lunamoth
Will to love
sojourner said:1) Yes, because it is the Church's rule for common prayer, common worship and common catechism. It is not a "creed book." If it were, it would be called that. As it stands, it is a "book of common prayer." The Episcopal Church does not subscribe to sola scriptura. Never has.
First of all, the Book of Common Prayer is not "revised." What you're looking at is an "edition." Namely, the 1979 edition. The last edition before that was in 1928. Secondly, if you check that edition of the BCP against the current edition, you will find that the Articles of Religion were not changed when they were included in the printing of the 1979 edition. Revision of the contents of the BCP happens with respect to the language ("King's English" vs. modern English.) There were some changes in the order of worship, in order to render the liturgy more true to ancient and ecumenical forms, plus some minor changes in the rubrics (rules for performing the rites) reflecting a rule that is more reasonable for the 20th century Church. The Articles of Religion have not been revised since their ratification in 1801.
#'s 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7 are all arguments of Biblical interpretation. Neither I, nor the Church can help it if you choose to interpret scripture one way, use that interpretation to form the ground of all truth, and then condemn the rest of us for interpreting it another way.
#3 is in the Apostle's Creed (yes, the ECUSA is a creedal body).
#4, No. It means that the Holy Spirit guides us to choose God's way. Without the influence of the Holy Spirit, we choose our way.
#5, you would consider it contrary. The Episcopal Church does not. That's why you're not an Episcopalian. The difference between the ECUSA and you is that the ECUSA doesn't believe that your mortal soul is in danger if you don't hold the exact same beliefs as them.
#6, Do you feed your babies, even though they are too young to understand why their bodies need nutrition? Is it mother's milk, or soy product? It is the Spirit that is efficacious in baptism -- neither the water, itself, nor the act. The elements and actions are an outward sign of an inward grace.
#7, Yes. And, by and large, they're very good at it! The diaconate, presbyterate and bishopric are not seen as positions of authority, but positions of servitude. Christ is our Authority.
The word of God is available to us also through Holy Tradition. Your fears are grounded in your interpretation. The ECUSA is not dependent upon the way Baerly interprets the Bible, but upon the way the Tradition has been handed down through the Apostolic Succession. I'm sorry this position is causing you to worry about my soul.
P.S. You're mistaken. I do not attend the Episcopal Church. I was a member in good standing in the past -- in fact, a postulant for Holy Orders at one time. I now serve a different denomination, but my theology remains close to the ECUSA.
Well done Soj. I'm happy (and not surprised) to see our responses closely aligned. Thank you also for the clarifications to those answers I did not fully recall.
luna