all people, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity. The baptismal font is open to all, and all baptized Christians can receive Holy Communion.

Your journey matters | Whether you come from a different faith background or no faith at all, you are invited to participate fully. As Episcopalians, we meet people at their particular point in their spiritual journey.

We have shared leadership | Laypeople and clergy work together in leadership and governance, ensuring every voice in our parish is heard.

The Foundations of Our Faith

Our life at St. James’ is guided by the rich resources of the Episcopal tradition:

The Book of Common Prayer

The primary symbol of our unity. We are a diverse community that comes together in Christ through our common prayer. It is a “treasure chest” of devotional resources that allows us to worship with different forms and usages while keeping the substance of our faith entirely.

The Bible

The Bible is our foundation, understood through tradition and reason. We strive to “hear, read, mark, learn, and inwardly digest” the Scriptures. You will find that our worship is filled with Scripture; approximately 70% of the Book of Common Prayer comes directly from the Bible.

The Baptismal Covenant & Creeds

We join Christians throughout the ages in affirming the Apostles’ and Nicene Creeds—statements of our basic beliefs about God. Our Baptismal Covenant serves as a roadmap for how we live, calling us to represent Christ in the world and respect the dignity of every human being. Learn more about baptism at St. James’.

The Sacraments

We define sacraments as “outward and visible signs of inward and spiritual grace.” Beyond Baptism and the Eucharist (Holy Communion), we recognize the spiritual markers of our journey: