The Anglican Church is a troubled denomination of the Christian church. The British section of this denomination was recently in the news for the selection of Dr. Jeffrey John as the openly homosexual bishop of Reading. Amidst an outcry of protests, and signs that his appointment would cause a split in the worldwide Anglican church, John withdrew himself from nomination.

Shortly after, the US version of the denomination, the Episcopal Church, elected Gene Robinson - an openly gay man - as the bishop of New Hampshire.

Dr. Rowan Williams, the current Archbishop of Canterbury and thus the head of the Anglican Church, is a liberal who is known to support gay clergy.

Anglicanism is a tradition within Christianity comprising churches with historical connections to the Church of England or similar beliefs, worship and church structures. Anglicanism forms one of the principal traditions of Christianity, together with Protestantism, Roman Catholicism and Eastern Orthodoxy.

The word Anglican originates in ecclesia anglicana, a medieval Latin phrase dating to at least 1246 meaning the English Church. Adherents of Anglicanism are called Anglicans. The great majority of Anglicans are members of churches which are part of the international Anglican Communion. There are, however, a small number of churches outside of the Anglican Communion which also consider themselves to be in the Anglican tradition, most notably those referred to as Continuing Anglican churches.

The faith of Anglicans is founded in the scriptures, the traditions of the apostolic church, the apostolic succession – "historic episcopate" and the early Church Fathers. Anglicanism forms one of the branches of Western Christianity; having definitively declared its independence from the Roman pontiff at the time of the Elizabethan Religious Settlement, in what has been otherwise termed the British monarchism. Many of the new Anglican formularies of the mid sixteenth century corresponded closely to those of contemporary Reformed Protestantism; but by the end of the century, the retention in Anglicanism of many traditional liturgical forms and of the episcopate was already seen as unacceptable by those promoting the most developed Protestant principles. In the first half of the 17th century the Church of England and associated Episcopal churches in Ireland and in England's American colonies were presented by some Anglican divines as comprising a distinct Christian tradition, with theologies, structures and forms of worship representing a middle ground, or via media, between Reformed Protestantism and Roman Catholicism; a perspective that came to be highly influential in later theories of Anglican identity.

Many aspects of the Anglican church appear genuine enough, and the core beliefs of Christianity appear on the surface to be intact, and are probably believed by many people calling themselves Anglican to the extent where they have had a true conversion experience, but a deeper examination of the denomination's structure and liberalism exposes a cancerous creeping apostasy and increasing distance from the simple truths as taught in the Bible.

 

Getting a handle on the Anglican Church is a bit difficult. It would seem to be a bit of a cross between say the Baptists and the Catholics. As such, it seems to me that the Anglican Church is an exercise in compromise. Of course I am sure there are many people who call themselves Anglicans who are indeed "born again" Christians, but this is probably in spite of their church's teachings and traditions rather than "because" of them. Some Anglicans believe in "transubstantiation" and some don't. Some are quite evangelical and others aren't. Many believe that the God of Christians is the same God as the God of Muslims, which of course, is totally untrue to Christians with any knowledge of the two religions. Would I recommend anyone becoming an Anglican? No. But then again, in these times, I would not recommend anyone joining any denomination, because apostasy abounds everywhere, in every denomination, and it's increasing everyday. The Anglican church has embraced homosexuality which alone makes it totally opposed to the bible's teachings, and therefore God himself, who says homosexuality is an abomination. I think we have come to a time in history when it is almost safer for a new Christian or someone who is interested in becoming a Christian, to simply immerse themselves in the Bible, ask for God to lead them to the truth as God Himself understands it, and seek out likeminded people through the internet or friends. Having said that, there are a few churches out there where the Pastor or Teacher has remained faithful to their calling to teach boldly what God has to say to men from the bible, without compromise. But they are hard to find. Sad thing to say, but that is how bad apostasy and deception within so called Christian denominations has become I believe. But God is still all powerful and everywhere, and any person who is truly seeking him humbly and earnestly, will find Him. God has said that this is so. (John 6:37-40) "All that the Father gives Me will come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will by no means cast out. {38} "For I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me. {39} "This is the will of the Father who sent Me, that of all He has given Me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up at the last day. {40} "And this is the will of Him who sent Me, that everyone who sees the Son and believes in Him may have everlasting life; and I will raise him up at the last day." (Deuteronomy 4:29-31) "But from there you will seek the LORD your God, and you will find Him if you seek Him with all your heart and with all your soul. {30} "When you are in distress, and all these things come upon you in the latter days, when you turn to the LORD your God and obey His voice {31} '(for the LORD your God is a merciful God), He will not forsake you nor destroy you, nor forget the covenant of your fathers which He swore to them. (James 4:6-10) But He gives more grace. Therefore He says: "God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble." {7} Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. {8} Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded. {9} Lament and mourn and weep! Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom. {10} Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up. (John 10:27-30) "My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. {28} "And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand. {29} "My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of My Father's hand. {30} "I and My Father are one." (Jeremiah 29:11-13) For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the LORD, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope. {12} Then you will call upon Me and go and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. {13} And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart. My two cents worth .... Keygar