Introduction Anglican Christianity, which stems from the Protestant Reformation, is one of the largest Christian traditions in the world....
Introduction
How the Church of England & Anglicanism Came to Be
Christianity was present in the British Isles since at least
the third century. The British church produced great missionaries such as St.
Patrick and St. Columba. It was not until 664 AD that the Church in Britain
consolidated and submitted to the bishop of Rome (the Pope) at the Synod of
Whitby. The Church of England and the Church of Rome separated in the 1500s
during the Protestant Reformations. The English Reformation was a fairly
conservative reformation, much like the Lutheran reforms. Both Lutheranism and
Anglicanism kept more features and practices from the past than other types of
Protestantism, such as vestments, the historic church calendar, and robust
liturgical worship.
The political reason for the separation of England and Rome
was “the King’s Great Matter.” King
Henry VIII of England had married his brother’s widow, Catherine of Aragon,
receiving a special dispensation to do so by the Pope. The couple failed to
produce a male heir for the throne, threatening England with yet another civil
war (they had just recently concluded the War of the Roses). Henry VIII thought
this was a sign of divine judgment against him for disobeying Leviticus 18:16.
In 1527, Henry appealed to Pope Clement VII to annul the marriage. An annulment
means that the marriage wasn’t valid in the first place, and thus both spouses
are released from matrimonial vows.
The Pope declined, his predecessor having already granted
Henry the special dispensation for his current marriage. Of course, the Holy
Roman Emperor Charles V was the nephew of Catherine, and the pope feared the
political consequences of granting the annulment. However, Henry continued to
press his case. Taking a suggestion from the theologian Thomas Cranmer, Henry
sought the advice from the universities of Europe to discern whether an
annulment was warranted. Cranmer’s instincts were right; the scholars of Europe
believed Henry and Catherine’s marriage should have never occurred in the first
place. Cranmer was made the Archbishop of Canterbury (highest-ranking bishop in
the Church of England) in 1532, declared the marriage “invalid” in 1533, and
became the first Protestant Archbishop of Canterbury when the king removed
England from the Pope’s jurisdiction in 1534.
Origins of the Book of Common Prayer & Articles of Religion
King Henry was no friend to Protestant theology. His
refutations against it had won him the title “Defender of the Faith” from the
Pope. Nevertheless, Cranmer and other like-minded Protestant churchmen worked
slowly and deliberately to achieve reform in England. They were able to
accelerate their pace after Henry died and his young son, Edward VI, came to
the throne. Perhaps one of the most important breakthroughs was the Book of
Common Prayer, which is a collection of services and other important resources
for use in the Church of England. One of the main challenges for other
Protestants is to understand how the prayers and liturgies of the Anglicans
inform and establish their theology. As such, the Prayer Book is a fundamental
aspect of Anglicanism. Another important document was the 42 Articles of
Religion, which outlined the confessional commitments and concerns of the
reformed Church of England. These were written to avoid religious controversies
and to keep all Englishmen in the same church, free from the extremes of Roman
Catholicism and the Radical Reformation.
It is important to remember that the English Reformation was
a long one. Arguably, Anglicanism did not come into its own theologically until
1662. During this over-century-long period, it was “killed twice.” The first
time was when King Edward died and was succeeded by his Roman Catholic
half-sister, Mary. Called “Bloody Mary” by Protestants, she executed many
clergymen, including Archbishop Thomas Cranmer himself. Mary was succeeded by
her Protestant half-sister Queen Elizabeth I, who provided much-needed
political and theological stability during her long reign. Queen Elizabeth
worked hard to keep her clergy in line, especially those who had fled to Geneva
during the Marian persecutions and desired to “purify” the Church of England
along the lines of the Genevan model. These became known as the Puritans.
Queen Elizabeth & The Church of England
It was during Elizabeth’s reign that the Articles of
Religion were reduced and combined into what is now called the 39 Articles, and
the Anglican theologian Richard Hooker wrote his seminal magnum opus, The Laws
of Ecclesiastical Polity, which defended the normative principle of worship and
other tenets of the Church of England from Puritan criticisms. The normative
principle says that as long as a practice does not contradict Scripture but is
consistent with scriptural worship, it may be used. It opposes the regulative
principle, which says that the public worship of God should include only those
elements which are explicitly instituted or appointed by command in the Bible.
After Elizabeth I came James I. Under his reign, Anglican
scholars and clergymen translated the Authorized Version of the Bible. In an
ironic twist of history, the King James Version of the Bible has become a
hallmark of Fundamentalist Baptists, even though it is the product of the
established Church of England (including input from several bishops,
particularly Lancelot Andrewes). James I was succeeded by his son, King Charles
I. He came into open conflict with the Puritans and Parliament, resulting in
the English Civil War.
The Second Death & Restoration of Anglicanism
When the Royalist “Cavaliers” lost to the Puritan
“Roundheads,” Anglicanism experienced its “second death.” Charles I was
executed, as was the Archbishop of Canterbury William Laud. Episcopal church
government was removed in favor of a more presbyterian model, and the Prayer
Book was banned, all led by the Puritan Westminster Assembly (which produced
the now-famous Westminster Standards that still exert influence in Reformed
theology). This group favored the regulative principle of worship over the
normative principle, banning certain vestments and the traditional church
calendar (including celebrations of Christmas and Easter). Oliver Cromwell
provided political leadership to England as Lord Protector, essentially acting
as a dictator.
Episcopal church government, the 39 Articles, the Book of
Common Prayer, the normative principle of worship, and other key features of
Anglicanism were reinstated after the Restoration of the Monarchy under King
Charles II. Certain Puritans were expulsed by the 1662 Act of Uniformity, going
on to become either English Presbyterians, Congregationalists, or Baptists. A
new edition of the Prayer Book was published in 1662 as well, becoming the most
influential and longest-lasting edition of the text. By 1662, Anglicanism had
been more or less stabilized theologically, and it entered a chapter of great
expansion thanks to mission work and British colonialism.
What Anglicans Believe Today
Anglicans hold the Holy Bible, as contained in the 66 Book
of the Old and New Testaments, to be the highest and supreme authority in matters
of faith. It contains all things necessary for salvation, “that whatsoever is
not read therein, nor may be proved thereby, is not to be required of any man,
that it should be believed as an article of the Faith, or be thought requisite
or necessary to salvation” (39 Articles of Religion). Anglicans also read the
Apocrypha “for example of life and instruction of manners,” not to establish
doctrine.
Anglicans confess the three great Creeds: Apostles’, Nicene,
and Athanasian. They also espouse the doctrines of the ecumenical councils,
emphasizing the first four in particular. Some of their more unique positions
can be found in the historic Anglican Formularies: the Book of Common Prayer,
the 39 Articles of Religion, and the Ordinal (which contains ordination
services for bishops, priests, and deacons), with the Book of Homilies (an
officially-approved collection of sermons) offering commentary on those formularies.
As their history makes clear, Anglicans uphold the episcopal
form of church government. This means they recognize three pastoral offices:
bishops (the term “bishop” is an English contraction of the biblical Greek word
episkopos, often translated as “overseer” in modern Protestant translations of
the New Testament), priests (the English contraction of presbyter or “elder”),
and deacons (derived from the Greek, meaning servant, minister, or messenger).
Anglican Sacraments
Anglicans recognize two dominical sacraments established by
Jesus Christ Himself: Holy Baptism and Holy Communion. They understand the
sacraments to be visible, effectual signs of grace and God’s good will toward
His people, which enliven, strengthen, and confirm their faith in Him.
Anglicans also practice 5 other “sacramentals” or lesser sacraments:
Confirmation (Acts 8:14-17), Penance (John 20:22-23), Ordination (Acts 6:6, 1
Timothy 4:14, 5:22, 2 Timothy 1:6, Titus 1:5), Matrimony (Ephesians 5:22-33),
and Unction of the Sick (James 5:14).
Anglicanism espouses the doctrine of baptismal regeneration,
where, normatively, the Holy Spirit brings about the new birth in the waters of
baptism. In this, classical Anglicans often see regeneration and conversion as
different, though complementary, phenomena. As for their doctrine of
eucharistic presence, Anglicans believe in a real spiritual presence, in which
God’s people are caught up into the heavens by the Holy Spirit to feed on the
Body and Blood of Christ by faith. This view falls more in line with Reformed
beliefs about the Eucharist rather than Lutheran sacramental presence. It
certainly conflicts with Roman Catholic transubstantiation as well as
“memorialist” views in which the Lord’s Supper is a purely symbolic
commemoration of Jesus and His sacrifice on the cross.
Parties and “Flavors” of Anglicanism
Anglicanism is host to several “parties” within her ranks
that have different emphases, preferences, and agendas. Old High Churchmen
prize the episcopate, traditional Anglican liturgy, and the Church’s authority
in teaching, interpreting, and guarding Holy Writ. Anglo-Catholics emphasize
beautiful ceremonies, the sacramental life of Christianity, and continuity of
ancient catholic (universally Christian) practice and doctrines.
Low Churchmen—also called Evangelical Churchmen—champion
Reformational doctrine and pragmatic outreach. There can be a more Puritan
expression of low churchmanship, as well as a more revivalistic expression
found in the likes of George Whitefield, the Wesley brothers, and the early
Methodists. The Broad Churchmen, also called the Latitudinarians, emphasize the
breadth or comprehensiveness of the Anglican tradition, trying to allow as many
Christians as possible to be members of Anglican churches in good conscience.
Out of this approach came some of the first theological liberals in
Anglicanism, who downplayed orthodox Christian doctrines and ethics altogether.
These various approaches can sometimes be dizzying for
outsiders. Like other traditions, Anglicanism also faces a crisis of
“cafeteria” Christianity, an individualist mindset where members pick and
choose what beliefs and behaviors suit their preferences, even if this goes
against authoritative confessional documents. This has led to no small amount
of confusion and conflict.
The Anglican Life
Anglicanism is a way of being a Christian. At the heart of
the Anglican life is prayer, particularly via the Daily Offices of Morning and
Evening Prayer. These two services were derived from monastic prayer offices by
Thomas Cranmer, giving Anglicanism a distinct Benedictine flavor. The Daily
Offices, with regular Holy Communion and private devotion, make up the “rule”
of Anglican life. Morning and Evening Prayer can be said or sung. When Evening
Prayer is chanted, it is called “Evensong.”
In the daily prayer offices, which can be practiced
congregationally or at home, Anglicans read through the Bible on a scheduled
plan, called a lectionary. The traditional Anglican lectionary goes through
most of the Old Testament and parts of the Apocrypha once a year, the entirety
of the New Testament thrice a year, and the Psalter once a month. There are
many other lectionaries now in use within the Anglican world that do not
accomplish this.
Anglicanism has also featured a strong missionary spirit
from its very beginning. Whether it was monastic missionaries from the British
Isles during the early medieval times, or courageous modern missionaries who
brought the Gospel to Africa, Asia, Australia, and the Americas, healthy Anglicanism
has almost always practiced effective evangelism. The fruits of missional
Anglicanism can be clearly seen, as Anglican churches continue to spring up and
grow throughout the Global South.
The Anglican Realignment
The conflict between revisionist and orthodox doctrine
within Anglicanism has come to a head in recent years, manifesting itself
particularly with regard to ethical stances on human sexuality. This is an
international crisis, since Anglicanism is a global Christian tradition with
institutions that relate to one another through various official channels. The
original way Anglicans related to one another internationally was in being
members of the Anglican Communion. The Primates (highest ranking bishops) of
various Provinces (large geographical jurisdictions) meet together, with the
Archbishop of Canterbury serving as a “first among equals.” Another important
“instrument of unity” for the Anglican Communion is the Lambeth Conference,
where many bishops meet together to collaborate and consult among themselves on
matters of importance. These institutions and practices continue on to this
very day.
However, as western Anglicans have adopted revisionist theology and ethics in the 20th century, more traditional Anglicans—particularly those in the Global South—have taken exception, meeting together at the Global Anglican Future Conference (GAFCON), which is led by its own council of primates. The GAFCON movement espouses traditional Christian doctrine and ethics. Some of its members are also members of the Anglican Communion and try to reform that institution. Others have split or are otherwise independent of the Anglican Communion and are working to spread and establish the Gospel without any institutional ties to Lambeth. All of these conflicts and activities are referred to as the Anglican Realignment.
The Anglican Church in North America
In the United States, The Episcopal Church (TEC) is in the
Anglican Communion. The Anglican Church in North America (ACNA) is a member of
GAFCON. ACNA was founded in 2009 by traditional Anglicans that departed from
TEC, which was followed by acrimonious lawsuits and property disputes with the
departing congregations and dioceses (some of which continue at the writing of
this article). The ACNA isn’t made up of recently-departed Episcopalian groups
alone. The Reformed Episcopal Church, which split from the Episcopal Church in
1873, joined the ACNA as a sub-jurisdiction. In other words, the Realignment is
not simply a matter of denominational division. It also includes elements of
union and reunion.
Making things even more confusing is the separate Continuing
Anglican movement, which left the Episcopal Church in the 1970s over the issues
of the revisionist 1979 American Book of Common Prayer and the adoption of
women’s ordination. These groups signed the Affirmation of St. Louis but
suffered several splits in the following years. In recent years, there have
been efforts on the part of several Continuing jurisdictions to reunite.
For both the ACNA and the Continuing Anglicans, members of these groups will call themselves “Anglicans” rather than “Episcopalians.” The term “Episcopalian” is now used for official members of TEC, at least in the United States. Nevertheless, Americans make up only a small fraction of Anglicans in the world.
Source: https://www.christianity.com/church/denominations/the-anglican-church.html
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