Hearing criticisms from evangelical non-Anglicans

As evangelicals in the Church of England are asking searching questions about strategies for continued participation in the denomination, it is more important than ever that those who hold to the authority of Scripture and seek to be obedient to Christ look in informed and honest ways about the pros and cons of being Anglican.

Problems with Anglicanism?

We can begin by hearing and answering criticisms from evangelicals outside Anglicanism: that there is too much attachment to, and dependence on, inherited resources such as buildings, and central investments funding ministry salaries and pensions. Historic close association with the ruling establishment means that it is difficult to challenge contemporary values and trends of the culture. Liberal theology has taken deep root over decades, so that evangelicals are in a minority, and Anglicanism is generally believed to be broad and tolerant, able to incorporate a wide variety of viewpoints, sometimes inherently contradictory.

We can certainly point to examples where these criticisms are valid. But are they part of the essence or inherent character of Anglicanism? If not, what is?

Theology

Biblically-faithful Anglicans have had to constantly point out that rooting theology in the inspiration, authority and perspicuity of Scripture is not an un-Anglican innovation, but the teaching of the apostles, re-stated by the English reformers and articulated by Cranmer.

The liturgies of the Book of Common Prayer and its adaptations in different cultures have, it is true, sadly sometimes been associated with nominal, ritualistic piety, but originally they were crafted to enable the whole people of God to participate in worship; and to teach doctrinal truth and the warm reality of God’s love in Christ for individuals. ‘Contending’ for the faith as Anglicans means insisting on these things and, if necessary, distancing and separating to preserve authentic Anglicanism. As the recent Kigali Commitment states: ‘We reject the claim that two contradictory positions can both be valid in matters affecting salvation. We cannot “walk together” in good disagreement with those who have deliberately chosen to walk away from the “faith once for all delivered to the saints”…’

Buildings and money

Many thriving evangelical Church of England churches are grateful for the use of buildings bequeathed by past generations, and new revitalisation efforts are often subsidised by central funds not available to other denominations. But this is not the norm in Anglican churches around the world. Church planting, building of meeting places, and ongoing ministry support is based on evangelism and discipleship; funded and sustained by sacrificial local giving, often assisted by generous funding from partnerships within the global Anglican family. My ministry as an Anglican leader has sometimes taken place in buildings with tin roofs and earth floors, in homes and hired halls, and indeed in the open air, as well as in more substantial older structures.

Relationship to state and culture

Bishops in the House of Lords; ‘church schools’ dictated to by the policies of secular government; the indefinable but real association of Anglicanism with respectability and the establishment – is not this part of the DNA of the denomination? Again, we can say that this is a phenomenon particularly associated with an expression of Anglicanism in one nation, and even then, with one section of the population.

But in the rest of the Anglican Communion, there is no such close link. Anglican Bishops in other parts of the world are often influential in wider society and sometimes even with ruling authorities, because of the number of people they represent. Anglican leaders can be tempted by association with power as much as other denominations, but many have courageously stood against overreaching earthly rulers, such as Desmond Tutu in South Africa, Janani Luwum, killed by the Idi Amin regime in Uganda, and Hassan Dehqani-Tafti, who survived an assassination attempt and whose son was killed by the Iranian regime.

To understand authentic Anglicanism, it is best to look at the original theology and vision for worship and mission, and to contemporary global expressions which seek to follow these.