If
we aspire to be orthodox Anglicans, then we must
be orthodox Anglicans.
We
need to be worshipping and praying from one Book
of Common Prayer, this being a contemporary American/English
edition of the 1928 Book of Common Prayer, in its
theological and doctrinal entirety.
We
need to be hearing and reading from one legitimate,
authoritative version of the Holy Bible, preferably
in contemporary American/English. The English Standard
Version with Apocrypha suggests itself.
We
need to be singing hymns of faith and great spirituality
and beauty, from one Hymnal, this being the 1940
or 1982 Hymnal or some combination of the two.
We
need to worship as one, communally pray as one, and
sing the worship and praises of our God and our Lord
Jesus Christ, as one. This
means using one Book of Prayer, one version of the
Holy Bible, and one Hymnal.
A
major contributing factor in the spiritual, liturgical
and organizational anarchy we have now is accepting
the notion that "local variations in minor
things is ok." We
ignored the fact that big things are made up only
of many little things. If we compromise on enough
little things, then sooner or later the big things
fail and the great structure of Anglican Christianity
is completely undermined. We
opted for anarchy – and now we have anarchy!
We
who call ourselves faithful, orthodox Anglicans need
now to be about reclaiming and reasserting the foundations
of our orthodoxy. Unless we do so, Anglican Christianity—a
magnificent expression of the Gospel of our Lord
Jesus Christ—will continue to wither away.
We
need to be mature about this effort and set aside
some of our personal preferences and eccentricities
and come together, seeking the greater good of being
unified again as true Anglican Christians.
For
myself, for too long I went along. Raised Presbyterian,
I came to the Episcopal Church in 1960. I worshiped
through the Trial Rites and accepted the 1979 prayer
book as being far more than it was and is, because
its modern language was a relief.
Our
faithful Bishops in America need to come together
as true pastors of Anglican Christianity in the USA,
solidify themselves and begin with a clear and resonant
voice to lead us out of this wilderness. They can
do so if they will do so.
As
we stand again on the foundation stones of Anglican
Christianity, the heresies and apostasies that so
painfully beset us will dwindle to nothingness.
May
the peace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with us all.
Stanley
F. Nelson
Church of the Holy Trinity
Dallas, Texas, USA
stan2345@peoplepc.com
14 November 2006
Is
it okay for Anglicans to cross themselves? Do you
have confession with a priest? Is it necessary to
obtain forgiveness of sins? I think I would like
to start the process of becoming an Anglican. Is
there any way I can do it from Japan, though I don`t
have a car and there is no Anglican church nearby.
Thank you,
[Name
withheld]
Not yet Anglican
Yokohama, JAPAN
19 November 2006
[Ed.
note: If any reader would care to assist
this potential Anglican in Japan, we'll be glad to
forward your email and put this enquirer in
touch with you.]