At the beginning of a new year, my thoughts are often drawn to the nature of Anglicanism. Many have spoken of the Anglican tradition as "reformed catholic". There is truth in this label, but the problem with that description is that there can be extreme interpretations of both adjectives. Some commentators view "reformed" as equivalent to 5-point Calvinism, while others view "catholic" as equivalent to Roman Catholicism without papal jurisdiction. Neither extreme seems consistent with Anglican history, doctrinal statements, or practice.
Personally, I prefer the description "evangelical catholic," but that term also has drawbacks. The word "evangelical" also has a lot of historical and sociological baggage, and the term "evangelical catholic" has been used by some Methodists, Lutherans, and Roman Catholics as well as by different strains of Anglicans. Nevertheless, this post is a brief attempt to explain how I view Anglicanism as "evangelical catholic."
Despite breaking from Rome in the sixteenth century, Anglicans have always viewed themselves as a continuation of catholic Christianity throughout its history, stripped of abuses associated with the medieval papacy. Anglican churches differ from other churches that became distinct during the Reformation, and they rightly point to their catholic heritage. In the interpretation of Scripture, Anglican reformers made extensive use of the early church fathers, and they claimed a basic continuity in Christian history. Anglican liturgies (whether simple or elaborate) have preserved basic elements from ancient catholic tradition. Anglicans have retained the ancient Creeds as statements of core beliefs, and they have respected the ancient general or ecumenical councils (despite sometimes disagreeing on the importance or authority of some latter councils). Anglicans have retained and respected the ancient orders of ordained ministry, and they have confessed belief in the gracious power of the sacraments, especially Baptism and the Eucharist.
At the same time, both historically and theologically, Anglicanism can be considered a Protestant tradition. It broke from Rome and incorporated key insights from Luther and other reformers. The Anglican Church has emphasized the primary authority of Scripture and the centrality of the Gospel (euangelion). In their liturgies and official statements (Thirty-Nine Articles, Lambeth Quadrilateral, Affirmation of St. Louis, and Jerusalem Declaration), Anglicans have affirmed faith in the Gospel. Not all Anglicans have been "evangelicals" along the lines of some popular expressions since the Great Awakening, but sincere Anglican believers have been evangelicals in their core beliefs. That is, they have been and are evangelical because they believe in justification by grace through faith in Jesus Christ, and they expect living faith to produce good fruit in the lives of believers.
Evangelical catholic Anglicanism has had several expressions. What all these expressions have in common is a focus on the biblical Gospel combined with a respect for universal Christian principles and practices across the ages. Thus, consistent with historic Anglicanism, my theology has been guided by two broad principles: evangelical and catholic. The central characteristic is evangelical faith in the biblical good news of redemption through the incarnation, life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ, God the Son. In thought and experience, this evangelical faith has been guarded and expressed through the catholic or universal teachings and practices of Christianity. There should be a constant interaction between the evangelical and the catholic; they depend upon each other for their best expression. Anyone who neglects one or both of these elements misses the fullness of Christianity, but anyone who values both elements shares a common biblical faith.
