MY RELIGION: What do Anglicans believe?

WHAT DO ANGLICANS BELIEVE?

            The Anglican religion is the outcome of the English Reformation, A.D. 1529.  It is not a Protestant church.  It is catholic and orthodox (small “c” and “o”).  It has been described as a three-legged stool, elevated by the Bible, tradition, and reason.  That isn’t quite accurate.  I had a child’s toy, which I don’t see much these days, called a tricycle.  Like a bicycle it had pedals, a seat, handlebars, and wheels, though it had three wheels.  The front wheel was much bigger than the two rear wheels.  For Anglicans that front wheel is the Bible.  The back two are Antiquity and Reason.  I think if you can keep this image in your thoughts it might help you understand the Anglican faith and theology.

            Anglican practice is the worship of the Church.  It must be a reflection of the faith in the tradition.  There is certainly flexibility in the presentation of the liturgy (sung or spoken, complete vestments or minor vestments, incense and bells or not, etc.).  All aspects of the liturgical service should be recognizable to any Anglican from any diocese in the world.  Clergy must be faithful to this end.

The Bible is where Anglicans anchor their faith.  Here are some examples:

- The Bible is the inspired word of God.

- The most Holy Trinity, one God, is revealed in the Bible: God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Ghost/Spirit.

- It contains all things necessary for salvation.

- The Bible is not a prescriptive manual for every situation in life.

- An understanding of the Old Testament and New Testament is essential.

- The Bible also contains a set of writings, the Intertestamental Books, which are used for an understanding of lifestyle, though not doctrine.

- The Bible is not one book.  It is a library of books.  Each book may have more than one author, and the authors used a full range of literary techniques.

- The Book of Common Prayer, which contains the services of the Church, is mostly direct quotes from the Bible.

- A cycle of scripture reading and Psalms is adhered to in the services of the Church.

The Antiquity or Tradition of the Church is very important to Anglicans:

- The first four Ecumenical Counsels of the Church gave form and doctrine to the Church, and extinguished heresies of the faith.

            First Council of Nicaea, A.D. 325

            First Council of Constantinople, A.D. 381

            Council of Ephesus, A.D. 431

            Council of Chalcedon, A.D. 451

- The next three Councils confirmed the prior Councils’ doctrinal work.

            Second Council of Constantinople, A.D. 553

            Third Council of Constantinople, A.D. 680

            Second Council of Nicaea, A.D. 787

- All three great Creeds of the Church are embraced by Anglicans.           

            1. the simply beautiful Apostles Creed

            2. the Nicene/Constantinopolitan Creed which is the summary of our faith             

            3. the great statement of the logic of the Trinity within the Athanasian Creed

- The Apostolic Succession is maintained unbroken from the earliest Christians.

- The three-fold ministry of Bishops, Priests, and Deacons is followed, all male and all may marry.

- There are two Gospel Sacraments of the Church, and five others.

            1. Holy Eucharist in the Real Presences of both Species and the mixed cup,

            2. Baptism and the Spiritual Cleansing in water emersion or under water poured

            3. Confirmation/Chrismation

            4. Holy Matrimony

            5. Ordination

            6. Confession

            7. Unction

- The boundaries of the faith are found in the first five Centuries of the Church.

The Reason of the Church, the other small wheel, brings us help in understanding and defending the faith:

- The faith was given by God once to us, and it is for all time, never evolving or changing.

- Anglicans keep the faith that has been believed always and everywhere by all Christians.

- Reason gives us a means to defend and define the faith as needed from age to age.

- Saints and doctors of the Church help us with understanding and insight, and are called to faithfully     maintain the doctrines of the Church.

            Please understand the above lists are limited, and not a complete faith/theology/doctrine.  This writing will hopefully help guide your search or encourage your faith.  Remember, it is Bible, Antiquity, and Reason, in that order, that frames the Anglican faith.

                                                                                                            RKH+

In Christ's love, Fr. Robert Pax