Anglican Theology/History #2

By: The Rev. Alex Riffee

Where we left off…

• The first portion of our Anglican History class went over the English Church under Henry VIII and future lines.– Are we Catholic? Are we Reformed? Are we both?

• Richard Hooker, Via Media, the middle path.– Amid differences, all parties can find common Truth in

SCRIPTURE if they soberly look to reason and tradition.• Richard Baxter vs Jeremy Taylor

– Showed us each generation has their conflicts. They both disagreed on many things, but they loved one another and in fact taught many of the same things, just from a different point of view.

– We are the same and the church is helpful to move the group forward from simply individual views.

Global Anglicanism

• 85 million members plus• 44 regional/national churches around the globe

in more than 160 countries.• Structures/committees established to enable

Anglican unity in the diversity of the Communion• BCP – Things indifferent…cultural relevance to

understand the faith (many different prayer books)

Anglican Communion

• The Anglican Communion is an international association of churches consisting of the Church of England and of national and regional Anglican churches (and a few other episcopal churches) in full communion with it[1] and specifically with its principal primate, the Archbishop of Canterbury. There is no single "Anglican Church" with universal juridical authority as each national or regional church has full autonomy.

Anglican Church Worldwide

Threefold Ministry

• Bishop (elder, overseer)– To teach, guide, & oversee multiple churches within a

geographic region. To ordain and dispense sacraments • Never stops being a priest or deacon.

• Priest– To preach and dispense the sacraments of the church.

• Priests never stop being deacons

• Deacon– Read the gospel aloud and to do the works of Christ

through visitation, healing, and pastoral care. (hands on ministry)

Role of Bishops

• In the New Testament, a bishop is a person who functions as a teaching leader among a local group of Christians. The Greek term episkapos has also been translated as “episcopal,” “elder,” “overseer,” or “pastor.” All refer to the same office and are therefore synonyms.

• They have the power to do all the functions of a priest like marry, baptize, consecrate the Eucharist.

• They have the power to establish churches, ordain, Confirm, teach, rebuke, etc.– Priests and laity look to the bishop for guidance and example in

all matters spiritual.

US Bishops & Absalom Jones

• Bishop Seabury – 1st Bishop of CT (1784)

• Bishop White – 1st Bishop of PA (1787)– Samuel Provoost 1787– James Madison 1790

• Bishop Claggett of MD (1792)• Absalom Jones (1791 started, 1804

priested)

Diocese of Virginia

• A Diocese is simply a district/area under the jurisdiction of a Christian Bishop

• The first Anglican parish in VA was established in 1607.

• 1785 it was established as a diocese in the Episcopal Church of the United States (ECUSA)

• James Madison (not the president, but related) became VA’s first bishop in 1790.

Who are Our Bishops?

• Shannon Johnston – Diocesan Bishop– From Alabama, has served Virginia as

bishop since 2007.• Ted Gulick – Assistant Bishop– Formerly bishop of Kentucky– Nominated for US Presiding Bishop in

2006.• Susan Goff – Bishop Suffragan– Newly Consecrated in 2012– First female bishop in VA

Chicago Lambeth Quadrilateral 1886 & 1888

(a) The Holy Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments, as "containing all things necessary to salvation," and as being the rule and ultimate standard of faith.(b) The Apostles' Creed, as the Baptismal Symbol; and the Nicene Creed, as the sufficient statement of the Christian faith.(c) The two Sacraments ordained by Christ Himself--Baptism and the Supper of the Lord--ministered with unfailing use of Christ's words of Institution, and of the elements ordained by Him.(d) The Historic Episcopate, locally adapted in the methods of its administration to the varying needs of the nations and peoples called of God into the Unity of His Church.

St. James’s• Rector (Randy Hollerith)

– Priest in charge of a parish, hired through the vestry of a church and approved by the Bishop to serve within his or her diocese.

• Assistants Rectors (Ann Dieterle, Carmen Germino, & Alex Riffee)– Under the authority of and hired through the rector, but

with the input of the laity. Charged with upholding the rectors vision for the parish.

• Laity (non-ordained Christians at St. James’s)– It has always been seen that the majority of God’s work

comes through the hands of the laity. The role of ordained clergy is to primarily teach, encourage, and prophecy the needs present in today’s culture and God’s power.

Your Part

• You are an individual in a body larger than yourself. • When we say prayers together in one voice, we join

not just our congregation, the diocese, or the ECUSA. • We say prayers that all Christians say in every

denomination. We say prayers that are as old as the time of Christ.

• Communal faith will help keep Christ’s message moving forward (as the time’s change) and keeping it authentic (rather than simply individual belief, right or wrong).