WELCOME TO THE EPISCOPAL DIOCESE OF THE CENTRAL GULF COAST! Who we are   Comprised of 62 congregations in southern Alabama and the panhandle of Florida, the diocese is one of many regions within the Episcopal Church USA.  To locate a congregation close to you, click here for a list of churches.   The Episcopal Church USA is a province of the Anglican Communion, an international family of churches with more than 70 million members in 163 countries. Each national church within the Anglican Communion is linked by way of the Church of England.   Above all, we are part of God's one, holy, catholic and apostolic Church, established through our Lord Jesus Christ to reconcile our relationship with God and each other. As Episcopalians, we are united as the body of Christ in our common prayer, at the same time celebrating our great diversity and the unique gifts of each individual.   What we believe   We believe in one God who is the creator of all things, who redeems us from sin and death, and who renews us as God's children. We promise to follow Jesus Christ as our Savior and Lord. We believe the mission of our church is restoration of all people to unity with God and each other in Christ.   We believe that Holy Scripture is the foundation of all Christian faith and thought. We read and interpret the Bible with guidance from centuries of Christian tradition, our own ability to reason and our own personal experience of God in our lives.   How we worship   In worship, we come together as the body of Christ to glorify God, celebrate God's work in the world and through prayer nurture our relationship with God, seeking healing, strength and forgiveness and giving thanks for God's presence among us.   We glorify God in worship that is centered on Christ, balancing the word of God - Holy Scripture - with the sacraments of Christ's body and blood - Holy Communion. Through the Eucharist, we not only are forgiven of our sins but our relationship with God also is strengthened. Any baptized person is welcome and encouraged to share in Holy Communion.