denomination was founded by that British charmer, Henry VIII ... and not really that’s true). So, my attempt to explain what Anglicanism is all about. I think the identity here’s of Anglicanism can be summed up in these three adjectives: Rooted, Reformational, & Roomy. ROOTED. Anglicans seek to be intentionally rooted in ancient Christian beliefs and practices. We think that belonging to the of throughout time is ‘big story’ God’s work important, so we deliberately utilize the ancient creeds and liturgies of the Church catholic (organized in the Book of Common Prayer). In the pattern of the ancient Church, we employ the Church Calendar (celebrating days and seasons like Christmas, Epiphany, Lent, Easter, Pentecost, etc) which focus worshippers on various aspects of what God has done in Christ. In keeping with the governmental pattern of the ancient Church, Anglicans retain the of ministers bishops (who oversee a Diocese), ‘3 orders’ – who oversee individual churches), and deacons presbyters (sometimes called ‘priests’, (who serve those in need within local congregations). Anglicans are not naïve about the Christian history in which we are rooted. We do not trust that beliefs or practices are infallible just because they are ancient. Instead, our Anglican the framers ‘reformed’ already existing patterns of worship in the Church to more fully conform to Scripture. REFORMATIONAL. Anglicans are deeply shaped by the liberating insights of the Protestant Reformation. Our beliefs are best summarized in a document called the ’39 which in some ways represents a hybrid of Lutheran and Reformed Articles,’ theology. Anglicans affirm the unique role and authority of Scripture as the place where
denomination was founded by that British charmer, Henry VIII ... and that’s not really true). So, here’s my attempt to explain what Anglicanism is all about. I think the identity of Anglicanism can be summed up in these three adjectives: Rooted, Reformational, & Roomy. ROOTED. Anglicans seek to be intentionally rooted in ancient Christian beliefs and practices. We think that belonging to the ‘big story’ of God’s work throughout time is important, so we deliberately utilize the ancient creeds and liturgies of the Church catholic (organized in the Book of Common Prayer). In the pattern of the ancient Church, we employ the Church Calendar (celebrating days and seasons like Christmas, Epiphany, Lent, Easter, Pentecost, etc) which focus worshippers on various aspects of what God has done in Christ. In keeping with the governmental pattern of the ancient Church, Anglicans retain the ‘3 orders’ of ministers – bishops (who oversee a Diocese), presbyters (sometimes called ‘priests’, who oversee individual churches), and deacons (who serve those in need within local congregations). Anglicans are not naïve about the Christian history in which we are rooted. We do not trust that beliefs or practices are infallible just because they are ancient. Instead, our Anglican framers ‘reformed’ the already existing patterns of worship in the Church to more fully conform to Scripture. REFORMATIONAL. Anglicans are deeply shaped by the liberating insights of the Protestant Reformation. Our beliefs are best summarized in a document called the ’39 Articles,’ which in some ways represents a hybrid of Lutheran and Reformed theology. Anglicans affirm the unique role and authority of Scripture as the place where
why-we-attend-grace-anglica.docx