The Diocese of East Carolina | St. Paul's Episcopal Church

The Episcopal Church is organized into dioceses, but what is a diocese? A diocese is the territorial jurisdiction of a diocesan bishop. The term also refers to the congregations and church members of the diocese. As the Church expanded out from the great cities of the Roman empire, it adopted the use of the word “diocese,” and ecclesiastical dioceses tended to correspond to civil units. For example, at first the Diocese of Georgia corresponded with the US State of Georgia. Later, many statewide dioceses were divided into smaller dioceses for pastoral and practical reasons. For example, our state, North Carolina, is divided into three dioceses- The Diocese of Western North Carolina, The Diocese of North Carolina, and the Diocese of East Carolina.

St. Paul's is a parish within the Diocese of East Carolina, and our Bishop is the Very Rev'd Rob Skirving. The Diocese of East Carolina is comprised of 67 member congregations, with roughly 15,000 members. Our diocese meets annually in a diocesan convention, which sets forth the business of the church and approves the annual budget. Diocesan convention has representatives that have a voice and a vote from both clergy and lay people. Each diocese is entitled to representation in the House of Deputies (part of the national Church) by ordained persons, presbyters or deacons, canonically resident in the diocese, and also by lay persons, who are confirmed adult communicants of the Episcopal Church and in good standing in the diocese. Dioceses also elect clerical and lay deputies to the Provincial Synod. The Constitution and Canons of the Episcopal Church provide guidelines for the division of a diocese.

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Whoever you are, wherever you are on your spiritual journey, and whatever else it is that you seek in a Church community, it is our sincere hope that you find God’s gracious welcome with us at St. Paul’s. In so many ways, we do not all look alike, think alike, or even act alike here. But in one thing we are certain that we are all the same: God graciously welcomes us all.

A Word of Welcome Visitor Card Parking What to Expect

In the Episcopal Church we acknowledge that God is present in every occasion of our lives. Some of these we mark together with special celebrations of worship to highlight the ways in which God is always at work throughout the events of our lives. As Episcopalians, we believe that these observations reveal God's grace to us in new ways.

Baptism Communion Confirmation Weddings Funerals

As Episcopalians, we believe that all baptized people are called to minister in the Church. Everyone has a different role. Our clergy serve as the spiritual leaders of our congregation, our staff is responsible for overseeing our program ministries and day-to-day responsibilities, and our vestry is responsible for parish decision-making.

Meet Our Leadership

We as Episcopalians believe in a loving, liberating, and life-giving God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. St. Paul's is part of the Episcopal Church, a church that is both rich with ancient tradition and relevant to life in the 21st century. We believe that God loves you - no exceptions.

We believe in following the teachings of Jesus Christ, whose life, death, and resurrection saved the whole world.

Our parish's motto is this: "To Know Christ and to Make Him Known."

The Episcopal Church Diversity & Inclusion

"Each of you must give as you have made up your mind, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to provide you with every blessing in abundance, so that by always having enough of everything, you may share abundantly in every good work."

- 2 Corinthians 9:7-8

As Christians, we acknowledge that what God has generously offered us is nothing short of life through Jesus Christ. Participating in that life means learning to generously offer our lives. Each time we gather we are presented with the opportunity to support others in recognition of God’s offerings. This support takes shape in many forms with financial gifts being the backbone that builds our church community and generates opportunities to offer our lives in our parish. All are encouraged to participate in giving money for the ministries of our parish as a sign of our share in God’s work among us and through us.

Annual commitments pledged to St. Paul’s support our operating budget, which directly supports worship, formation, community and global outreach, building and grounds, staff and other programs. Annual commitments are crucial to the work of St. Paul’s. We strive to maintain a balanced budget each year, with every dollar accounted for and put to good use in the people, places and plans of our parish.

Annual Commitment