One of the many ironies of Anglicanism is the position of the Thirty-nine Articles of Religion. A statement meant to promote some degree of harmony in the sixteenth-century Church of England (1562,1571) has occasioned much debate and disagreement over the years. Many Anglicans of various persuasions have distanced themselves from the Articles. Some others have tried to force the Articles to say things that they do not say.
Yet, despite differing understandings of details, most Anglicans over the last four and a half centuries have affirmed the Thirty-Nine Articles. Over the centuries, the Articles have been printed in most Books of Common Prayer and have been a general theological standard for clergy. Furthermore, when non-Anglicans from almost any perspective write about Anglican doctrine, they always seem to mention the Articles along with the Prayer Book. So, whether particular Anglicans like the Thirty-Nine Articles or not, it seems clear that the Articles are an inescapable part of the Anglican heritage and identity.
Personally, the Articles were an important part of my becoming Anglican as a young pastor. Alongside the devotional value of the Prayer Book, the Articles were a main attraction of Anglicanism. The Thirty-Nine Articles seek to be loyal to Scripture and consistent with the ancient catholic faith, and they are filled with valuable insights from the Reformation era. Despite historical developments since their sixteenth-century approval, the Articles still contain many valuable principles. While certain phrases may be linguistically or institutionally dated, the Articles do contain a broad summary of the Christian Faith. They affirm core Christian beliefs, help distinguish the Anglican heritage from other Christian traditions, and at the same time, allow for some breadth in emphasis and interpretation.
