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My general impression is that the Lutheran and Episcopalian churches are two of the more similar branches of Christianity. I know on paper, Episcopalians hold a little closer to Catholic doctrine than Lutherans do on things like Apostolic succession.
But in practice, are the differences that great on a day to day basis?
As far as I can tell as an outsider, both combine high church elements from Catholicism with relatively liberal social outlooks (at least in the ELCA and TEC).
Do members of each branch feel a "special relationship" with each other than to other christian denominations. Or do Episcopalians feel closer to Catholics, while Lutherans feel no closer to Episcopalians than they do to Methodists and Presbyterians?
Lutheran (ELCA) and Episcopalian churches allow their ordained ministers to perform rites in each others churches. That alone indicates they are pretty close. One Lutheran I know says they are right hand Catholics and Episcopalians are left hand Catholics. Both denominations are one step removed from the Roman Catholic Church.
My general impression is that the Lutheran and Episcopalian churches are two of the more similar branches of Christianity. I know on paper, Episcopalians hold a little closer to Catholic doctrine than Lutherans do on things like Apostolic succession.
But in practice, are the differences that great on a day to day basis?
As far as I can tell as an outsider, both combine high church elements from Catholicism with relatively liberal social outlooks (at least in the ELCA and TEC).
Do members of each branch feel a "special relationship" with each other than to other christian denominations. Or do Episcopalians feel closer to Catholics, while Lutherans feel no closer to Episcopalians than they do to Methodists and Presbyterians?
It's not a matter of "feeling" a special relationship. The Episcopal Church of the United States and the ELCA are in communion with each other by a formal agreement. There are still some separations; for example, the ELCA does not recognize the Episcopal diaconate, so deacons are not considered ordained clergy in the ELCA churches as they are in the Episcopal Church.
I have not been to an ELCA church myself, but I've been to an Episcopal service that had an ELCA priest officiating.
Lutherans don't pray on their knees, as do Ecopolians.
Really?
Episcopalians don't always kneel, either. Depending upon the parish, they sometimes stand at points in the service when traditionally kneeling takes place. I like kneeling, but that doesn't work for everyone's knees.
Lutheran (ELCA) and Episcopalian churches allow their ordained ministers to perform rites in each others churches. That alone indicates they are pretty close. One Lutheran I know says they are right hand Catholics and Episcopalians are left hand Catholics. Both denominations are one step removed from the Roman Catholic Church.
I don't know about the Lutherans, but in every Episcopal church I've ever been to, I've found former Catholics, and often they are the priests. My current and last priests were both originally Catholic priests (both foreign-born, also, interestingly--Irish and Italian).
I agree with the posts asserting extreme similarities- as to comfort of attendees I am sorry to say I have known Lutherans that were not comfortable in their home church but I was as a visitor
And thought it was a very good church
This was true also of my other friend an episcopal an Armenian
Obviously they both knew their own theology and practices better than me but found fault in them
Lutherans don't pray on their knees, as do Ecopolians.
Hmm. I attended a large city Lutheran church a long time ago (maybe 30 years ago), and they most definitely did pray on their knees. In fact, there were even pull-out benches in the pews for that. It was different to pray on knees right there in the pews.
As a side note, I enjoyed the real wine with the communion Wasn't ready for that - coming from Bapt/Meth churches - but it was a nice surprise
Hmm. I attended a large city Lutheran church a long time ago (maybe 30 years ago), and they most definitely did pray on their knees. In fact, there were even pull-out benches in the pews for that. It was different to pray on knees right there in the pews.
As a side note, I enjoyed the real wine with the communion Wasn't ready for that - coming from Bapt/Meth churches - but it was a nice surprise
I grew up in the Reformed Church, Grape juice there, too.
The Episcopal church I attend has the real wine, but they also have a second chalice of grape juice for people who can't or won't ingest alcohol.
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Wasn't ready for that - coming from Bapt/Meth churches - but it was a nice surprise 
