Again, Anglicanism



As I have noted before, Anglicanism is a splendid possibility to consider when thinking about what one church for all believers might look like. Anglicanism accommodates catholic and reformed streams of faith and practice, and variations within those streams. In today's Anglicanism you find charismatics and Anglo-Catholics, determinedly "low church" worshipers who like to keep things simple, evangelicals, Reformation doctrine buffs and more than a few open-minded believers who are comfortable in all those settings.

Unfortunately, heterodoxy set in during our era, as some people exploited Anglicanism's genial tolerance that gave countenance to a range of ideas and opinions that all--until recently--stayed within the pale of historical Christian orthodoxy. Here Fr. Gavin Ashenden takes a look at what went wrong--the current split-up in progress in Anglicanism, as the orthodox take stock of what has become of their church: Leaving home: The Future of the Faith in England

Unfortunately Fr. Gavin is right in most of his conclusions. The Church of England is mirroring the fate of its Episcopal Church branch in America, where postmodern ethical fog led a once noble church into spiritual irrelevance. If Anglicanism can get its heterodoxy problem under control, it will once more be a shining example of tolerance, accommodation and unity despite honest differences. If it fails to do so, something of great value will be lost as the Church of England spirals into irrelevance.

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