Humans have an uncanny ability to domesticate everything they touch.

Eventually, even the strangest things
become absorbed
into the routine
of the daily mind
with its steady geographies 
of endurance,
anxiety
and
contentment.

Only seldom does
the haze lift,
and we glimpse
for a second,
the amazing
plenitude
of being here.

Sometimes, unfortunately, it is suffering or threat
that awakens us.

It could happen that
one evening, you are
busy with many things, netted into your role
and the phone rings.

Someone you love is suddenly in the grip
of an illness that
could end their life
within hours.

It only takes a few
seconds to receive
 that news. Yet, when
 you put the phone down, you are already
standing in
a different world.

All you know has just been rendered unsure and dangerous. You realise
that  the ground has
 turned into quicksand.

Now it seems to
you that even
mountains
are suspended
on strings.

        What is meant by the term, “Anglican Identity”?  If all the Anglican churches around the world disappeared tomorrow, what would be lost?  Married clergy?  There are married clergy in the United, Lutherans, and Presbyterian churches.  Sung Morning Prayer?  The Lutherans and Mennonites have a great tradition of music in worship.  Synodical government upholding the voice and presence of the laity?  The Presbyterian Church has that in its councils and presbyteries.  The communion of saints and apostolic succession?  The Roman Catholic Church professes this too.    What makes Anglicanism different?

        Originally “Anglican” simply meant “English” – it was a regional term.  Anglicana Ecclesia meant the Church in England.  In 1215, the Magna Carta stated” Quad Anglicana ecclesia libra sit” – that the English Church shall be free.

        At the time of the Continental reformation, the English Church broke from Rome and amongst other things, developed first 10, then 14, then 42 and then 39 articles of faith that were an attempt to establish a confessional statement about the English Church, the Anglican Church as separate from the Church as it had been headed by the roman pontiff.

        It wasn’t until the 19th century that the term Anglican meant the series of communities derived from the Church of England and in communion with the Archbishop of Canterbury.  To help develop an understanding of what made this communion unique, conferences were held in the mid 1800’s that developed a formula – the Chicago-Lambeth Quadrilateral.  It is the following four points that make a church community Anglican: (1) acceptance of the historic Creeds, particularly the Nicene and Apostolic Creeds; (2 )acknowledging that Holy Scripture contains all things necessary for salvation; (3) recognizing the sacraments of baptism and Eucharist, and (4) accepting the historic episcopate as locally adapted.  This is the Anglicanism that has grown into the Anglican Communion.  Note the music of Marbeck is not essential; there is no ruling on Books of Common Prayer or of Alternative Services; the ordination of women, gays, married persons, persons of non-European ancestry were not addressed; and even allegiance to the King, Queen or royal family was not included.

        What the global Anglican Church has grown into is a series of fairly independent provinces – national territories like Canada, the USA, Australian, New Zealand, Japan, Nigeria as separate Anglican churches – territorial Anglican provinces each distinct from each other. There are also territories that are not nation specific – the Southern Cone (which makes up most of South America), the West Indies (which comprise much of, but not all, of the Caribbean) , the Church of Central Africa.  These 38 Provinces are fairly new legal constructs each containing a number of diocese – each diocese headed by a bishop.  The idea of a diocese is a very old one – one that reaches back to the disciples themselves.  The idea of an Anglican Province is fairly new – about 160 years old. 

        Each Province is separate from each other with distinctly specific and different Canon Law.  All are in “communion with” the Archbishop of Canterbury and all together they are joined by “loose bonds of affection”.  Some days the bonds are looser than others.

        In order to sustain and support these bonds several “instruments of unity” have been created over the years.  The Archbishop of Canterbury’s office has always been present for Anglicanism since the creation of the See of Canterbury in 597 AD by Pope Gregory I.  In 1867, at the request of Canada and New Zealand, the Lambeth Conferences have been held, whereby the Archbishop of Canterbury hosts EVERY Anglican bishop in the world and their spouses to a week’s meeting and prayerful retreat in London.  They discuss common issues and challenges but their determinations, though persuasive, are not legally binding.  In 1968, the Anglican Consultative Council was created by a resolution of the Lambeth Conference. This council includes a bishop, a clergy (priest or deacon) and a member of the laity from each of the Provinces and meets every two or three years in different parts of the world.  Also the Primates’ Meeting, the senior archbishops (Primates) of each of the Anglican Provinces, which met first in 1979, and continue to do so at the invitation of the Archbishop of Canterbury as a forum for “leisurely thought, prayer and deep consultation.”

        So what is Anglicanism and what makes it unique?  John Booty, in the Oxford Dictionary of the Reformation, Volume 4 page 44 describes Anglicanism this way:   Anglican Identity is the ability to maintain certain balances:

     -        between Church and State
     -     between outward conformability and inward piety
     -     between grace and nature
     -     between fundamentals and flexible adiaphora 
     -     between revelation and reason
     -     between word and sacrament
     -     between authority and freedom
     -     between intellect and affections.   
.
Anglican identity is to be located not in formula but rather in the midst of vital tensions.

More on Anglican Identity

        On a personal note we have been discussing Anglican Identity here at All Saints Church in Marysville during Lent at the request of our Bishop.  Our oldest member, Mr. Kenneth Reid ( just turned 90 ) perhaps summed up where we are so far - he remarked on his way out, on his way home, he still drives - that what he heard that particular evening was “as Anglicans we are the elite of the elite”.    And of course we are.   Cassavant Organs, recitals, Choral Even Song, Sung Eucharist, Marbec Music, Vestments that sparkle and make your head spin, Cathedrals and Churches, even te most humble of -  ornate and great.    Processionals and Recessionals.  Synods and Councils, Archbishops, Archdeacons and Canons of Cathedrals.   Such a list of grandeur.  Why we once rubbed shoulders with royalty but that seems to have cooled somewhat.   It's much more difficult these days to have the Lt. Governor attend a service at the Cathedral than it once was once upon a time.

        Now of course - in the New Testament there are no Archbishops, Arschdeacons or Regional Deans of the Deanery of York, or Wardens of Layreaders, or Canons of Cathedrals, or chairs of committees, or even priests or rectors for that matter, although there are presbyters, deacons.

After my “boasting” of having new business cards drawn up to display properly all of my prestigious titles, from Canon of the Cathedral to Warden of layreaders, and lately Regional Dean of York, which I really, really like, sounds more like royalty, Henry the 8-ish don't you agree, much better than 'Warden" which always conjures up an image of 'guarding, well .... prisoners'.   Anyway after an evening of preoccupation with self and boastful of all my titles, ( modesty prevents me from listing them all ) someone  quietly suggested that instead of all those fancy titles that mean very little beyond the walls of the Church and which would only serve to fill all the space on my little business card and then some, that all I needed on my card was “John Cathcart - a good and faithful servant”.     With pride now greatly deflated and feet firmly back on the ground I thought "Now there's food for thought for anyone trying to identify an Anglican Identity".   How's your servant ministry going these day?.

Your servant

 John Cathcart,

er ... the Rev'd Canon.


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- $168 per single & $248 per couple


includes 2 nights - 6 meals - plus Retreat

Bursaries are available upon request

please note that the Retreat begins on Friday Evening
with a meal which will be served beginning at 5:30pm

Registration Table will be open from 4:30pm

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An Invitation to Anglicans  of the Diocese of Fredericton
.
Over the last six years the Companioned Spiritual Formation Team has organized
Retreats at the Villa Madonna Retreat House at Rothesay, New Brunswick.
.
The Retreat again this year takes place in March, we usually have 35 - 40 people who
participate in these Retreats.  
.
The Retreat begins on Friday Evening at 5:30pm with a meal,
and concludes Sunday, following lunch at noon.
.
Our facilitator for the CSF 2009 Retreat
is well known among Anglicans

- Bishop William Hockin  -
.
Bishop Bill continues to be very active in ministry as he leads Bible Studies
and Advent and Lenten Reflections. and of course writes his books1
.
The actual Retreat Consists of:
.
Two ( 2 ) nights - + a comfortable bed, all day Saturday and Sunday Morning
in pleasant quiet surroundings, fine  fellowship, great teaching opportunities
and new or renew friendships over six wonderful sumptuous meals!
.
The Retreat begins Friday Evening
with Dinner being served at 5:30pm
.
Registration Fee - $168 single
.
$248 per couple

You can't get a better March Break foryour buck!


................................................................

Click here for March 5th - 7th Retreat Registration 2010

or to contact the Rev. Canon John Cathcart - 450-0013

- $168 per single & $248 per couple


includes 2 nights - 6 meals - plus Retreat

Bursaries are available upon request

please note that the Retreat begins on Friday Evening
with a meal which will be served beginning at 5:30pm

Registration Table will be open from 4:30pm

................................................................

Click here for March 5th - 7th Retreat Registration 2010

or to contact the Rev. Canon John Cathcart - 450-0013

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On The Road to Emmas