Anglican Catechism: An Outline of the Faith

[lunamoth]

Actually, Laurie, I do have one question: Where and how did the Book of Common Prayer originate?

The short answers are England and starting with the reform under King Henry the VIII (1549). It's gone through many revisions, the most recent being the 1979 version. Wiki has a summary of this (naturally) and here is history written in 1912 about the BCP (I've not read this book, just found it in my search).

More importantly is what the BCP is:

The Book of Common Prayer

Unique to Anglicanism, though, is the Book of Common Prayer, the collection of worship services that all worshipers in an Anglican church follow. It’s called “common prayer” because we all pray it together, around the world. The first Book of Common Prayer was compiled in English by Thomas Cranmer in the 16th Century, and since then has undergone many revisions for different times and places. But its original purpose has remained the same: To provide in one place the core of the instructions and rites for Anglican Christians to worship together.

The present prayer book in the Episcopal Church was published in 1979. Many other worship resources and prayers exist to enrich our worship, but the Book of Common Prayer is the authority that governs our worship. The prayer book explains Christianity, describes the main beliefs of the Church, outlines the requirements for the sacraments, and in general serves as the main guidelines of the Episcopal life.

Thank you for your question!

 

[lunamoth]

Another bit about our approach to religion:

Scripture, Tradition, and Reason

The Anglican approach to reading and interpreting the Bible was first articulated by Richard Hooker, also in the 16th Century. While Christians universally acknowledge the Bible (or the Holy Scriptures) as the Word of God and completely sufficient to our reconciliation to God, what the Bible says must always speak to us in our own time and place.

The Church, as a worshiping body of faithful people, has for two thousand years amassed experience of God and of loving Jesus, and what they have said to us through the centuries about the Bible is critical to our understanding it in our own context. The traditions of the Church in interpreting Scripture connect all generations of believers together and give us a starting point for our own understanding.

Episcopalians believe that every Christian must build an understanding and relationship with God’s Word in the Bible, and to do that, God has given us intelligence and our own experience, which we refer to as “Reason.” Based on the text of the Bible itself, and what Christians have taught us about it through the ages, we then must sort out our own understanding of it as it relates to our own lives.

 

[lunamoth]

The Creeds

Q: What are the creeds?
A: The creeds are statements of our basic beliefs about God.

Q: How many creeds does this Church use in its worship?
A: This Church uses two creeds: The Apostles' Creed and the Nicene Creed.

Q: What is the Apostles' Creed?
A: The Apostles' Creed is the ancient creed of Baptism; it is used in the Church's daily worship to recall our Baptismal Covenant.

Q: What is the Nicene Creed?
A: The Nicene Creed is the creed of the universal Church and is used at the Eucharist.

Q: What, then, is the Athanasian Creed?
A: The Athanasian Creed is an ancient document proclaiming the nature of the Incarnation and of God as Trinity.

Q: What is the Trinity?
A: The Trinity is one God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

The Apostles’ Creed

I believe in God, the Father almighty,
creator of heaven and earth.
I believe in Jesus Christ, God's only Son, our Lord.
He was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit,
and born of the Virgin Mary.
He suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, died, and was buried.
He descended to the dead.
On the third day he rose again.
He ascended into heaven,
and is seated at the right hand of the Father.
He will come again to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit,
the holy catholic church,
the communion of saints,
the forgiveness of sins,
the resurrection of the body,
and the life everlasting. Amen.

Nicene Creed

We believe in one God,
the Father, the Almighty,
maker of heaven and earth,
of all that is, seen and unseen.

We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ,
the only Son of God,
eternally begotten of the Father,
God from God, Light from Light,
true God from true God,
begotten, not made,
of one Being with the Father.
Through him all things were made.

For us and for our salvation
he came down from heaven:
by the power of the Holy Spirit
he became incarnate from the Virgin Mary,
and was made man.

For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate;
he suffered death and was buried.
On the third day he rose again
in accordance with the Scriptures;
he ascended into heaven
and is seated at the right hand of the Father.

He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead,
and his kingdom will have no end.

We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life,
who proceeds from the Father and the Son.
With the Father and the Son he is worshiped and glorified.
He has spoken through the Prophets.

We believe in one holy catholic and apostolic Church.
We acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins.
We look for the resurrection of the dead,
and the life of the world to come. Amen.

 

[FerventGodSeeker]

Scripture, Tradition, and Reason

The Anglican approach to reading and interpreting the Bible was first articulated by Richard Hooker, also in the 16th Century. While Christians universally acknowledge the Bible (or the Holy Scriptures) as the Word of God and completely sufficient to our reconciliation to God, what the Bible says must always speak to us in our own time and place

Hi Luna! Long time no see! I'm so happy that you made this thread! It's awesome to have Episcopalian/Anglican representation here at RF; I love seeing your posts in defense of the Christian Faith. I probably sound like I'm coming on to you or something, LOL, but I'm not ; I'm just excited when people love God, you know?
Anywho, my first question is: This explanation states that the Anglican approach to Scripture was first articulated in the 16th century...By this do you mean fully and explicitly articulated? I'm assuming you draw on early Church teachings to establish/explain your teachings? Are there any ECFs (Early Church Fathers) whose writings you find particularly Anglican or Episcopalian?

 

[lunamoth]

Hi Luna! Long time no see! I'm so happy that you made this thread! It's awesome to have Episcopalian/Anglican representation here at RF; I love seeing your posts in defense of the Christian Faith. I probably sound like I'm coming on to you or something, LOL, but I'm not ; I'm just excited when people love God, you know?

Thank you FGS. Coming on to me? :flirt: Lol! Happy to see your enthusiasm.

Anywho, my first question is: This explanation states that the Anglican approach to Scripture was first articulated in the 16th century...By this do you mean fully and explicitly articulated?

I think this quote is referring to the idea that the approach of reliance upon Scripture, Tradition, and Reason was first articulated in the 16th century. I'm not sure what else you mean. The Book of Common Prayer has been changed since it was first written.

I'm assuming you draw on early Church teachings to establish/explain your teachings? Are there any ECFs (Early Church Fathers) whose writings you find particularly Anglican or Episcopalian?

Yes, the early Church teachings are part of Tradition. As for any ECFs whose writings may have especially influenced the Anglican tradition? Not that I am aware of.

Thank you for the questions!

luna

 

[GloriaPatri]

This is a very interesting thread, Laurie. I don't really have any questions, but have enjoyed hearing about your religion. I actually know almost nothing about the Episcopal Church. I was struck by how similar some of our beliefs are, and by how different others are. Since this is not a debate thread, I'm just going to take it all in and learn from you.

The Anglican Church has much in common with the Roman Catholic Church. When it split with the Roman Catholic Church they left most things untouched.

 

[FerventGodSeeker]

The Anglican Church has much in common with the Roman Catholic Church. When it split with the Roman Catholic Church they left most things untouched.

I was hoping you wouldn't open that can of worms....Luna, plug your ears! :ignore:

 

[lunamoth]

I was hoping you wouldn't open that can of worms....Luna, plug your ears! :ignore:

ROFL! Well, I like to think that Anglican has the best of both the Catholic and Reformed flavors of Christianity.

 

[sojourner]

The Anglican Communion also has a lot in common with Orthodox Christianity.
Too, the Celtic Christianity that shaped much of Anglicanism, pre-dates the specifically Roman influence.

 

[lunamoth]

The Anglican Communion also has a lot in common with Orthodox Christianity.
Too, the Celtic Christianity that shaped much of Anglicanism, pre-dates the specifically Roman influence.

Hi Soj, thank you for pointing that out. luna

 

[lunamoth]

Now that I've found the easy C & P method guess I'll continue with more of the outline of the Episcopal faith.

The Holy Spirit

Q: Who is the Holy Spirit?

A: The Holy Spirit is the Third Person of the Trinity, God at work in the world and in the Church even now.

Q: How is the Holy Spirit revealed in the Old Covenant?
A: The Holy Spirit is revealed in the Old Covenant as the giver of life, the One who spoke through the prophets.

Q: How is the Holy Spirit revealed in the New Covenant?
A: The Holy Spirit is revealed as the Lord who leads us into all truth and enables us to grow in the likeness of Christ.

Q: How do we recognize the presence of the Holy Spirit in our lives?
A: We recognize the presence of the Holy Spirit when we confess Jesus Christ as Lord and are brought into love and harmony with God, with ourselves, with our neighbors, and with all creation.

Q: How do we recognize the truths taught by the Holy Spirit?
A: We recognize truths to be taught by the Holy Spirit when they are in accord with the Scriptures.

 

[lunamoth]

The Holy Scriptures

Q: What are the Holy Scriptures?

A: The Holy Scriptures, commonly called the Bible, are the books of the Old and New Testaments; other books, called the Apocrypha, are often included in the Bible.

Q: What is the Old Testament?
A: The Old Testament consists of books written by the people of the Old Covenant, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, to show God at work in nature and history.

Q: What is the New Testament?
A: The New Testament consists of books written by the people of the New Covenant, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, to set forth the life and teachings of Jesus and to proclaim the Good News of the Kingdom for all people.

Q: What is the Apocrypha?
A: The Apocrypha is a collection of additional books written by people of the Old Covenant, and used in the Christian Church.

Q: Why do we call the Holy Scriptures the Word of God?
A: We call them the Word of God because God inspired their human authors and because God still speaks to us through the Bible.

Q: How do we understand the meaning of the Bible?
A: We understand the meaning of the Bible by the help of the Holy Spirit, who guides the Church in the true interpretation of the Scriptures.

 

[lunamoth]

The Church

Q: What is the Church?
A: The Church is the community of the New Covenant.

Q: How is the Church described in the Bible?
A: The Church is described as the Body of which Jesus Christ is the Head and of which all baptized persons are members. It is called the People of God, the New Israel, a holy nation, a royal priesthood, and the pillar and ground of truth.

Q: How is the Church described in the creeds?
A: The Church is described as one, holy, catholic, and apostolic.

Q: Why is the Church described as one?
A: The Church is one, because it is one Body, under one Head, our Lord Jesus Christ.

Q: Why is the Church described as holy?
A: The Church is holy, because the Holy Spirit dwells in it, consecrates its members, and guides them to do God's work.

Q: Why is the Church described as catholic?
A: The Church is catholic, because it proclaims the whole Faith to all people, to the end of time.

Q: Why is the Church described as apostolic?
A: The Church is apostolic, because it continues in the teaching and fellowship of the apostles and is sent to carry out Christ's mission to all people.

Q: What is the mission of the Church?
A: The mission of the Church is to restore all people to unity with God and each other in Christ.

Q: How does the Church pursue its mission?
A: The Church pursues its mission as it prays and worships, proclaims the Gospel, and promotes justice, peace, and love.

Q: Through whom does the Church carry out its mission?
A: The church carries out its mission through the ministry of all its members.

 

[lunamoth]

The Ministry

Q: Who are the ministers of the Church?
A: The ministers of the Church are lay persons, bishops, priests, and deacons.

Q: What is the ministry of the laity?
A: The ministry of lay persons is to represent Christ and his Church; to bear witness to him wherever they may be; and, according to the gifts given them, to carry on Christ's work of reconciliation in the world; and to take their place in the life, worship, and governance of the Church.

Q: What is the ministry of a bishop?
A: The ministry of a bishop is to represent Christ and his Church, particularly as apostle, chief priest, and pastor of a diocese; to guard the faith, unity, and discipline of the whole Church; to proclaim the Word of God; to act in Christ's name for the reconciliation of the world and the building up of the Church; and to ordain others to continue Christ's ministry.

Q: What is the ministry of a priest or presbyter?
A: The ministry of a priest is to represent Christ and his Church, particularly as pastor to the people; to share with the bishop in the overseeing of the Church; to proclaim the Gospel; to administer the sacraments; and to bless and declare pardon in the name of God.

Q: What is the ministry of a deacon?
A: The ministry of a deacon is to represent Christ and his Church, particularly as a servant of those in need; and to assist bishops and priests in the proclamation of the Gospel and the administration of the sacraments.

Q: What is the duty of all Christians?
A: The duty of all Christians is to follow Christ; to come together week by week for corporate worship; and to work, pray, and give for the spread of the kingdom of God.
Just want to emphasize that the ministry includes all persons, not just the deacons, priests and bishops.

 

[lunamoth]

Prayer and Worship

Q: What is prayer?
A: Prayer is responding to God, by thought and by deeds, with or without words.

Q: What is Christian Prayer?
A: Christian prayer is response to God the Father, through Jesus Christ, in the power of the Holy Spirit.

Q: What prayer did Christ teach us?
A: Our Lord gave us the example of prayer known as the Lord's Prayer. (See below)

Q: What are the principle kinds of prayer?
A: The principle kinds of prayer are adoration, praise, thanksgiving, penitence, oblation, intercession, and petition.

Q: What is adoration?
A: Adoration is the lifting up of the heart and mind to God, asking nothing but to enjoy God's presence.

Q: Why do we praise God?
A: We praise God, not to obtain anything, but because God's Being draws praise from us.

Q: For what do we offer thanksgiving?
A: Thanksgiving is offered to God for all the blessings of this life, for our redemption, and for whatever draws us closer to God.

Q: What is penitence?
A: In penitence, we confess our sins and make restitution where possible, with the intention to amend our lives.

Q: What is prayer of oblation?
A: Oblation is an offering of ourselves, our lives and labors, in union with Christ, for the purposes of God.

Q: What are intercession and petition?
A: Intercession brings before God the needs of others; in petition, we present our own needs, that God's will may be done.

Q: What is corporate worship?
A: In corporate worship, we unite ourselves with others to acknowledge the holiness of God, to hear God's Word, to offer prayer, and to celebrate the sacraments.


The Lord's Prayer (Contemporary) Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your Name,
your kingdom come,
you will be done,
on earth as in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread.
Forgive us our sins
as we forgive those
who sin against us.
Save us from the time of trial,
and deliver us from evil.
For the kingdom, the power
and the glory are yours
now and for ever. Amen.

The Lord's Prayer (Traditional) Our Father, who art in heaven,
hallowed be thy Name,
thy kingdom come,
thy will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive those
who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom,
and the power, and the glory,
for ever and ever. Amen.

 

[lunamoth]

The Sacraments

Q: What are the sacraments?
A: The sacraments are outward and visible signs of inward and spiritual grace, given by Christ as sure and certain means by which we receive that grace.

Q: What is grace?
A: Grace is God's favor toward us, unearned and undeserved; by grace God forgives our sins, enlightens our minds, stirs our hearts, and strengthens our wills.

Q: What are the two great sacraments of the Gospel?
A: The two great sacraments given by Christ to his Church are Holy Baptism and the Holy Eucharist.

 

[lunamoth]

Holy Baptism

Q: What is Holy Baptism?
A: Holy Baptism is the sacrament by which God adopts us as his children and makes us members of Christ's Body, the Church, and inheritors of the kingdom of God.

Q: What is the outward and visible sign in Baptism?
A: The outward and visible sign in Baptism is water, in which the person is baptized in the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.

Q: What is the inward and spiritual grace in Baptism?
A: The inward and spiritual grace in Baptism is union with Christ in his death and resurrection, birth into God's family the Church, forgiveness of sins, and new life in the Holy Spirit.

Q: What is required of us at Baptism?
A: It is required that we renounce Satan, repent of our sins, and accept Jesus as our Lord and Savior.

Q: Why then are infants baptized?
A: Infants are baptized so that they can share citizenship in the Covenant, membership in Christ, and redemption by God.

Q: How are the promises for infants made and carried out?
A: Promises are made for them by their parents and sponsors, who guarantee that the infants will be brought up within the Church, to know Christ and be able to follow him.

 

[lunamoth]

The Holy Eucharist

Q: What is the Holy Eucharist?
A: The Holy Eucharist is the sacrament commanded by Christ for the continual remembrance of his life, death, and resurrection, until his coming again.

Q: Why is the Eucharist called a sacrifice?
A: Because the Eucharist, the Church's sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving, is the way by which the sacrifice of Christ is made present, and in which he unites us to his one offering of himself.

Q: By what other names is this service known?
A: The Holy Eucharist is called the Lord's Supper, and Holy Communion; it is also known as the Divine Liturgy, the Mass, and the Great Offering.

Q: What is the outward and visible sign in the Eucharist?
A: The outward and visible sign in the Eucharist is bread and wine, given and received according to Christ's command.

Q: What is the inward and spiritual grace given in the Eucharist?
A: The inward and spiritual grace in the Holy Communion is the Body and Blood of Christ give to his people, and received by faith.

Q: What are the benefits which we receive in the Lord's Supper?
A: The benefits we receive are the forgiveness of our sins, the strengthening of our union with Christ and one another, and the foretaste of the heavenly banquet which is our nourishment in eternal life.

Q: What is required of us when we come to the Eucharist?
A: It is required that we should examine our lives, repent of our sins, and be in love and charity with all people.

 

[lunamoth]

Other Sacramental Rites

Q: What other sacramental rites evolved in the Church under the guidance of the Holy Spirit?
A: Other sacramental rites which evolved in the Church include confirmation, ordination, holy matrimony, reconciliation of a penitent, and unction.

Q: How do they differ from the two sacraments of the Gospel?
A: Although they are means of grace, they are not necessary for all persons in the same way that Baptism and the Eucharist are.

Q: What is Confirmation?
A: Confirmation is the rite in which we express a mature commitment to Christ, and receive strength from the Holy Spirit through prayer and the laying on of hands by a bishop.

Q: What is required of those to be confirmed?
A: It is required of those to be confirmed that they have been baptized, are sufficiently instructed in the Christian Faith, are penitent for their sins, and are ready to affirm their confession of Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord.

Q: What is Ordination?
A: Ordination is the rite in which God gives authority and the grace of the Holy Spirit to those being made bishops, priests, and deacons, through prayer and the laying on of hands by bishops.

Q: What is Holy Matrimony?
A: Holy Matrimony is Christian marriage, in which the woman and man enter into a life-long union, make their vows before God and the Church, and receive the grace and blessing of God to help them fulfill their vows.

Q: What is Reconciliation of a Penitent?
A: Reconciliation of a Penitent, or Penance, is the rite in which those who repent of their sins may confess them to God in the presence of a priest, and receive the assurance of pardon and the grace of absolution.

Q: What is Unction of the Sick?
A: Unction is the rite of anointing the sick with oil, or the laying on of hands, by which God's grace is given for the healing of spirit, mind, and body.

Q: Is God's activity limited to these rites?
A: God does not limit himself to these rites; they are patterns of countless ways by which God uses material things to reach out to us.

Q: How are the sacraments related to our Christian hope?
A: Sacraments sustain our present hope and anticipate its future fulfillment.

 

[lunamoth]

The Christian Hope

Q: What is the Christian hope?
A: The Christian hope is to live with confidence in newness and fullness of life, and to await the coming of Christ in glory, and the completion of God's purpose for the world.

Q: What do we mean by the coming of Christ in glory?
A: By the coming of Christ in glory, we mean that Christ will come, not in weakness but in power, and will make all things new.

Q: What do we mean by heaven and hell?
A: By heaven, we mean eternal life in our enjoyment of God; by hell, we mean eternal death in our rejection of God.

Q: Why do we pray for the dead?
A: We pray for them, because we still hold them in our love, and because we trust that in God's presence those who have chosen to serve him will grow in his love, until they see him as he is.

Q: What do we mean by the last judgment?
A: We believe that Christ will come in glory and judge the living and the dead.

Q: What do we mean by the resurrection of the body?
A: We mean that God will raise us from death in the fullness of our being, that we may live with Christ in the communion of the saints.

Q: What is the communion of saints?
A: The communion of saints is the whole family of God, the living and the dead, those whom we love and those whom we hurt, bound together in Christ by sacrament, prayer, and praise.

Q: What do we mean by everlasting life?
A: By everlasting life, we mean a new existence, in which we are united with all the people of God, in the joy of fully knowing and loving God and each other.

Q: What, then, is our assurance as Christians?
A: Our assurance as Christians is that nothing, not even death, shall separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Amen.