Who We Are

A Global Fellowship

Anglicans represent the third largest body of Christians in the world, speaking many languages and coming from many different races and cultures.

The Anglican Church in North America is united with the overwhelming majority of provinces in the worldwide Anglican Communion. The ACNA unites 160,000+ Anglicans in 1,200+ congregations across the United States, Canada and Mexico into a single Church.

 

An Ancient Faith 

Anglicans trace their geographical roots back to the early Church during the time of the Roman Empire when a Christian church first came into existence in Britain. Early Christian writers mention the existence of a British church in the third century AD. In the 16th century, English Reformers, including Thomas Cranmer and Richard Hooker, joined the Protestant Reformation happening all over Europe, seeking to rediscover the beauty of salvation as a gift from God and to put the Scriptures into the daily lives of God’s people.  Though Anglicanism admittedly spread widely through the era of English colonialism, the riches of the Christian faith have blessed people all over the world and continue to be passed on in every generation in independent nations. With over 500 years of rich history and spirituality, Anglicans still stand for Christian orthodoxy by affirming the Christian creeds: the Apostles’, Nicene, and Athanasian. And Anglicanism, as a via media (“middle way”) between Protestant and Catholic worlds, continues in the sacramental beliefs and worship practices of the earliest Christians.

 

Anglican Core Beliefs

There are five core commitments that unite faithful Anglicans around the world. 

 

They are:

1. 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 our common faith.

2. The Apostles’ and Nicene Creeds, as the sufficient statements of the Christian faith.

3. The two sacraments ordained by Christ himself - Baptism and Holy Communion. Sacraments are “the outward sign (water, bread) of an inward grace (the presence of Jesus).” 

4. The Anglican Formularies guide our belief, practices and governance. They are the 39 Articles of Religion, The Book of Common Prayer, the Ordinal and the Homilies. In addressing the particular concerns of the English Reformation, the Articles of Religion set forth a precise articulation of faith on many of the great points of Christian doctrine, in concert with the Creeds.

5. The ministry of the historic episcopate. All Anglican churches are tethered to the apostolic tradition and succession, and minister under the spiritual leadership of a chief pastor, their bishop.

    

“Lex Orandi, Lex Credendi”

When asked what we believe, Anglicans would most naturally reply, “Worship with us and you’ll know.” That’s because Anglican belief is displayed, taught and experienced in the actual practice of worship. That’s what lex orandi, lex credendi means, translated “the law of prayer is the law of belief.” In other words, our beliefs are not simply studied, accepted and committed to memory as propositional truths. Our beliefs are caught and taught as we worship together in a Christ-centered way. Our worship service is best understood as a prayer service with the Eucharist at the climax. The liturgy in which we participate proclaims and carries out our beliefs. So, it’s in the practice of prayer together that our beliefs are more deeply… believed.

 

“Let us consider the sacraments of priestly prayers, which, having been handed down by the apostles are celebrated uniformly throughout the whole world and in every catholic Church so that the law of praying might establish the law of believing.”
- Prosper of Aquitane (390-455 AD), a disciple of St. Augustine

 

The Book of Common Prayer

Perhaps one of the most unique features of Anglican spirituality is the Book of Common Prayer, an ancient prayer book compiled by Archbishop Thomas Cranmer during the Reformation in 16th century England. While other Reformation era churches developed confessional statements of faith, the Anglican church developed a Prayer Book to guide our beliefs and practices.

The Prayer Book is fundamentally pastoral and holistic rather than abstract and theoretical. Cranmer, by shaping the prayers around the Word of God, helped to shape future generations of Anglicans by grounding them in the rhythms, language, and cadence of our ancient faith.  

 

The enduring legacy of the Book of Common Prayer is that it is scripturally based, doctrinally sound, and thoroughly gospel-centered. Dr. John Sentamu, Archbishop of York reminds us: “The Prayer Book places the Bible at the heart of the Church's worship and on the lips of the people. It teaches the grace and mercy of God, and it preaches Jesus as a living Saviour, not a dead master of a by gone age.”

 

Six Gifts of Anglicanism

 

The late Dr. Robert Webber highlighted “6 Gifts” of Anglicanism.

These are part of what make our worship tradition so rich and the reason many in our congregation have come to Anglicanism in recent years:

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1. Christ-centeredness - worshipping with the Eucharist (communion) as our primary act

2. Historical Identity - being tethered to thousands of years of worship and Scriptural integrity, dating back to the 1st century

3. Sacramental Reality - believing in the real presence of Christ with us in baptism and the Eucharist.

4. Mystery and awe - keeping rationalism in check

5. Participation in catholic (universal) traditions - worshipping in concert with the vast majority of other believers worldwide and throughout history.

6. Holistic spirituality - a strong, Trinitarian embrace of the Spirit's work through mind, body and spirit.

 

Ordained Ministry

Anglicans embrace the threefold order of ordained ministry that

emerged in the apostolic era of the Church and continues today. 

 

Bishop
The ministry of a bishop is to serve as the chief priest/pastor of a diocese; to guard the faith, unity, and discipline of the Church; to proclaim the Word of God; and to ordain others to continue Christ's ministry.

 

Priest/Presbyter
The ministry of a priest is to serve as a pastor to the people; to share with the bishop in the overseeing of the Church; to proclaim the Gospel; to administer the sacraments.

 

Deacon
The ministry of a deacon is a servant of those in need; and to assist bishops and priests in the proclamation of the Gospel and the administration of the sacraments.

 

The Church Calendar

Anglican spirituality places real importance on living life in and with Jesus Christ through the different events and seasons of his birth, life, suffering, death and resurrection. The Christian year is “time out of time.” We don’t ultimately live according to the Gregorian calendar, which is now dictated by production and consumption. We who “live and move and have our being” in Christ live by the reality of his life - first and fundamentally. And we do this together through the Church Calendar.

 

Advent
The forty days leading up to Christmas during which we focus on the incarnation of Christ and identify with Israel longing for the Messiah. It is a penitential season for humbling ourselves and confessing our need for God’s salvation. Purple is the color of each penitential season.

 

Christmastide
The twelve days of Christmas, from sunset on Christmas Eve to sunset on January 5th. White and/or Gold are the colors of Christmastide. These are the most celebratory colors.

 

Epiphany
The season following Christmas that focuses on the revelation of Christ the King to the world. Epiphany begins with the visit of the Magi to the infant Jesus and ends with his Transfiguration to Peter, James and John on the mountain. Epiphany is considered an ordinary time, with the color Green. Green symbolizes new life.

 

Lent
The forty days leading up to Easter, beginning on Ash Wednesday. Lent commemorates Jesus’ 40 days in the wilderness and provides an opportunity to search ourselves individually and as the Church in a posture of repentance, which is why we call it a penitential season. Lent concludes at sundown on the day before Easter, what we call the Great Vigil. Purple is the color of each penitential season.

 

Holy Week
From Monday to Saturday, we journey with Christ in his Passion from Gethsemane to the Cross. Includes 3 services called the Triduum held on Maundy Thursday (Red, symbolizing blood), Good Friday, and the Great Vigil on Saturday (both Black for mourning).

 

Easter
The fifty days from Resurrection Sunday to Pentecost Sunday. Easter season recognizes God's ongoing work of establishing new creation through Christ. (White) 

 

Pentecost
The season of commemorating Acts 2 and celebrating the outpouring of the Holy Spirit on the Church. Literally meaning “50 days after,” the day of Pentecost falls 50 days after Easter. (Red, symbolizing fire.)

 

Ordinary Time
This season’s name comes from the word ordinal, which means “counted.” Beginning on the first Sunday after Pentecost, ordinary time focuses on specific themes of interest or importance to a local congregation. (Green)

 

To Be A Christian: An Anglican Catechism

The word catechism is kind of an old word that just means "oral teaching." Our catechism is designed to make clear to everyone what it means to be a Christian. It lays out what is essential for Christian faith and life. It will open for you the door to knowing Jesus Christ and experiencing the full love of God through him. It will lead you to full involvement in the life and mission of the Church, as you become a citizen of the Kingdom of God. And it will anchor you in the full reality of unquenchable joy, beginning in this life and ever increasing in the life to come. 

However, one can know about these things and yet remain apart from them. In order not to miss what God is offering you, it is imperative that you receive Jesus Christ as your own Savior and Lord – if you have not already done so – and commit yourself to him to be his lifelong disciple.

You can read the catechism here.

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Our Cultural Values

Culture is language. So we’ve intentionally articulated our cultural values in shared language that guides our self-understanding and mission as a local church. These are in no way a substitute for the Creeds or the theology and practice found in the Anglican formularies.

 

Courageous Witness
We believe the Gospel of Jesus Christ is the one true story of the world and of God’s reconciling love for humanity. It is our story to tell boldly.

 

Historical Connection
We trust in the authority of holy, inspired Scripture, in the apostolic witness of the Church, the gifts of catholicity, the stability of liturgy, and the presence of Christ in both Word and Sacrament. (Catholic means universal, the church in all times and places).

 

Compassionate Presence
We embody the call to seek the common good of our city, especially where there is need or suffering.

 

Patient Discipleship
We practice grace in the often difficult path of learning, healing and restoration.

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Local Reality & Responsibility
We embrace the gifts of being local and finite, training our focus and our energy on where we can be most faithful and fruitful.

 

Creative Expectation
We seek and sow wonder and beauty as a normal part of being the Church.