On DVD: Confirmed Anglicanism

“One need not be an Anglican very long to learn that most Americans, even Christians, are clueless about what the Anglican Church is or what it means to be an Anglican.  In my travels about Anglican Mission, I find that even Anglicans are confused; this can prove particularly distressing when I’m about to confirm someone who cannot articulate what an Anglican is.  Therefore, I am delighted to discover Confirmed Anglicanism, an invaluable teaching tool that clearly describes the highlights of Anglicanism, showcasing the riches of our spiritual heritage.  The teachings by Roseberry and Kerley, punctuated by wit and vivid word-pictures, are concise, informative and edifying.  I commend this series to all Anglicans, especially those teaching a class on confirmation and those preparing to be confirmed.”
The Rt. Rev. E. John Miller, III
The Anglican Mission in the Americas
Prince of Peace Church, Melbourne, FL

What is Anglicanism? What does it mean to be confirmed in the Anglican Way?

Fr. David Roseberry and Fr. Clint Kerley address these and other questions in this four-part, two-disc DVD video, Confirmed Anglicanism.

Explore the richness of Anglican heritage and learn more about the Anglican stream of Christianity.

Disc 1

• Overview / One Globe [27:23]
• Two Lenses [28:26]

Disc 2

• Three Sources / Four Sides [37:23]
• Five Keys [29:41]

Visit The Bookstore to pick up your copy of this informative video, or contact Access Video Audio at 214-291-5032.

Cost: $20 (plus shipping & tax if applicable)
Credit cards are accepted in The Bookstore, but not for mail orders. Please send check for mail orders.
Make payable to: Christ Church Plano
Mail to: Access Video Audio, c/o Christ Church Plano, 4550 Legacy Drive, Plano, TX 75024

Thank you.

Explaining Anglicanism in an Elevator

The Anglican Church is a Biblically-based church with ancient roots that helps us grow as followers of Jesus Christ and serve the world as Christians. Below are the audio portion and notes from a sermon by the Rev. David Roseberry on the occasion of the ordination of three deacons, and for the benefit of those who wish to share their Anglican faith in a nutshell.

Audio

Download (mp3)

Notes

Deacons, if you were wearing your clergy collar in an elevator, and someone asked about your dress and your religion, what could say during a 15-second ride that would convey your faith? You may be tempted to use these descriptions, but they may not be the most effective:

1. Historical connection to King Henry VIII
2. Protestant, but with robes
3. Catholic lite
4. Liturgical
5. Governed by bishops
6. Worldwide

Here are some key points that may more effectively describe the Anglican Way and do so in a way that introduces Jesus Christ:

1. Bible
1. It is the Word of God.
2. We stand under it and honor it; we are custodians of it.
3. We teach it, preach it and share it, but we never throw it at anyone.
4. It ends with a period. It does not end with a question mark or comma.
2. Traditions
1. We are connected to an historic church with 2,000 years of belief, faith and hope. It’s an ancient stream of faith.
2. We are not alone in our belief in Christ.
3. Our beliefs are not innovative, contemporary, liberal or conservative.
3. Personal – Filled with tools that help me build my personal relationship with Jesus Christ.

Summary:

“Anglicanism is a biblically-based church with ancient roots that helps me grow as a follower of Jesus Christ and serve Him as a Christian in the world.” Then, extend your hand in friendship and invite that person to join you in practicing your faith.

Anglican Identity

It happened to me again last night. While visiting friends in Dallas, I was introduced to their neighbors. Over the course of the conversation I mentioned that I am a pastor. “What type of church?” they asked. “Anglican,” I replied. And I was met with a blank stare. But I’ve gotten used to this response. Even those of us who attend an Anglican church are sometimes at a loss to understand who we are. So I thought I’d share with you the way that I talk about who Anglicans are and why I am one of them.

At the core of Anglican identity you find a blended church. It’s a mixture of the best parts of catholic worship and Protestant theology. You’ll notice I used a small “c” in writing catholic. That’s because I’m not using the word as a brand “Roman Catholic” but as a description “universal.” Anglican liturgy is a continuation of worship as it has always been throughout the history of the church. If you went back to the early 200s, you would hear almost the exact same prayer at the Eucharist as we will say in our service today. And because we’re “universal,” we join Christians around the world every Sunday who worship in a very similar way as we do.

Added to this catholic worship is Protestant theology. During the Reformation of the 16th century, godly theologians recognized a need to return to the centrality of Scripture as the authority for the church. If you read through the Book of Common Prayer it won’t take long to realize that the writers of this book knew the Bible well and wanted it to have the central place in the worship life of the church.

For me, Anglicanism represents the very best of Christianity—a connection to other believers, past and present, and an absolute commitment to the authority of the Bible in the life of the church. And thankfully, I have found Christ Church to be a perfect reflection of this blended family of Anglicanism. Look around you this morning. It is likely that you will shake hands with former Baptists, Catholics, and Pentecostals, all of whom have found a home in the historic, Biblical expression of Christianity called Anglicanism.

Book of Common Prayer

Commentary by The Rev. Jed Roseberry

For many who attend Christ Church, Anglican worship is a new and exciting way of worship, but there are still unfamiliar parts to our heritage. One of the things that makes Anglican worship so significant is our Book of Common Prayer.

It is believed that Anglicans, more than any other denomination, are people of a common prayer out of a single book. It’s one of the things that makes the time of worship so special. Regardless of where you are in the world, Anglicans will be worshipping in a similar style united by the Book of Common Prayer. (At Christ Church, that’s the black book with a cross on it, right next to the Bible in the pew rack.) We not only conduct our public services out of this book, but it is also a source for the theology that guides for our private prayer time.

There is a saying that summarizes worship out of the prayer book: lex orandi lex credendi which means “the way we pray determines the way we believe.” In a sense you could say we are liturgical theologians. We read, sing and pray our theology all out of this book. Even though it is a source of our theology, our main guide is still the Bible itself which is the sustaining spirit and underlying foundation of the Book of Common Prayer.

If you have time this week, dust off, borrow or purchase a Book of Common Prayer and check things out for yourself. Don’t just take our word for it. Open it up to any service and try to see the rich saturation of Scripture in the liturgy. Look for words that send you back to your Bible and let the words of this contemporary Prayer Book collect speak to you:

“Blessed Lord, who caused all holy Scriptures to be written for our learning: Grant us so to hear them, read, make, learn and inwardly digest them, that we may embrace and ever hold fast the blessed hope of everlasting life, which you have given us in our Savior Jesus Christ.” BCP, p. 236

True Foundation

Commentary by David Thompson

Anglicans can feel a little inferior when it comes to founding leaders. Lutherans trace their roots back to Martin Luther and his courageous stand while Presbyterians look to John Calvin and his rigorous theology. When Anglicans look to their beginnings they find…Henry VIII and a disappointing marriage!

Henry VIII never intended to be the “VIII.” As the second son of Henry VII and younger brother of Prince Arthur, Henry trained for the priesthood while Arthur prepared to be king. The unexpected death of Arthur changed the course of Henry’s life, making him successor to the throne.

As king, Henry was a true Renaissance man who excelled in the arts and sports, while also practicing his Catholic faith. Henry opposed the early reformation movements in England, even earning a commendation from the Pope for a paper he wrote refuting the thinking of Luther.

Only after his first wife, Catherine of Aragon, failed to provide him a male heir did Henry align himself with the reformers. Henry sought an annulment of his marriage, which the Pope refused. In response, Henry, with the help of those who supported the Reformation, declared the Church of England free from the authority of the Pope and the Catholic Church. Even so, Henry remained Catholic in his beliefs and continued to oppose further efforts at reform. Henry opened the door to the reformation in England, but he was no reformer.

To find the earliest English reformer you have to go back to the 1300s, two hundred years before Henry VIII. John Wycliffe criticized abuses and false teaching of the Catholic Church. Believing Christians were directly responsible to God, he translated the Bible into English so they could know and obey God. For all his efforts the Church expelled Wycliffe from his teaching position at Oxford and 44 years after his death had his bones exhumed and burned. Persecution silenced and scattered his followers, ending his influence in England.

But Wycliffe’s ideas spread to Bohemia through Czech students who attended Oxford. His ideas were passed along until they influenced a young priest, Martin Luther. You see, before Henry, Calvin or Luther, there was the forerunner to the Reformation, John Wycliffe. In his work we find the true foundation of our Anglican heritage.

International Fellowship

One of the more important characteristics of Anglicanism is that we are part of a worldwide communion that is roughly 80 million strong.

That network finds its roots in the Church of England, which used Britain’s colonial expansion as a vehicle for a missionary movement to take place. Today, the Anglican Church is the strongest (and growing the fastest) in Africa, which is quickly becoming its center of influence. As members of Christ Church here in Plano, we are woven into a fabric of faith that spans the globe.

You could go to a worship service at an Anglican Church anywhere in the world and, although there might be variations (the language, the music, the degree of formality, etc.), you would likely recognize the order and be able to follow along through the various parts of the service. I have experienced this in English, Spanish and Lugandan (one of the native languages of Uganda.) The sacramental and liturgical nature of our worship is the same everywhere. In addition, at any Anglican Church you would also see the same types of ordained leaders: bishops, priests and deacons.

Even though our local congregation is, for most of us, the rallying point of our faith, it is good to think about and to celebrate the global nature of our Communion. We need that constant reminder that we are part of something much bigger than what we observe with our senses—we are, in fact, brothers and sisters with Christians everywhere. We see how important this is to God when He gives us a peak into His throne room in heaven:

After this I looked and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and in front of the Lamb. (Rev. 7:9)

As you look around at those who worship with you, thank God that He has brought us into an international fellowship, hints of which we can see right here at Christ Church Plano.

Connection to the Early Church, Common Prayer & Sacraments

I did not come quietly into the Anglican Communion. Dating a “cradle Episcopalian” I would, with regularity, have “debates” with my husband-to-be over Anglican beliefs and practices. I argued and asked lots of questions. Coming from another church tradition with a strong background of reading, studying and memorizing Scripture, I realized there were some missing pieces for me in faith and practice. The Holy Spirit was at work calling me in a new direction. and after marrying Bill I was confirmed in a small Episcopal church in North Carolina.

Here are three aspects of Anglicanism I’ve experienced over the last 25 years which have been sources for growth for me as a follower in faith of Jesus Christ:

1. A connection to the early church. We stand in a line of faith and practice going all the way back to the apostles and have a rich heritage in the historic writings of the church fathers. These writings brought me to a greater appreciation of those who wrestled with key doctrines of our faith in the early centuries after Christ’s death and resurrection. I also read about and discovered an added depth of meaning in worship through the beauty of liturgy.
2. Common prayer. What I initially perceived as rote prayer in worship I began to experience as great prayers of faith. The practice of Morning Prayer has provided structure for my devotional life and is a way to join others across the world who begin their days with these same prayers and readings.
3. Sacraments. Sacraments are a means of encountering the mystery of God through visible and tangible signs such as water, bread and wine. In the sacrament of Holy Communion I am reminded of God’s saving action through Jesus Christ. Along with many, I have received God’s grace and encountered the healing presence of Christ at the table of Communion.

For all who are making their way into the worldwide Anglican Communion, I pray that you too will find this to be a place of connection with the early church, a place of prayer, and a place where you meet the Lord, experience the mystery and majesty of God, and receive His healing and grace.

Deacons

The Holy Scriptures and ancient Christian writers make it clear that from the Apostles’ time, there have been different ministries within the Church. In particular, since the time of the New Testament, three distinct orders of ordained ministers have been characteristic of Christ’s holy catholic Church. (Book of Common Prayer, p. 510)

These orders are bishops, priests, and deacons. I serve in the order of deacons. In an Anglican worship service, the deacon reads the Gospel, leads the Prayers of the People, sets the table for Holy Communion, and dismisses the people when the service has ended. All of these tasks symbolize the ministry of the deacon. A deacon can be identified by the stole worn over the left shoulder which symbolizes the readiness of his or her right arm to serve God and the Church.

As the early church began to grow, many ministries were needed that could not be done by the Apostles alone. The appointing of the seven reputable men of Acts 6:1-6 is generally accepted within the church today as the beginning of the order of deacons. The ministry of the deacons then and now is service to the church and to the world.

The theology of the diaconate is based on the example that Jesus set, as the first deacon. Jesus used the word deacon when he told His disciples, “I am among you as diakonos—deacon—one who serves.” (Luke 22:27) He embodied the ministry of a servant, ministering to the sick, the poor, the hopeless and helpless. The deacon’s ministry in the church today parallels the ministry of Jesus, who “did not come to be served, but to serve.” (Matthew 20:28)

All Christians are called to minister to others and to witness to the Gospel of Christ. It is the duty of all who follow Jesus to care for others, to pray for them, and to help those who cannot help themselves. The Church exists to continue the work of Jesus in the world. Deacons reveal this ministry, the servanthood of Christ, by making known to the Church the needs and concerns of the world and by leading the Church into the world. Deacons serve in order to enable the church to serve better. They embody what Jesus himself was—a true servant.

39 Articles

Each week, and for centuries, Christians meeting in private and corporate worship around the world have been reciting the basic profession of our faith using the words of the Nicene and Apostles Creeds. Along with the authority of Scripture, the Creeds are and have been the basic tenets of Christian belief.

During its infancy in the 16th century, the Church of England believed it needed to articulate its unique role in Christendom. As in most Christian traditions, one component of this has been an expression or Confession of Faith. It looks quite similar to what we would read in a creedal statement but more broadly articulates the doctrines of its belief. For example, at that time, the Lutherans had published the Augsburg Confession, Calvinists would later publish the Westminster Confession of Faith. Faced with the notion that the Anglican Church had no distinctive theology, in 1553 the Archbishop of Canterbury, Thomas Cranmer presented his Forty-Two Articles to his church and crown. Later revised, the 39 Articles of Religion have stood as the confession of what Anglicans believe and have been included in each of the Books of Common Prayer (BCP) throughout our history (see p. 867 of the BCP.)

In the Articles, you will find doctrines of the Trinity, the nature of humanity and our salvation, sacramental theology and the church’s relation to the State. Beyond this relatively simple outline, three major themes run through the Articles: that Scripture is authoritative in all matters of faith and doctrine; that sinful humanity is justified by faith in the grace of God expressed in the sacrificial death of Christ; and that death is commemorated and celebrated in the service of Holy Communion where the consumption of physical bread and wine is likened unto the spiritual partaking of his body and blood.

Much more could be said as these are all very weighty topics on which entire libraries of scholarship have been devoted. I would encourage you to take some time to read through the 39 Articles. Test them against your own beliefs and preconceptions.

Worldwide Missionary Movement

When you hear the word Anglicanism, what are some characteristics that come to mind? For many of us, the words and phrases that often define Anglicanism are beautiful liturgy, ancient roots, word and sacraments, British flavor, catholic and Protestant, or international community.

Perhaps the least mentioned part of Anglican DNA is missionary. Did you know that St. Patrick is not only the patron saint of green beer, but was a brilliant English missionary taking the gospel of Christ to Ireland around the year AD 400? British missionaries evangelized many areas of the European continent during the Middle Ages. During the centuries of British colonization of the globe, colonists not only established settlements in far-flung places like Jamestown, Virginia, Calcutta, India and Kampala, Uganda, but they also planted new churches wherever they went. The Anglican priest John Wesley, remembered most for giving birth to Methodism, was also an Anglican missionary in the American colony of Georgia.

During this expansion, Church of England members were inspired to form voluntary missionary societies to take the good news of Christ to peoples around the earth who had never heard of Jesus. Not only did these Anglican missionary organizations help lead millions of people into a relationship with Christ, but they also changed the worldwide Anglican presence from a chaplaincy for British colonists into a full-blown Christian missionary movement.

Christ Church has sent and is supporting members as full-time missionaries to distant parts of the world. Parishioners are invested in missions to Peru, Guatemala and many other places. Now, Christ Church is providing office space and support to a brand new missionary organization. The Anglican Initiative for Mission is a missionary ministry that inspires and calls, trains and equips, and sends and supports Anglican leaders who plant churches that plant churches in the Americas, in the exciting mission to reach the 140 million Americans who do not have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.

The worldwide missionary movement known as Anglicanism is living proof of the words of theologian Emil Bruner, “Oxygen is to fire as mission is to the church.”