Christianity's Family Tree - Chapter 5 - Anglicanism (Class discussion)

Key Insights:

1. Christians in England were also calling for reforms in the Catholic Church   However, it was the king’s desire for a male heir that ultimately led the English church to split from the Roman Catholic Church and become the Church of England.
2. Marks of the Anglican Church include:  three-fold ministry (deacon, priest & bishop); the seven sacraments, with emphasis on Holy Baptism and Holy Communion; sense of identity grounded in worship; reliance upon the spiritual disciplines; clergy can be married, and in some countries can be women; laity share in ministry of the church
3. Three-legged stool of Anglicanism identifies how they determine what they believe and practice: scripture, tradition and experience.
4. After the Bible, the most important books in the Anglican tradition is the Book of Common Prayer, which includes several services for daily worship (called offices), prayers, Psalms and lessons from both testaments.
5. The Anglican tradition reminds us lex orandi, les credendi, which means “the law of prayer is the law of belief” – in other words, as we pray, so we believe.  What we pray and how we pray shapes what we believe.  Prayer, praise and worship are the most important things we do.

Our class discussion discussed how much the isolation of England must have contributed to some of the different ways that reformation occurred there.  The separation of the Church of England from Catholic control was as much a political reality as a theological one.  The crowned leaders pulled the country back and forth between Catholicism, Protestantism and ended up somewhere in the middle.  The via media - the middle way - this is the way that Anglicanism takes... in theology and in practice.  It is a delicate place to live.  They believe that being a church dedicated to living through worship makes that possible.

The gift that the Church of England gave the English-speaking world was the King James Bible (1611) - one of the first biblical translations done by committee... another evidence of living by consensus and compromise.

One of our classmate wrote me a question that I'd like to share here:  "I understand the 'essence of the church' is prayer and worship but I didn't see any evidence of evangelism or outreach beyond the church.  Would it be implied or is the Anglican church not known as a denomination that emphasizes evangelism?"

My reply:  The Episcopal church is not a part of the evangelical tradition... altar calls, etc.  But they have a strong sense of missional responsibility, sending out missionaries and going to places where people are in need.  I've looked up to see what US Episcopalians say about evangelism and some of their articles can be found at this site:  http://www.episcopalcafe.com/daily/evangelism/.  

There is a program which began in the Anglican church near London which has spread to a lot of churches, including  many protestant traditions.  It's called the Alpha Course and introduces people to the basic theological tenants of the Christian faith. It's goal is to help people claim the Christian faith as their own by explaining basic Christian doctrine in a language that makes sense in today's world.  www.alphausa.org  

There is a growing understanding among the Episcopalians I know that it's not a part of what they have actively done, but need to figure out how to incorporate it into their new paradigm, lest they die as a denomination.  

Taking it Home:

Observe three of the daily offices of prayers from the Episcopal tradition; morning, midday and evening.  Three options are listed.

Day 1:  Lauds (morning) – Begin with a prayer for thanksgiving for the day.  Pray Psalm 1.  Pray that you might be one who delights in the law of the Lord.  Read Matthew 5:13-16 and pray that you might be salt and light today.  Invite God to guide and use you today.  Lift up your needs to the Lord.  Conclude with the Lord’s Prayer.

Sext (midday) – Give thanks for your meal and for the morning that has passed.  Read Psalm 2.  Focus on the final line of the psalm.  What does this mean for you?

Compline (bedtime) – Thanks God for the day and its blessings.  Pause to consider anything for which you need God’s forgiveness or help in order to learn from your experience and live differently tomorrow.  Read Psalm 3 aloud, focusing on verses 3-5.

Day 2: Lauds – Begin with a prayer of thanksgiving for the day, then read Psalm 5.  How do verses 4-6 call you to live today?  Read again verses 11-12 and pray that you might be like the one who takes refuge in God.

Sext – Give thanks for your meal and for the morning that has passed.  Read Psalm 6.  Have you ever felt as the psalmist does in this prayer?  Not the confidence of verse 9.

Compline – Thank God for the day and its blessings.  Pause to consider anything in the day for which you need God’s forgiveness or help in order to learn from your experiences and live differently tomorrow.  Read Psalm 4 aloud.  Are there any false gods in your life?  Note tha the psalm begins with the psalmist in distress; what has changed in verse 8?

Day 3: Lauds - Begin with a prayer for thanksgiving for the day and for God’s goodness.  Read Psalm 9:1-11.  How do verses 1 and 2 call you to live today?  Pray that God will help you live these words today.  Life up your concerns to God.

Sext (midday) – Give thanks for your meal and for the morning that has passed.  Read Psalm 7:1-10.  Hove you ever felt as though enemies were seeking to wound you?  Invite God to search your mind and be your shield; then read aloud verse 17. 

Compline (bedtime) – Thanks God for the day and its blessings.  Pause to consider anything for which you need God’s forgiveness or help in order to learn from your experience and live differently tomorrow.  Step outside and look at the stars: then read Psalm 8 aloud.