Continuing Church Quotes

Excellent reflections from a Continuing Church bishop in 1982, reflections which are still applicable or even more applicable today...

Classical Anglicanism has long been called the 'via media' (middle way); unfortunately it is easier to follow an extremist view than it is to hold the middle. Extremists are shot at from one direction, while those in the middle are shot at from all sides. Thus, Roman Catholics have traditionally accused the Anglican Communion of being Calvinistic, Protestant and heretical, while Calvinists and other Protestants have traditionally accused Anglicans of being Papists and medieval. We, of course, know that we are none of these things; but, because we are in the middle, those on the extremes always see us against the back drop of their opposites.

The Congress of Saint Louis promised the emergence of an Anglican Church that would be true to the Holy Scriptures, the seven ecumenical Councils and the ancient Fathers of the Church: Ours is the ancient faith of the undivided Church. Classical Anglicanism has long been called the 'via media', and that is the most difficult position of all to maintain. It has been my observation that the parishes that are growing are warm and welcoming Christian families, committed to the Gospel of Jesus Christ... The way to bring the Affirmation of Saint Louis to fruition is through unity and cooperative work for the Kingdom of Heaven.

Concentrate on being Christians and your Anglicanism will follow naturally, because we are Anglicans. We are all sorts of Anglicans, but let us be Christians first. Christians live together in unity, not uniformity. Concentrate on being Christians - that, I still insist, is what Anglicanism is all about. True Anglicanism is just plain Christianity in its fullness.