CHRISTENDOM Series: Anglican

ANGLICAN

(Mainline Protestant)

Ye adulterers and adulteresses,

know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God?

James 4:4

Anglican Churches refer to those who came out of the Church of England. In America, after the Revolution, they changed their name here to Episcopalian. They tend to be theologically liberal (except the splintering offshoots) having women ordination, gay clergy, evolution and don't condemn abortion. They were very active in the social gospel of the 20th century and supportive today of the Green gospel.

Along their spectrum of theology, include at the far end, the ultra-liberal Bishop john Spong, who even goes so far as to deny the resurrection of Christ. He refers to Biblical Creation as "pre-Darwinian mythology and post-Darwinian nonsense." The Episcopal Church also took in Mathew Fox, who was kicked out of the Catholic faith by the man who became Pope Benedict XVI. Mathew Fox was so theologically liberal, that he has started a movement for the "cosmic Christ" & Creation Spirituality, which borrows heavily from pagan religions.
Episcopalians are sort of like theologically liberal Catholics without a Pope. They have mass, saints, nuns & monks, call their priests "father", and baptism by sprinkling & infant baptism. They also are Amillennial in eschatology & somewhat sacramental in areas of soteriology. They also have an episcopal church structure. They have a BOOK OF COMMON PRAYER used by Anglicans.
Among the differences with Catholics, (besides theologically liberal) they have married clergy. They also allow any Christian to participate in their mass whereas, Catholics only allow baptized Catholics to partake.
HIGH CHURCH / LOW CHURCH - the term "High Church" means a focus on a strict episcopal structure and rituals which seem more Catholic. This includes more veneration of the saints. "Low Church" refers to a less rigid episcopal structure and a more protestant oriented focus with less Catholic looking rituals.

Episcopal Church - Seperated after the American Revolution from the Church of England. During the Revolution, those who were High Church in their views were more loyal to England. Those who more Low Church in their outlook were more supportive of the patriots cause. Women ordination became official in 1976. Until 1997, they allowed each diocese to determine whether to

accept women ordination. Then they mandated it. In 2009 they developed a liturgy for gay weddings.
Around 2,000,000 members.
Reformed Episcopal Church - 1873, Started as a revolt against the Oxford Movement, (a movement among Anglicans to stress their Catholic roots more). Those who opposed broke off and formed the REC. They also opposed the updating of the Book Of Common Prayer. They became somewhat Calvinistic in theology for awhile but shifted away from it in recent years. they also do NOT ordain women. On other issues they tend to be theologically liberal today. Around 14,000 members.

African Orthodox Church - 1921, The AOC was founded by black Episcopalians. Where they differ is that they have a strong emphasis on Catholic sacraments and borrow, the Eastern Orthodox styles in worship while holding to Anglican teachings and the Common Book Of Prayer. Their patron saint is Jazz Musician John Coltrane (1926-1967). Also, theologically liberal. Around 5,000 members.
Anglican Orthodox Church - 1963, Split was led by a bishop of the Episcopal Church who warned of the result of the growing theological liberalism. They also drew in memebers from the Old Catholic Church & Eastern Orthodox Churches.
Anglican Catholic Church - 1977, Split from the Episcopal Church primarily over women ordination & the changing of the Common Book Of Prayer. Around 10,000 members.
United Episcopal Church - 1981, A very theologically conservative split from the

Episcopal Church, especially on social issues.
Christian Episcopal Church - 1992, A conservative offshoot of the Episcopal Church. They opposed the theological liberalism, women ordination and the Episcopal lowering of standards on morality.
Episcopal Missionary Church - 1992, another tiny offshoot of theological conservatives from the Episcopal Church due to it's lurch towards gay clergy & marriage in the 1990's.
Holy Catholic Church—Western Rite - 1997, Split from the Anglican Catholic Church over their move towards moral relativism. They also believe the Orthodox Church has some correct views on theology. Also, strongly pro-life on abortion.
Diocese of the Great Lakes - 1998, formed between independent diocese of Anglicans through the Great Lakes region. Opposed to women ordination. Their primary mission work is in nursing homes.
Orthodox Anglican Church - 1999, Split form the Anglican Orthodox Church over leadership.
Anglican Convocation of the Good Shepherd - 2001, Split from the Episcopal Church in opposition to gay marriage. Also opposed to women ordination. They usually meet in private homes or rent places for worship.

Anglican Church in North America - 2009, Major split form the Episcopal Church over gay clergy and abortion. But they do allow women ordination, left up to each diocese. The the last straw for conservatives who stayed in the Episcopal Church was the presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church, Katharine Jefferts Schori, who claimed there are other ways to salvation than through Christ. Around 112,000 members.

CHRISTENDOM Series Outline Link:
http://master1844-dc.blogspot.com/2015/06/christendom-series-outline.html