Different Christian denominations are organized and worship in different ways. This handy table will help you keep track of and compare some differences in worship, rituals, and beliefs of the largest groups of the Christian Church:
| Means of salvation | How they worship | Sacraments and ordinances observed | Organization | Ordain women? | Who can be baptized? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Anglican/ Episcopalian | |||||
| God’s grace by faith alone | Traditional style through liturgy; contemporary liturgy is possible | Baptism, Lord’s Supper (Regard the other five that Catholics observe as “minor sacraments”) | Episcopal (Clergy in local churches presided over by bishop.) | Yes | Infants and professing Christians |
| Assembly of God | |||||
| God’s grace by faith alone | Non-liturgical (free) worship; sometimes contemporary | Baptism, Lord’s Supper | Mixture of Congregational and Presbyterian (Local churches largely govern themselves, but don’t have complete autonomy.) | Yes | Only professing Christians |
| Baptist | |||||
| God’s grace by faith alone | Non-liturgical (free) worship; sometimes contemporary | Baptism, Lord’s Supper | Congregational (Local churches are self-governing.) | Depending on the convention (division of churches) | Only professing Christians |
| Catholic | |||||
| God’s grace, which Christians receive by faith and by observing the sacraments | Traditional style through liturgy; contemporary liturgy is possible | Baptism, Eucharist (Lord’s Supper), Penance, Confirmation, Marriage, Holy Orders, Anointing of the Sick | Papal/Episcopal (Clergy in local churches presided over by bishop; the pope [the Bishop of Rome] is the ultimate Church leader.) | No | Infants and professing Christians |
| Lutheran | |||||
| God’s grace by faith alone | Traditional style through liturgy; contemporary worship is possible | Baptism, Lord’s Supper | Mixed (Congregational, Presbyterian, and Episcopal structures exist.) | Depending on the synod (council) | Infants and professing Christians |
| Methodist | |||||
| God’s grace by faith alone | Traditional style through liturgy; contemporary worship is possible | Baptism, Lord’s Supper | Episcopal (Clergy in local churches presided over by bishop.) | Yes | Infants and professing Christians |
| Orthodox | |||||
| God’s grace received through faith and on-going participation in the work of one’s salvation | Traditional style through liturgy | No official position, but often observes the Catholic sacraments | Episcopal (Clergy in local churches presided over by bishop.) | No | Infants and professing Christians |
| Presbyterian | |||||
| God’s grace by faith alone | Traditional style through liturgy | Baptism, Lord’s Supper | Presbyterian (A graded organizational system by presbyters or elders.) | Yes | Infants and professing Christians |
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Source:http://www.dummies.com/how-to/content/comparing-beliefs-across-the-christian-church0.html
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