OUR FAITH
ABOUT ANGLICANS
Anglicans are the world’s third largest Christian group (behind Roman Catholics and Eastern Orthodox) and we are growing every day, especially in countries south of the Equator. The Anglican Church in North America, founded in 2009 to preserve and perpetuate the Apostolic Faith here, has already grown to more than 100,000 members in the United States, Canada, and Mexico. We are in full communion with other Anglican churches representing 80 million Anglican believers worldwide.
We know ourselves to be a part of God’s one, holy, catholic, and apostolic church that the Apostles and their followers built at Jesus’ command. We like to say that Anglicanism is where you would arrive should you travel all the way back to the Early Church, and if you yourself were to believe what the Church has always believed, at all times, and in all places, down through the millennia. People nowadays yearn for a sense of connection with the Early Church—a footbridge that Anglicans richly provide. It is why Billy Graham saw “spiritual beauty in Anglican order,” and told his final biographer that if he were starting all over again, “I would be an evangelical Anglican.”(1)
Anglicanism is Biblical, generous, and beautiful. Not that Anglicans can believe anything they want to believe, because God seeks people to worship him in spirit and in truth. For Anglicans, that truth is the Bible as the final authority and unchangeable standard for Christian faith and life. It has been well said that our Book of Common Prayer, and its liturgy, is simply the Bible arranged for worship. Anglicanism generously embraces three historic worship traditions. The Evangelical movement, consistent from the time of the Great Reformation of the 16th century, stresses the primacy of the Bible to be read, marked, learned and inwardly digested. The Anglo- Catholic movement of the 17th and 19th centuries renewed the Church’s commitment to the sacramental life of worship. The Charismatic renewal of the 20th century centered on life in the Holy Spirit as a present day experience. Common to all is worship that exalts the supremacy of Scripture.
To consider Anglican order one need look no further than to begin with Christendom’s liturgical seasons of the year. Everyone knows Christmas and Easter. The others are Advent, Lent, Epiphany, Eastertide, Pentecost, and Trinity, each centering on a particular chapter in the story of God and his people. By our own retelling of the story of Jesus and his love, arranged in this way, we ourselves become not hearers only but participants with Jesus. Because the Book of Common Prayer is in worldwide use, when we worship and pray we’re engaging in real time with millions of other Anglican believers whose collective praise never ceases in a global family on which the sun never sets.
©Anglican House Media Ministry, Inc. 2022. Reprinted with permission
ANGLICANISM
We inhabit the Anglican tradition as a living form of Christian praise, prayer, and practice that forms us into the image of Christ and attunes us to the work of the Spirit. It fosters a God-centered, Scripture-saturated, and prayer-immersed shape to all of life.
Anglican Christianity is…
Biblical – Holy Scripture is cherished, read, studied, and lived as the living voice of God. Anglicanism wants to immerse the people of God in the Word of God through all its ministries and devotional practices.
Historical – The rich spiritual and theological tradition of the Church is received and honored as the fruit of the Spirit’s work throughout time and space. Anglicanism seeks unity with the historic Church in its creedal affirmations, pastoral practices, and worship rhythms – gleaning from their wisdom and insight into the mystery of Christ.
Sacramental – God communicates his invisible, spiritual grace to people through his visible, tangible creation (water and oil, bread and wine). Anglicanism holds Word and Sacrament together for the health and edification of the Church.
Liturgical – The liturgical form of worship engages the whole person – body and soul – and immerses the whole church – young and old – in the central realities of the gospel. Anglicanism encourages Christians to participate in consistent gathered worship as the heartbeat of life.
Pastoral – The Book of Common Prayer, along with ministries of catechesis and confirmation, provide people with helpful rhythms and resources for spiritual formation. Anglicanism encourages disciples of Jesus to see every sphere and moment of life as holy.
Ecumenical – Anglicanism is not the only true Church, but is part of a much larger communion that is the one, holy, catholic and apostolic Church. As such, it seeks unity of faith and mission with churches of all denominations, and works with all who participate in the work of the gospel.
Global – Anglicanism is a global communion. Although birthed in England, its identity has grown to include many nations and diverse cultures, embracing the diversity of worship in its various locations.
WANT TO LEARN MORE?
Watch HTC’s own Introduction to Anglicanism series, a 13-part deeper dive into our tradition.
CREEDAL CHRISTIANITY
With Christians around the world and throughout the ages, we cherish and confess our faith in the words of the Nicene Creed (381 AD).
We believe in one God, the Father, the Almighty, maker of heaven and earth, of all that is, visible and invisible.
We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ, the only Son of God, eternally begotten of the Father, God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten, not made, of one Being with the Father. Through him all things were made. For us and for our salvation he came down from heaven; by the power of the Holy Spirit he became incarnate from the Virgin Mary, and was made man. For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate; he suffered death and was buried. On the third day he rose again in accordance with the Scriptures; he ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead, and his kingdom will have no end.
We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life, who proceeds from the Father and the Son. With the Father and the Son he is worshipped and glorified. He has spoken through the prophets. We believe in one holy catholic and apostolic Church. We acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins. We look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come.
Amen
