David

I. There is but one living and true God, everlasting, without body, parts, or passions; of infinite power, wisdom, and goodness; the Maker, and Preserver of all things both visible and invisible. And in unity of this Godhead there be three Persons, of one substance, power, and eternity; the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost.

II. Of the Word or Son of God, which was made very Man.
The Son, which is the Word of the Father, begotten from everlasting of the Father, the very and eternal God, and of one substance with the Father, took Man’s nature in the womb of the blessed Virgin, of her substance: so that two whole and perfect Natures, that is to say, the Godhead and Manhood, were joined together in one Person, never to be divided, whereof is one Christ, very God, and very Man; who truly suffered, was crucified, dead, and buried, to reconcile his Father to us, and to be a sacrifice, not only for original guilt, but also for actual sins of men

III. Of the going down of Christ into Hell.
As Christ died for us, and was buried, so also is it to be believed, that he went down into Hell.

IV. Of the Resurrection of Christ.
Christ did truly rise again from death, and took again his body, with flesh, bones, and all things appertaining to the perfection of Man’s nature; wherewith he ascended into Heaven, and there sitteth, until he return to judge all Men at the last day.

V. Of the Holy Ghost.
The Holy Ghost, proceeding from the Father and the Son, is of one substance, majesty, and glory, with the Father and the Son, very and eternal God.

VI. Of the Sufficiency of the Holy Scriptures for Salvation.
Holy Scripture containeth all things necessary to salvation: so that whatsoever is not read therein, nor may be proved thereby, is not to be required of any man, that it should be believed as an article of the Faith, or be thought requisite or necessary to salvation. In the name of the Holy Scripture we do understand those canonical Books of the Old and New Testament, of whose authority was never any doubt in the Church.

But I can clearly “get it” that as Low-Church Evangleicals seek Gospel clarity when it comes to dealing with the heresy and disobedience of this present crisis, terms like “catholicity” and “unity” simply sound like stumbling blocks and obstacles. But again, that is why this conversation is so important. We ARE in a crisis. If something is adiaphora, then to cling to it is idolatrous. But if it is of the essence of the church, then to reject it is impossible. That is where you and I sit on two different sides.

I think it is time now for me to leave virtual suburbia and head home. But I am grateful to Rob and Ian and others for getting this conversation started. It is a very important dialogue in which we all need to participate. Rather than clogging up your “comments” section, I will be happy to share some things I have written for our upcoming parish meeting. That may help continue the conversation as well.

Blessings… and Friends in Christ always!

Dow

However.

From your point of view, Patrick, there is one Anglo-Catholic parish in the DSC. From my point of view, there are many with Holy Communion being the pinnacle of Anglo-Catholic expression.

Generally, my experience of this Diocese is that it is rather high church. I find Anglo-Catholic theology expressed in Diocescan discussion regarding the topics of “catholicity”, “unity”, “apostolic succession”, the seemingly predominate view of 7 sacraments, baptismal regeneration, real presence in the Eucharist and the stated belief that the “Diocese is the primary unit of mission”.

I find Anglo-Catholic expression liturgically in the vestments (stoles, chasubles, albs, etc.), the weekly (let alone daily) celebration of Holy Communion, and in the liturgical practices of reserving the Sacrament and the usage of incense, (to name but two) of many of our collegues.

And, finally, I find Anglo-Catholic influence colloquially in the usage of “Father” rather than “Mr.”

In my “evangelical” church (St. Andrew’s) I discovered, during the interview process, a sanctuary lamp and tabernacle with reserve sacrament and a thurible. For an Ohio/Virginia reformed Anglican boy this was a reformed/evangelicalism with which I was not familiar.