A Renewed Anglicanism
A POSITIVE Mandate…A quick glance at the Internet reveals a rather negative and polemic view of contemporary Anglicanism in today’s world. In exploring the roots of this ancient Christian tradition, rite and spirituality–-we see reflected in its origins-–the Anglo-Saxon response to the Gospel of Christ. This ‘Anglo’ theological and ritual embodiment has been the cultural, linguistic and historic norms of the people of the English Isles. It is a way or ‘rite’ for living out the Christian faith among a particular peoples–-in this case the ‘English’. As Brother Roger of Taize has said, every Christian tradition has its strengths and weaknesses. And what is more important, that they compliment one another, in reflecting the Unity of the Body of Christ, the Church community here on earth.
A GOSPEL Essence…
Yet, the essence of the Gospel transcends these traditions even though, as Hans Kung stated, the Gospel is expressed in the clothing of each particular culture, that reflects as well, the historical mindset of each age. Ours would seem to be one of polemic, based on definitions such as left or right, liberal or conservative, matter or spirit-–even as we seem to be in another profound paradigm shift-–that challenges us to move beyond our individual tribalisms or short-sighted egoisms.
The mandate of this web site is to look beyond this destructive dualistic division that has affected the Anglican Communion (as well as many other mainline Christian traditions. In many ways it also crosses the inter-religious spectrum). It is to look within the roots of Anglicanism for its particular positive charisms, and distinctive contributions and such characteristics as rite, spirituality and tradition-–that it has brought to the Christian Body-–and can still do today, even in times of great transition such as ours.
The GOAL Of Church As COMMUNITY…
It is as well, to look beyond the liberal/conservative ideology to an essence of the Anglican rite within the notion of the sacred–-as the holy or whole. And ultimately, it is the cultivation within the mature mystic quest for communion with the Divine Love or Presence, that we see lived out in the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth. This is the goal of the Christian Church as Koinania Community. Apart from this it can only grow weak and be divided internally against itself. So the present crisis within this great tradition of Christianity-–is now a time of challenge and opportunity. It is an urgent appeal to reconcile and bring together from within the essence of the Anglican Rite of the Christian tradition-–a re-discovery of our true identity in Christ as a Christian community of common faith. It is again a time to maintain the best of the past and an openness, in the Spirit, to the best of the present. To make a positive contribution to the ongoing and continual renewal of our Christian tradition in such difficult times as these. It is to trust in the life sustaining and creative Spirit to bring us to the unconditional, transfiguring, transforming and renewing love of Christ in our churches. It is to become more like real communities of mutuality and inter-dependence and vulnerability in Christ-like servanthood (ie., lifestyles of witness to the ‘way of inner radical discipleship’) and to the justice and mercy of the coming Kingdom of God.
A GOSPEL Essence…
Yet, the essence of the Gospel transcends these traditions even though, as Hans Kung stated, the Gospel is expressed in the clothing of each particular culture, that reflects as well, the historical mindset of each age. Ours would seem to be one of polemic, based on definitions such as left or right, liberal or conservative, matter or spirit-–even as we seem to be in another profound paradigm shift-–that challenges us to move beyond our individual tribalisms or short-sighted egoisms.
The mandate of this web site is to look beyond this destructive dualistic division that has affected the Anglican Communion (as well as many other mainline Christian traditions. In many ways it also crosses the inter-religious spectrum). It is to look within the roots of Anglicanism for its particular positive charisms, and distinctive contributions and such characteristics as rite, spirituality and tradition-–that it has brought to the Christian Body-–and can still do today, even in times of great transition such as ours.
The GOAL Of Church As COMMUNITY…
It is as well, to look beyond the liberal/conservative ideology to an essence of the Anglican rite within the notion of the sacred–-as the holy or whole. And ultimately, it is the cultivation within the mature mystic quest for communion with the Divine Love or Presence, that we see lived out in the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth. This is the goal of the Christian Church as Koinania Community. Apart from this it can only grow weak and be divided internally against itself. So the present crisis within this great tradition of Christianity-–is now a time of challenge and opportunity. It is an urgent appeal to reconcile and bring together from within the essence of the Anglican Rite of the Christian tradition-–a re-discovery of our true identity in Christ as a Christian community of common faith. It is again a time to maintain the best of the past and an openness, in the Spirit, to the best of the present. To make a positive contribution to the ongoing and continual renewal of our Christian tradition in such difficult times as these. It is to trust in the life sustaining and creative Spirit to bring us to the unconditional, transfiguring, transforming and renewing love of Christ in our churches. It is to become more like real communities of mutuality and inter-dependence and vulnerability in Christ-like servanthood (ie., lifestyles of witness to the ‘way of inner radical discipleship’) and to the justice and mercy of the coming Kingdom of God.