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 Frequently Asked Questions
What is Western Anglicans? In the fallout from the Primates' Dar Es Salaam Communique of February, 2007, and its primatial vicar proposal, we were encouraged to come together to produce the organizational structure of a fellowship of orthodox Anglican congregations in the Western United States. Our purpose was to lead our congregations into a servant community of mutual respect, support, cooperation and shared values, under guidance from our bishops and archbishops. For a more detailed description of our organization's history, click on "How We Came to Be" on the left-hand side of the home page. What does "orthodox" mean? Generally, "orthodox" refers to the true faith. (Ortho="right" or "straight." Doxa="glory" or "worship.") Orthodoxy means right faith, in the sense of worshiping God rightly, or worshiping the right God. In practice, orthodoxy is conformity to the Christian faith as contained in the Holy Scriptures and formulated in the early ecumenical creeds. What is the "Anglican Communion"? The Anglican Communion consists of 38 provinces (large regional networks of parishes and dioceses) worldwide, 37 of which (including the Episcopal Church, U.S.A) are the legacy of missionaries from the Church of England spreading the faith throughout the British Empire, and beyond. The genius of the missionaries' work was raising up leaders from the indigenous populations, so that new, independent churches grew to be in fellowship with, but not governed by, the Church of England. The result today is an Anglican Communion that is held together by bonds of affection, prayer book worship, and tradition rather than law, although the Archbishop of Canterbury is considered the Anglican Communion's nominal leader. The Episcopal Church is under increasing pressure from orthodox churches within the Communion to return to theological orthodoxy. Already, 22 of the 37 other churches of the Anglican Communion have declared themselves to be in states of either impaired or broken communion with the Episcopal Church, raising serious questions about the future of the Anglican Communion itself. Western Anglicans' 14 member churches disassociated from the Episcopal Church at various times since 2004 to align themselves provisionally with Anglican dioceses in Argentina, Bolivia or Uganda, so as to maintain their connection with the Anglican Communion. What does it mean to be Anglican? Anglicanism arose in the Reformation, which returned the Word of God to its rightful primacy. In England, the Reformation led to a Book of Common Prayer to bind Christians together in worship and, later, to the making of the Bible available to the people in their own language. In a real sense, the theology and practice of Anglicanism represent a return to the first thousand years of practice in the One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church, before the apostasy and abuses that culminated in the Reformation. Anglicans exalt the Holy Scriptures as containing everything that is required for eternal salvation through faith in Jesus Christ. Hallmarks of Anglican practice are worship centered on the twin loci of the Word of God and the Eucharist or Lord's Supper, and the Prayer Book, modeled closely on Scripture and containing the ancient Creeds of the Church, the 39 Articles of Religion and the Ordinal. Worship styles include "high church" or Anglo-Catholic, "low church yet traditional," and more contemporary forms, including Charismatic, with many churches holding services in two or more of these styles. But the core of Anglicanism remains the Apostles' teaching, being what the Church at most times and in most places has always believed. How do orthodox Anglicans view the authority of holy scripture? We hold the Holy Scriptures (1) to contain all that is necessary for eternal salvation through faith in Jesus Christ, and (2) to be the inerrant authority containing the body of teaching necessary to successful, Christian living in the present age as well. (We steer by the Word of God in its unified entirety, not by seizing upon verses randomly) Saints over the millenia have found, by the testing of their faith, that the Word of God is truth, not just "truth for them," but true absolutely. "By faith we understand that the worlds were prepared by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things which are visible." (Heb 11:3) Indeed, the Lord has said "I am watching over My word to perform it." (Jer 1:12; see also 2Tim3 and 2Pet1.) What's the difference between orthodox Anglican churches and the Episcopal Church? An influential majority in the Episcopal Church has wandered far afield from the orthodox Christian faith. While clinging to the form of the Book of Common Prayer, and the historic documents of the Church, they redefine them to conform to perceived cultural changes. This tendency is insidious because it results in a religion that denies the authority of Holy Scripture and uniqueness and centrality of Jesus Christ as the Way to the Father. It is more than a little reminiscent of the humorist Garrison Keillor's tale of a fellow named Bob who invented a faith called Bobism, "the religion that changes to meet your needs." What does your organization believe about the role of a bishop? In the Episcopal Church model of leadership, a bishop sits like a monarch, issues instructions flowing down from the top and receives money flowing back up from the congregations. That's top-heavy management. Congregations don't need to be controlled like that; they need the encouragement and blessing of a godly bishop. The Western Anglicans' DNA recognizes that the most effective ministry takes place person-to-person at the parish level and can't be imposed from on high. In our vision a bishop might also be the rector of one of the parishes. First and foremost, a godly bishop defends the faith, making sure no weeds grow in that garden. A godly bishop manages, ministers to and, when necessary, disciplines the clergy. And a godly bishop does the work of an evangelist and plants churches. A bishop thus focused would have a small budget, mainly for travel expenses, and little or no staff. In other words, the money goes for church planting or stays at the parish level where the ministry needs are found and where God is moving. What will keep Western Anglicans from falling into the same mistakes that have beset the Episcopal Church? During the past four decades, perhaps the most disturbing aspect of the Episcopal Church has been its failure to defend the basic Creedal tenets of the Christian faith, such as the divinity of Christ and the nature of the Trinity. Under a godly bishop, who views defense of the faith as a sacred obligation, this type of erosion would not happen. It's important to note that the Episcopal Church has fallen into apostasy despite the authenticity of its historic documents. So documents per se, however sacred, aren't the answer here. Beginning with its failure to discipline the heretical Bishop James Pike in the 1960s, if not before, the Episcopal Church House of Bishops has tolerated an ever increasing apostasy. The only answer to this kind of erosion of the faith is to do what the Church has done throughout the millenia, and that's to maintain a robust defense of the faith that was once for all delivered to the saints. (Jude 3) And this gets us right back to the sine qua non of godly bishops who view defense of the faith as a sacred obligation. So what will keep Western Anglicans (and its successor diocese) from falling into the mistakes of the Episcopal Church is diligence in the process of selecting its bishops. Also helpful will be a simple diocesan structure that supports the role of a bishop in providing godly leadership. How is Western Anglicans being financed? We're not a high-maintenance organization. We suggest that each of our member congregations contribute $100 multiplied by the number of its delegates to our House of Delegates meeting, held quarterly. That means the largest of our member congregations would contribute $700 annually, and that's a suggestion, not a tax. We've been blessed by private individuals donating a few thousand dollars to date. The only expenses we've had so far are for creating this website and holding meetings of our House of Delegates. As of December 1, 2007, we've raised less than $10,000 and spent less than half of that amount. The "Why" is that we believe effective ministry springs from our member congregations, that it can be encouraged and coordinated but can't be imposed from the top down. Any real money coming our way will be used to strengthen support of our smaller, newer congregations, as they seek to grow through mission, evangelism and service to our Lord. Is your day-to-day work done by employees or volunteers? We have no employees. We've deployed dozens of clergy and laity from our member congregations into our ministries. We do have a website technician who is paid by the hour for the occasional work of posting, rearranging or deleting items. All other services to Western Anglicans, including executive, editorial, legal, financial, and secretarial, are on a pro bono basis. There are no plans to hire any employee, even part time, in the foreseeable future. What you are doing seems wonderful. But isn't there a danger that your organization will become just another splinter group and will not lead to unity? Not really, because we're doing at the grass-roots level, here in the West, exactly what is being done by the Common Cause Partners' Bishops at their level of a College of Bishops. In both cases, orthodox Anglicans are laying aside whatever differences they might have and are coming together in what they pray and expect will be a new orthodox Province of the Anglican Communion in this land. We intend Western Anglicans to become the organizational structure of a diocese of the new Province. Being subject to the oversight of a number of foreign bishops, will you be able to maintain your unity? Yes, definitely. To understand why, permit a little history. The Episcopal Church has been hemorrhaging parishes in fits and starts for decades. The first large group departed in 1873 to form The Reformed Episcopal Church (which is now one of the Common Cause Partners, whose "Theological Statement" Western Anglicans has adopted). Some 14 other large groups (and many smaller groups) have left to form splinter denominations since that time. None, however, preserved its connection with the worldwide Anglican Communion until some recently departing congregations found a way to remain in communion with the worldwide church. For example, Western Anglican congregations, beginning in 2004, appealed to the Anglican Province of the Southern Cone of South America (Argentina, Bolivia) or the Anglican Province of Uganda for "provisional" (i.e., for the time being) oversight. Archbishop Henry Orombi of Uganda put it this way: "They came to us like children who were running away from home, and we offered them a safe place to be. We will not relinquish them into a spiritually dangerous situation." We regard our several overseas bishops as wonderful, if somewhat temporary, blessings. (Recently, Uganda has consecrated an American, John Guernsey of Virginia, a bishop to provide additional oversight to Uganda's American congregations, including those that are members of Western Anglicans) What can your congregations offer young people in combating a humanistic worldview that embraces relativism? Would an Anglican church be a good place to raise my children as Christians? Any parent or grandparent knows the prevailing youth culture is a godless one, and that's not a neutral thing. It's an "it's all about me" culture of increasing depravity. The message to youth is "Do your own thing, the more outrageously the better." That's Lucifer's sin, and the basis of all sin: "I will make myself like the Most High!" (Is 14:24) Today's culture offers no Godly vision; thus youths don't know who they are, as evidenced by tattoos and body piercing to establish identity. Where there is no prophetic revelation from God the people perish, i.e., are unrestrained and fall under judgment. (Pr 29:18) The only sure refuge and tower for today's children and youth is Jesus Christ. The only sure Church is one where they "contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints" (Jude 3). Such a church is one where the Truth of the Gospel is preserved and faithfully taught to children and youth. Each of Western Anglican's congregations is one such church; although if you diligently seek you will find attractive orthodox congregations in other denominations, though not necessarily with the same rich tradition and heritage. In your "core values" you mention the Holy Spirit. What do you believe about the Holy Spirit? The Holy Spirit is the third person of the triune God, The Lord, and Giver of Life, Who proceeds from the Father and the Son; Who with the Father and Son together is worshiped and glorified. We believe the Holy Spirit superintended the writing of the Bible, by dozens of writers over hundreds of years, and that it is the Spirit who today enlightens our understanding of the Holy Scriptures. And we believe the words of Jesus concerning the Spirit of truth, that "you know Him because he abides with you, and will be in you." (Jn 15:17) Jesus poured out the Holy Spirit on his Church after he had ascended to the right hand of the Father, a seal of the age to come. (Jn 16:7) Can anyone take communion in an orthodox Anglican church? No, not anyone, but all baptized Christians who are not under discipline are invited to do so. What form of worship would I find in one of your congregations? You'll find worship services based on the Book of Common Prayer in all of our congregations. Most have both traditional and more contemporary worship services, and some have charismatic services. A couple of our congregations offer all three forms of worship. If you click on OUR CONGREGATIONS on the home page you'll find some profiles of our congregations that answer this question more fully. How can I find out about an Anglican church in a particular location? Click on OUR CONGREGATIONS to find out about any of our member congregations. There are even links to Google Maps to show you exactly how to get there. If we haven't a congregation in your area, "Shelter in the Storm" maintains a list of orthodox Anglican churches nationally. For their list go to http://angelfire.com/sc3/kaysplace/-finding.html |
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