Mere Anglicanism

[Ahimsa]

Mere Anglicanism’s vision is for a reformed, renewed orthodox Anglicanism within North America. We recognize that to achieve a restored and faithful Anglicanism, many battles must be fought, many lessons learned. Seminaries must be re-made with faithful, godly deans and teachers. Orthodox Anglicans must be re-connected with one another, and learn to work together strategically and tactically. Dioceses and parishes must develop the right conditions for re-growing believing, discipled Christians — including choosing the leadership of orthodox bishops and priests. Even our publications and media — magazines, web sites, journals, curricula, devotional guides, and more — must communicate truth with clarity, beauty, and a passionate gospel commitment.

 

[GKC]

Ahimsa:

Mere Anglicanism’s vision is for a reformed, renewed orthodox Anglicanism within North America. We recognize that to achieve a restored and faithful Anglicanism, many battles must be fought, many lessons learned. Seminaries must be re-made with faithful, godly deans and teachers. Orthodox Anglicans must be re-connected with one another, and learn to work together strategically and tactically. Dioceses and parishes must develop the right conditions for re-growing believing, discipled Christians — including choosing the leadership of orthodox bishops and priests. Even our publications and media — magazines, web sites, journals, curricula, devotional guides, and more — must communicate truth with clarity, beauty, and a passionate gospel commitment.

Good luck.

GKC

posterus traditus Anglicanus

 

[Matt16_18]

Ahimsa:

Orthodox Anglicans must be re-connected with one another, and learn to work together …

How could anyone ever know what “Orthodox" Anglicans are supposed to believe?

 

[Ahimsa]

Matt16_18:

How could anyone ever know what “Orthodox" Anglicans are supposed to believe?

Since you asked:

The beliefs of Anglicans can be considered quite diverse. The official standard is the Book of Common Prayer but some parts of that book are more clearly doctrinal than others. The Catechism of the Episcopal Church in the USA summarizes the faith in question-and-answer format.

      The ecumenical creeds, both [Nicene](http://anglicansonline.org/basics/nicene.html)          and [Apostles](http://anglicansonline.org/basics/apostles.html), are used by the Anglican Communion in its worship day by day and week by week. They are ancient and universal statements of Christian faith. In addition, many Anglican churches follow ancient tradition and include the [Athanasian          Creed](http://anglicansonline.org/basics/athanasian.html) among their statements of faith.

      The Diocese of Texas offers an 'Anglican primer' online, and          you might like to look at the sections on [Scripture, tradition, and reason in the church;](http://www.epicenter.org/primscr.htm)          [the Book of Common Prayer;](http://www.epicenter.org/primpra.htm) [the Sacraments;](http://www.epicenter.org/primsac.htm)          [the Creeds;](http://www.epicenter.org/primcre.htm) and ['being Episcopalian'.](http://www.epicenter.org/primepi.htm)          This latter section is directed particularly to people in the States wondering about the Episcopal Church.

      Another very important ancient statement of faith is the [Chalcedonian          formula,](http://anglicansonline.org/basics/chalcedon.html) which defined the limits of Christological orthodoxy. 

       The [Chicago-Lambeth Quadrilateral](http://anglicansonline.org/basics/Chicago_Lambeth.html)          describes the general ecumenical principles of Anglicans.

      The [Thirty-Nine Articles](http://anglicansonline.org/basics/thirty-nine_articles.html)          were important at the Reformation, but are less so today. 

      The BBC World Service has produced a [Basic          Christianity](http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/people/features/world_religions/christianity_basic.shtml) web page that is well done, if not specifically Anglican.

      [A          Beginner's Guide to the Anglican Church](http://www.stjohnsroslyn.org.nz/guide_to_the_anglican_church.html). You'll find the basics of Christian belief, Anglican understanding, what happens in church, and a brief glossary of terms. The Beginner's Guide is from St John's the Evangelist in New Zealand, but is general enough to be useful throughout the communion.

 

[mercygate]

Good luck.

Since the first major separation of clergy from ECUSA following the St. Louis meeting in the '70s, the motto of “continuing church” Anglicans seems to have been, “A bishop in every garage.”

I understand there has been union of some of the factions, but my daughter’s Godfather (a bishop in the continuing Anglican movement) has had at least 4 denominational names on his letterhead since the early 1980s.
The fissiparous tendencies of these groups are not encouraging. But if there are efforts abroad to bring ECUSA back to itself, I hope they succeed. The question, of course, is which “orthodoxy” are you aiming for? Prayer Book orthodoxy? Tractarian orthodoxy? Either one would be better than what is carrying the Anglican banner today.

 

[1ke]

Why settle for “mere” Anglicanism as you can have the fullness of Truth by embracing Catholicism?

Think on it-- ke… former Anglican and happy to be home in the Catholic faith.

 

[Matt16_18]

mercygate:

The question, of course, is which “orthodoxy” are you aiming for?

Exactly. Which Anglican sect gets to define what is orthodox within Anglicanism? There aren’t any Anglican sects that define themselves as the Heterodox Anglicans - each Anglican sect thinks that they are orthodox, and that is the problem.

The truth is, “orthodox Anglican” is an oxymoron. All Anglicans are members of heterodox Protestant sects that need to return to the ONE, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church that was founded by Christ.

 

[shawnbm]

Since Anglicanism prides itself on being catholic in apostolic succession, liturgy and the sacraments (although designating the two established by our Lord as the greatest of the seven accepted) but Protestant in its denial of papal supremacy, opting like the Orthodox to prefer ecunimical counsels (thereby making it de facto in “protest” to the Roman See), I believe the question is exceedingly hard to grapple with. The Anglican-Roman Catholic International Commission that has studied unity of the two for decades has come to some conclusions, but the churches, as a body, have not officially embraced them. Both sides appear to be mired in their respective positions–but both appear and to a large extent, still resemble the ancient undivided catholic church. Shalom.