An Outline for Mission 201: Introduction to the Anglican Way
This is an outline that accompanies Mission Cincinnati’s “Mission 201” talk and gathering.
Anglicans and Their Beliefs
Who are Anglicans?
The Anglican Church began as a reformation movement within the Church in 16thcentury England and spread throughout the globe in the age of colonial expansion and world-wide mission.
The Anglican Communion is the third largest communion of Christians in the world (following Roman Catholicism and Eastern Orthodoxy).
It is currently a mainstream, multi-cultural, multiethnic form of Christianity, i.e. there are more Nigerian Anglicans than American and Canadian Anglicans put together.
One of its defining features of the Anglican Way is “common prayer”.
The Anglican Way is often known the “via media” or middle way.
The Compass Rose
The Anglican Compass Rose from “The Anglican Way” by Thomas McKenzie
The Chicago-Lambeth Quadrilateralis a four-point articulation of Anglican Identity approved in 1886.
1) The Holy Scriptures, as containing all things necessary to salvation;
2) The creeds (specifically the Apostles and Nicene Creeds) as the sufficient statement of Christian faith
3) The Sacraments of Baptism and Holy Communion
4) The historic episcopate, locally adapted
1) The Holy Scriptures, as containing all things necessary to salvation;
Scriptures play an essential role in the life of our church – up to four Scriptures read each Sunday, the important place of the Daily Office (four times of prayer and Scripture reading, lectionary)
Essential because we believe the Scriptures are the Word of God, they are God’s free and gracious act of self-disclosure of His very heart and intentions to be in fellowship with human beings, and the response of His people to that self-revelation
In other words, we believe that the Scriptures are inspired by God himself – the Holy Spirit was involved in their origin and continues to involved in our comprehension of the Scriptures
The Scriptures themselves attest to this inspiration: 2 Timothy 3:16 - All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness.
Thus, we also believe that the Scriptures are authoritative – they contain all things necessary for our salvation (tell us how Jesus has saved, is saving, and will save us)
Not a self-help book – it doesn’t line out everything we are to do or not to do (although there are moral guidelines and there are some things that are clear about what we should and should not do) – must discern
Not the center of our faith – the goal is not Bible knowledge but an encounter with Christ – the Three-fold word (Jesus, Scripture, Sermon)
How do we read Scripture?: “Scripture is indivisibly, God’s Word in Human Language” (Chicago Statement on Biblical Hermeneutics)
We neither read the Scriptures in a liberal fashion nor fundamentalist way.
Liberal – emphasizes Scriptures as human book, undermines the truth of Scriptures
Fundamentalist – tries to “over-protect the Bible” as the Word of God; ignores genres in the Scriptures and reads the text in an overly literal way that obscures meaning
Our Way: “Scripture is indivisibly, God’s Word in Human Language”
We recognize the genres in the Scriptures: Poetry, Historical Narrative, Theological Teaching/Propositions, etc.
Examples: Genesis 1, Ordering of Gospels
2) The Creeds as Sufficient Statement of Christian Faith
Creeds are brief, universally accepted statements of belief that set out the core aspects of the faith.
In agreement with Scripture/Intended to make teachings of Scripture clear/Outline the essentials of the faith, i.e., divinity of Christ
Examples include the Apostles, Nicene, and Athanasius Creeds
What is the Nicene Creed?
Nicene Creed formulated and adopted at the First Council of Nicea in 325 AD
Written in the time of the Arian controversy (Arius denied the divinity of the Son)
They are important articulations of faith that serve as guard railsto our faith but allow also for a variety of beliefs on the non-essentials of the faith, i.e., views on end times, views on predestination, views on women pastors, etc. etc. Allows for a wide tent.
3) The Sacraments of Baptism and Holy Communion
Baptism and Communion were both instituted by Christ and thus we believe it is essential that we practice both.
Baptism: Matthew 28:19 - Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.
Communion – Jesus’ words of institution in Mark 14, Luke 22, Matthew 26
“Sacraments ordained of Christ are not only badges or tokens of Christian men's profession, but rather they are certain sure witnesses, and effectual signs of grace, and God's good will towards us, by the which he works invisibly in us, and not only quickens, but also strengthens and confirms our Faith in him.” (Article 25 of Thirty-Nine)
Not just signs, symbols, or acts of remembrance; they are “means of grace”, sources of spiritual nourishment, and we have an actual encounter with Christ through them.
Roman Catholic Church has seven sacraments (baptism, Eucharist, confirmation, reconciliation, anointing of sick, marriage and Holy orders). Anglicans have 2 sacraments only. The others are considered sacramental rites – they were not instituted by Jesus and are not necessarily for all Christians yet they can be a means of grace)
Baptism
According to the 39 Articles, Article 27 (The Anglican Confessional Statement) –
“Baptism is not only a sign of profession and mark of difference, whereby Christian men are discerned from others that not be christened, but it is also a sign of Regeneration or New-Birth, whereby, as an instrument they that receive Baptism rightly are grafted into the Church; the promises of the forgiveness of sin, and our adoption to be the sons of God by the Holy Ghost, are visibly signed and sealed; Faith is confirmed and Grace increased by virtue of prayer unto God.
Initiation into Covenant Community
Instrument/Vehicle in which God offers his salvation to us – it is an effective sign (but not an automatically effective sign), it is God’s primary vehicle but not the only (i.e., the thief on the cross was saved)
Our view in light of other views – some stress God’s initiative, other’s – people, we hold God’s initiative and human’s response together
Our practice (i.e. allowing infant baptism) stresses the initiative of God in salvation
Cashing a Check
Eucharist
Receiving the Body and Blood of Christ - Jesus’ spiritual presence
Communion with God and with others, can’t be abstracted
Embodied participation in Christ’s work on the cross and also the future feast of the lamb
It is a looking back and a looking forward
“As we are travelling the line that leads from the Upper Room to the great feast in God’s new world, from the victory of Calvary and Easter to the final victory over death itself (1 Corinthians 15:26), we find at every station— in other words, at every celebration of the Jesus meal — that God’s past catches up with us again, and God’s future comes to meet us once more.” - N.T. Wright
4) The historic episcopate, locally adapted
Apostolic Succession and the Three-fold order of Bishop, Priest, and Deacon
Recognition of different roles
Source of Accountability and Pastoral Care of our Leaders (servant leadership – call to greater and greater serve – bishop serves the priest, priest serves the people, the people serve the world)
Connection to the first Christians – apostolic succession
Conciliar/“democratic”
Church Organization
Parish – Overseen by Bishop and Vestry
Vestry is elected - see fruit of individuals over years
Currently have a Mission Council that is selected by the rector
Diocese – Overseen by Bishop
Province – Overseen by Archbishop
Communion – Overseen by Archbishop of Canterbury (not the same as the pope)
For great resources on Anglican beliefs and practices, check out Anglican Compass.