What We Believe
Holy Spirit Episcopal Church is a parish within the Episcopal Diocese of Montana. This means that Holy Spirit is part of The Episcopal Church and the worldwide Anglican Communion, whose members trace their spiritual lineage to the Church of England.
Anglicans, as members of the Communion are generally called, typically pursue God’s love and truth through Scripture, tradition, and reason. The Anglican ethos values patience and tolerance, and generous participation in the cultural life of the world.
We profess two creeds in the Episcopal Church: the Apostles Creed and the Nicene Creed. The Apostles Creed is the ancient creed of Baptism. The Nicene Creed summarizes the beliefs of Christians. Read both here.
Frequently Asked Questions
I’m not Episcopalian. Can I come to your church?
All are welcome, regardless of faith, creed, gender, disability, sexual orientation, age. Not to put too fine a point on it: all are welcome.
I have small children. Can we attend services?
By all means. Holy Spirit is family-friendly, and your children may either remain with you during services or you may take advantage of Sunday nursery care. There is also Church School for preschool through 9th grade, and Youth Group for grades 6-12.
How are you different from a Roman Catholic Church?
There are theological differences between the two churches – some subtle, some not-so-subtle. There are several key differences, though: The Pope is not the head of the Episcopal Church, although we recognize him as the head bishop of another branch of the Christian Church. In the Episcopal Church, women, as well as men, can be priests and bishops, and priests can also be married. Also, all Christians are welcome to take communion in Episcopal churches, not just Episcopalians.
Can Episcopalians believe whatever they want?
When the Church of England (which is the mother church of the Episcopal Church) was established in the 16th century by Queen Elizabeth, it was conceived as the "middle way" between Catholicism and the Protestant Reformation that was sweeping Europe. And so, the Episcopal Church traditionally has been a place where many points of view – and many questions – are welcomed as part of the life of faith. That faith is based on what we call the "three-legged stool": Scripture, tradition, and reason.
Do I need to be baptized to take Communion?
At Holy Spirit, all baptized persons are welcome to receive Holy Communion. If you would prefer a blessing, please indicate by crossing your arms over your chest at the altar rail. If you have questions or wish to know more about Communion, one of the principal sacraments of the Episcopal Church, speak with any member of our clergy following a service or contact them through the office.
Can I get married in your church?
Every Episcopal parish has their own requirements for weddings. We welcome those who wish to be married at Holy Spirit. In The Episcopal Church it is required that at least one of the parties must be a baptized Christian. Premarital counseling is required by the canons of the Episcopal Church. In the case of a divorced person who wishes to remarry, permission from the bishop is required. Please contact our rector, the Rev. Terri Ann Grotzinger, to discuss wedding preparation and policies, as well as available dates. Learn more about getting married at Holy Spirit here.