Rating: 
Summary: A bit dry in places, but good information
Review: A good basic intro that, while sometimes rather boring, covers the history, traditions and overall theology of the Episcopal Church in one book. The Dean of our Cathedral uses it as a know-thy-Church textbook in his confirmation/reception classes, so I'll trust his judgement. While it's not perfect it's the best book out there for discovering the Episcopal tradition.
Rating:
Summary: A bit dry in places, but good information
Review: A good basic intro that, while sometimes rather boring, covers the history, traditions and overall theology of the Episcopal Church in one book. The Dean of our Cathedral uses it as a know-thy-Church textbook in his confirmation/reception classes, so I'll trust his judgement. While it's not perfect it's the best book out there for discovering the Episcopal tradition.
Rating: 
Summary: Before you join-
Review: Anyone thinking of joining the Episcopal church should know (and this book never says this) that there are many, many Episcopal churches which have trashed Christian doctrines and morals and are little more than empty, pretty shells of true christianity. They have the pretty vestments, rituals, and incense, but no longer believe or teach Christianity. If seeing a lot of silly adults dressing up and going through the motions of a faith that they no longer could care less about sounds like fun to you, go ahead and join. If you care that the church you join and support accepts the Scriptures, Creeds, Councils, ten commandments, seek out a church that is part of the Anglican or Anglo-Catholic movement within the church. They teach the same faith that has been taught for 2,000 years and they accept the traditional teachings such as the Virgin birth, the Incarnation, the Resurrection. Something to think about if you want your children educated in the Christian faith, rather than some cluster of weak beliefs that have no power to save, free, and redeem your children when someday they need that grace which is amazing.
Rating: 
Summary: Excellent for the new comer to the Episcopal Church
Review: As a person who is new to the Episcopal Church, I found this book invaluable in explaining customs, practices and beliefs. It is a great resource and a wonderful starting place for someone who is new to the church and has a hunger to learn and grow in it. A must have!
Rating:
Summary: Restored My Faith in Christianity
Review: Christopher Webber's book "Welcome to the Episcopal Church: An Introduction to Its History, Faith, and Worship" should really be read by all Christians not just Episcopalians or those actively seeking to convert. Before reading the book, although nominally Catholic, I had lost faith in institutional Christianity. I couldn't help but see all the major branches as doctrinaire and contradictory to the spirit of Christ's teaching on earth. However, the Episcopal Faith (within the larger Anglican Communion) demonstrates a way that a faith can be practiced communally while still helping people. The other beauty of the book is that it is honest with the humanity and the shortcomings of the Episcopal Church. Ultimately, it did not just give me faith in the Episcopal Church (I am seriously and prayerfully considering practicing my faith in the Episcopal Church), but let me see the essential unity of the entire Christian Church (believing basically the same thing). The Body of Christ does exist on earth, even if it needs to recover from illnesses from time to time. I would like to just send a thank you Christopher L. Webber, you truly have fulfilled your faith's obligation to ministry.
Rating:
Summary: Welcome!
Review: Christopher Webber's book, 'Welcome to the Episcopal Church', is a very good, brief introduction to the Episcopal Church in history, worship and overall faith. Often used as a study guide or textbook during confirmation and new member classes, this book provides a clear, basic, accessible and interesting narrative that is easy to follow and easy to learn. The Episcopal Church is the official version of the Anglican Church (Church of England) in the United States. For historical reasons, after the American Revolution the Church of England in America could no longer remain the Church of England -- the tendency toward national autonomy among Anglican church structures generally holds true as a pattern today. Webber's book does not go into the complexities of general church history -- the history of the church prior to the Reformation is a shared history, and can be learned elsewhere. The Church of England proper grew out of the Reformation, and the American pattern of the church derives from this. Webber continues his history by looking at colonial period, the revolutionary period, the growth period in the early nineteenth century, and the continuing developments in the church up to the present. Webber's chapter on worship looks not just at the traditional liturgy (often considered the centre of the worship life), but also the architecture, music, and various other aspects. The Episcopal church is one of sacramental life with a Eucharistic centre (although this has not always been true in performance), and the Book of Common Prayer is more formative of the community than any set of dogmas or doctrines. Webber makes a claim for the Episcopal church which is generally true for most churches -- worship defines community, it defines the church. The lionshare of the book is concerned with what one might call 'faith matters'. There are chapters on the Bible, church teaching (partly tradition, partly catechism), general spirituality, ecclesiology and evangelism. At each point, the Book of Common Prayer and the liturgy of worship come into play as informative and linked to the topics. The Anglican triad of Scripture, Reason and Tradition, in a flexible relationship with each other, none of the three completely dominant, pervades these chapters. Each chapter ends with a series of questions for further thought and discussion, which makes this a useful text for use in small groups and classrooms as well as personal instruction. There is a useful guide at the end of the book for further reading in the topics of Anglicanism, church history, worship, and others. There is a foreword by Frank Griswold, the current presiding bishop for the Episcopal church, who sees this book as part of the welcome that Episcopalians typically hope to extend to all newcomers and visitors to the church. This book is welcome indeed.
Rating:
Summary: Welcome!
Review: Christopher Webber's book, 'Welcome to the Episcopal Church', is a very good, brief introduction to the Episcopal Church in history, worship and overall faith. Often used as a study guide or textbook during confirmation and new member classes, this book provides a clear, basic, accessible and interesting narrative that is easy to follow and easy to learn. The Episcopal Church is the official version of the Anglican Church (Church of England) in the United States. For historical reasons, after the American Revolution the Church of England in America could no longer remain the Church of England -- the tendency toward national autonomy among Anglican church structures generally holds true as a pattern today. Webber's book does not go into the complexities of general church history -- the history of the church prior to the Reformation is a shared history, and can be learned elsewhere. The Church of England proper grew out of the Reformation, and the American pattern of the church derives from this. Webber continues his history by looking at colonial period, the revolutionary period, the growth period in the early nineteenth century, and the continuing developments in the church up to the present. Webber's chapter on worship looks not just at the traditional liturgy (often considered the centre of the worship life), but also the architecture, music, and various other aspects. The Episcopal church is one of sacramental life with a Eucharistic centre (although this has not always been true in performance), and the Book of Common Prayer is more formative of the community than any set of dogmas or doctrines. Webber makes a claim for the Episcopal church which is generally true for most churches -- worship defines community, it defines the church. The lionshare of the book is concerned with what one might call 'faith matters'. There are chapters on the Bible, church teaching (partly tradition, partly catechism), general spirituality, ecclesiology and evangelism. At each point, the Book of Common Prayer and the liturgy of worship come into play as informative and linked to the topics. The Anglican triad of Scripture, Reason and Tradition, in a flexible relationship with each other, none of the three completely dominant, pervades these chapters. Each chapter ends with a series of questions for further thought and discussion, which makes this a useful text for use in small groups and classrooms as well as personal instruction. There is a useful guide at the end of the book for further reading in the topics of Anglicanism, church history, worship, and others. There is a foreword by Frank Griswold, the current presiding bishop for the Episcopal church, who sees this book as part of the welcome that Episcopalians typically hope to extend to all newcomers and visitors to the church. This book is welcome indeed.
Rating: 
Summary: Not bad, not great
Review: For the title having the word welcome in it, I felt this book could have been a little bit more interesting. It was quite informative, but it was a little dry and boring. All the facts are there, but I think as an introduction the church, it should have been more captivating.
Rating:
Summary: Not bad, not great
Review: For the title having the word welcome in it, I felt this book could have been a little bit more interesting. It was quite informative, but it was a little dry and boring. All the facts are there, but I think as an introduction the church, it should have been more captivating.
Rating:
Summary: A faith for yesterday, today and tomorrow.
Review: Having attended the Episcopal church since they welcomed my little brother in the 1970's I can tell you this is a wonderful book and is both grounded in tradition and thought provoking innovation. I am amazed by the reaction of both conservatives in the Bible belt and elsewhere as well as liberal readers outside of the church who have clearly been misinformed about our faith. While we see openess, tolerance and diversity as key to our future, we also proclaim our traditional beliefs. We sing the Creed which outlines our belief in Christ's Birth to the Virgin Mary, his death, glorious rise and ascension to heaven. People should actually try reading this wonderful volume by the Bishop who will lead us into the future, while continuing to embrace our tradition and beliefs. We have a wonderful family made up of conservatives and liberals, Anglo-Catholics and Evangelical Protestants, Ultra-High Church people and snake belly Low Church people. This book stands as witness to the work of that family.
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