1. Classical Anglicanism is universal/catholic. Anglican doctrine and practice respects the heritage of patristic and medieval Christianity as long as that heritage does not contradict Scripture.
2. Classical Anglicanism is broadly Protestant. Anglican theology stresses Scriptural authority, divine grace, and justifying faith in Christ. Anglicanism rejects the Roman Catholic system, especially the universal jurisdiction and pretended infallibility of the papacy.
3. Classical Anglicanism is confessional. This means that the Thirty-nine Articles are a general theological statement meant to guide one's understanding of other Anglican forms such as the Book of Common Prayer. Anglicans do not view the Articles as unchangeable or infallible, but they are a good general guide to Anglican beliefs.
4. Classical Anglicanism believes that Scriptural principles guide church practices, including worship. While respecting the value of traditional liturgical elements and acknowledging the reality of cultural adaptation, Anglican worship has been and should remain Bible-centered.
To conclude, in its essence, classical Anglicanism is a conservative Christian heritage. It strives to be both reformed and catholic without going to extremes. Within the bounds of the Holy Scriptures, the ancient Creeds, the Books of Common Prayer, and the Thirty-Nine Articles, classical Anglicanism allows for varied theological emphases and religious practices. Such reasonable conservatism is key to its distinctive expression of Christianity.
4. Classical Anglicanism believes that Scriptural principles guide church practices, including worship. While respecting the value of traditional liturgical elements and acknowledging the reality of cultural adaptation, Anglican worship has been and should remain Bible-centered.
To conclude, in its essence, classical Anglicanism is a conservative Christian heritage. It strives to be both reformed and catholic without going to extremes. Within the bounds of the Holy Scriptures, the ancient Creeds, the Books of Common Prayer, and the Thirty-Nine Articles, classical Anglicanism allows for varied theological emphases and religious practices. Such reasonable conservatism is key to its distinctive expression of Christianity.
Very will written with nothing with which I can find myself in major disagreement. It has always seemed to me that those who which to place their emphasis upon 'Calvin' and 'reformed' make sure thqt you know that they are not really Anglicans and never intended to be by their consistent disobedience to the Book of Common Prayer beginning with the Ornaments Rubric. If you are not willing to do the prayer book as its text plainly intends then why bother to call yourself an Anglican at all - except that once upon a time the money and the social position was better than that of the ranting Calvinist.
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