Anglo-Catholic, Evangelical, or Charismatic? Answer: YES!

One of the things that you will almost always find in a Rector search process is a Rector search questionnaire.  It’s a list of questions that the search committee gives to each candidate.  I filled out several of these questionnaires in the past and there is one question that seems to come up on each of them: “Anglicanism consists of three streams: Anglo-Catholic, Evangelical, and Charismatic.  Which one of these streams are you?”

My answer to this question is always an energetic, enthusiastic “YES!”

At first, that may sound like a non-answer, and I am sure that I have been dropped from more than a few search processes for this very answer.  After all, many of the congregations out there are decidedly unbalanced in at least one of these areas, and most churches are looking specifically for a Rector that will fit within their particular ethos, rather than one that might stretch them, or take them in a newer and more exciting direction.

But I believe that the best answer to this question is “YES!” because all three streams have something very important to contribute to the life of the Church, and if churches and their Rectors become too out of balance in one particular area, they present a less-than-full understanding of the faith and how it is to be lived out in the world.  Let’s examine each of the three streams and how they build up the Body of Christ and allow for faithful witness in the world.

Anglo-Catholic

A few words come to mind when I think of the phrase Anglo-Catholic: sacraments, order, and traditional worship.  Anglo-Catholics believe, as is clearly stated in the 39 Articles, that there are seven sacraments in two categories, great sacraments of the Gospel (Baptism, Eucharist) and other sacramental rites (reconciliation, unction, ordination, matrimony, confirmation).  These sacraments were not just made up by the Catholic Church.  They are Biblical, and each one is important in its own right to the life of the Church.  Not all are necessary for individual salvation, but all are important for the life of the Church.  The same goes for the three-fold order of Bishops, Priests (presbyteros, or elders) and Deacons.  These also were not made up by the Catholic Church.  They are Biblical and each one is important in its own right for the leadership of the Church, and the church is seriously lacking in leadership if one or more of these orders are missing.

Anglo-Catholics are also strongly tied to traditional worship, and this is wrapped up in God’s call to holiness.  After all, Scripture says “Worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness; let the whole earth tremble before him. (Psalm 96:9)  Holiness does not mean “I am better than you,” but rather it means set apart for something greater and better than the world has to offer.  The opposite of holiness is a word called enculturation.  In an age when much of worship has become enculturated, Anglo-Catholic worship offers something that is decidedly set apart.  In a day when much of worship is more about me, my feelings and emotions, and self-help, Anglo-Catholic worship says a big no to all that and focuses on heavenly worship of an all-powerful, perfect, transcendent God, and give Him all the glory.

Evangelical

The evangelical movement’s primary focus is on having a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, with a clear focus on strong Biblical preaching with strong application, and personal and group Bible Study.  This is very important to the Church and to the individual Christian disciple because, after all, we were created for the sole purpose of being in relationship with God, and the only way to be in relationship with God is through faith in Jesus Christ and His sacrifice on the Cross.

The purpose of evangelical preaching is two-fold, and when that preaching is out of balance in one direction or the other, it does a disservice to the Church.  Evangelical preaching should show people their sins, and then point them to a merciful Savior.  Many preachers are good at one or the other, but not both.  Some are really good at hail, fire and brimstone.  Others are scared of this and give in to their fears.  Some are really good at preaching the saving nature of Jesus.  Others ignore Him altogether.  A good preacher does both – he shows people how we fall short of God, and then shows us how we are reconciled to God through the Cross, through Grace.

Charismatic

The charismatic movement is something that scares most Christians, and in many cases, rightly so.  For many Christians (myself included), their only experience with the Charismatic movement was in a Pentecostal Church where people were flopping on the ground and speaking in tongues, without interpretation.  Some of us also have been told that if we did not have the gift of tongues, that we were not saved.  In addition, some of us have witnessed people praying for particular gifts, as if one was greater than the other, rather than praying for the Holy Spirit to send the gifts that He wanted us to have, through His Grace.  Sadly, there has been a lot of abuse in the Charismatic movement – abuse that was specifically outlined and warned about in Scripture – but the abuse occurred anyway.

The Charismatic movement, at its most basic, Biblical level, simply stresses the fact that the Holy Spirit is present and at work in the world, and in the hearts of believers.  In addition, it stresses the use of spiritual gifts.  These spiritual gifts, as the Network curriculum stresses, are not for us.  Rather, spiritual gifts are given to us, by the Holy Spirit, for the building up of the Body of Christ (in other words, for others).  In addition, spiritual gifts are not ours to choose, as if we are in the buffet line at the spiritual Golden Corral.  They are given to us by the Holy Spirit, and one gift is not inferior or superior to another.  They are all needed, and they all should be celebrated.  When this happens, the Body of Christ is at its best.

In conclusion, when someone asks you what stream of Anglicanism you are – Anglo-Catholic, Evangelical or Charismatic – I hope you will smile and give an enthusiastic “YES!”  The Church is at its best when all three of these streams are present and active in the lives of its people – the believers in Jesus Christ.