A discussion Starter
Until the 1960s what primarily united Anglicans was the use of the Book of Common Prayer. While there was a comprehensiveness in terms of how used, there was unity in the use of the BCP not only in English but also in 150 other languages. There was a common shape, common content, and common basic doctrine, even whilst there were differences in style and ceremonial.
Related to the use of the BCP was the acceptance of it along with the Ordinal (inside its covers) and the Articles of Religion (inside its covers), each as a Formulary of the Anglican Way. That is, giving form and substance to the Anglican expression of Reformed Catholicism.
Related also to the use of the BCP were historical ties to the Church of England with “bonds of affection” and an acceptance of a common Ministry (because of the use of the One Ordinal).
Since the 1960s with (a) the production of Books of Alternative Services and the developing right of choice in local liturgy, and (b) the assertion of autonomy by Anglican Provinces in order to go ahead with innovations, there has been less and less common glue to hold the now 38 provinces together and within provinces to hold dioceses and parishes together. In this context much has been made of the “instruments of unity” [ the Arch of Cant., the Lambeth Conf., the A.C.C., and the Primates’ Meeting], but they are unable to hold together the Anglican Family in its current dysfunctionality and disarray.
Nowhere is this confusion clearer than in North America, where there is not only a great variety of rites and services but there is also a growing number of jurisdictions/denominations and groups. In this “each man does what is right in his own eyes” and claims that his way and opinion is as good as anyone else’s. Here Anglican unity is a concept that if taken seriously is then put on the back burner for the problems relating it to it are so severe. Centrifugal forces simply are more powerful than centripetal forces and the autonomous individualism of the culture and the emphasis on rights and the like reinforce the centrifugalism.
In another essay I have proposed that to begin to unify “orthodox” or “would-be orthodox” North American Anglicans/Episcopalians (inside and outside the two official Provinces of the Anglican Communion) one way is to dig again the wells of Abraham (see Genesis!) and to get all to agree to use the same Rites for services, but allowing for the use of the same Rite in both its traditional English form and in a contemporary equivalent – so that the same content and doctrine are preserved. Thus the One God would be addressed in doctrinal and liturgical harmony but under the two ways of “Thou art” and “YOU are”! These would of course not be mixed in the one service but be available as the two forms of the one service.
Without one Basic Rite there cannot be unity in the Anglican Way. Merely to agree on the authority of Scripture places Anglicans alongside thousands of groups; agreement on the Creeds places Anglicans alongside hundreds of groups; raising the Chicago-Lambeth Quadrilateral to be the unifier gives no unity, for this short statement is intended to say wherein Anglicans will unite with other jurisdictions and it presupposes for Anglicans the traditional Formularies.
Some say what we need to unite is not a complete Rite but a common shape or structure for the Rites so that each parish puts into the common shape what it seems appropriate. This is a recipe for confusion and division and the majoring on minors!
Belonging to a specific tradition – the Anglican Way – brings with it a certain commitment to what it is that has made the Anglican Way what it is and what it can be. The Common Prayer Tradition is uniquely the primary tradition of the C of E and the Anglican Way!
If the separated brethren of the Anglican Way in North America could agree for a ten year period to use a Common Rite (i.e. the classic BCP or the classic BCP in contemporary language) this would provide a common basis for negotiating further means of unity in practical matters and in real terms.
A contemporary language version of the classic BCP (as used in North America) could be produced reasonably quickly and this proposal could be ready to be set in place after the General Convention of June 2006.
The Revd Dr Peter Toon Sept 12 2005 petertoon@msn.com
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