This new reporting of Alphabet Soup among Anglicans reinforces that, once the via media, this classification of churches is now all over the map. No longer are Anglican aligned on any middle ground, they stand at different places with respect to traditional faith and classical Anglicanism.
The question then comes, what is it that now constitutes an Anglican identity? This will be the work of these churches for decades to come. It would seem that this work would come by making some dramatic shifts in ethos and core identity.
Anglicanism, in terms of a movement, can no longer defined by communion with Canterbury, since all who lay claim to a jurisdiction are not. Further, it cannot be defined by its name alone, since Anglicanism can sweep the breadth of theological conviction, authority of Scripture, and Ecclesiology, along with many other issues.
From the eyes of this commentator, it would seem that the work of Anglicanism is to re-discover its own patrimony. One must gaze far beyond the upheavals of the 20th century, earlier Victorian cultures, or even the Reformation-enhanced antics of Henry VIII and look upon the heritage that is theirs. The English church existed much earlier than any of those epochs in church history and much was established prior to those times.
The Church must also re-engage with the things held in common through Holy Scripture, the Historic Creeds, and Apostolic roots.
This is very thought provoking but Anglicanism should be seen as a means, not an end (hence the “Via” in “Via Media.” The means is, of course, a way to approach the Throne of Grace through Jesus Christ. Looking at it the other way turns it into a kind of quaint club. That being said, there are still a lot of people with common background who have recently been divided and do need to talk to each other.
[i]May they regain a sense of their place in the broader Christian community, rediscover their historical foundations in Christian orthodoxy and make a [b]true[/b] contribution to the work of the Holy Spirit in the work of recovery,renewal and communion.”[/i]
What a gracious way of calling Anglicans and especially Episcopalians to the truth!