After many years of flirting with her, I finally legitimized my relationship with the Anglican Communion in 1997. In other words, after many years of worshipping with the Anglican Communion, I finally got baptized and confirmed into the church in 1998.
Of the many Christian denominations, why the Anglicans?
I don't think I can put it better than Ed Friedlander, MD (also known on the Web as "The Pathology Guy"):
"Since I became an Episcopalian [part of the Anglican Communion] in 1978, the denomination (1) has never told me anything that I knew was not true; (2) has never told me I was better than anybody else; (3) has never told me to hate anybody; (4) has never told me to do anything I knew was wrong; (5) has surprised me with the lack of hypocrisy among clergy and laity; (6) has never pestered me for money. I say I made a good choice."
Okay. I was but a wee lad in 78, but all of his points, I do adopt. I have learnt not to judge, but to accept, and leave the judging to God. I do not presume to know His mind about my own life, let alone on others! So, instead, I have learnt that my faith is personal: it's between me and God, as tested by scripture, tradition and reason.
I do have high church leanings, i.e. do prefer hymns, robes, smells and bells of a sacramental service, but can easily slip into a low church setting. Which I currently have. I used to worship at St George's Church, and as I cannot really get up in time for the 8.00 am service, am quite happy at the 10.00 am service, which is more informal, or low church. There is also one thing that anchors me to St Georges, and that is Gap. What exactly is GAP? Well... check it out.
Have I lost you yet with these mutterings of high church, low church, smells and bells? Well - do drop by www.anglicansonline.org which is a great place to start to find out about all things Anglican!
PS The recent ructions over the ordination of Bishop Gene Robinson did cause me to wonder whether point (5) is still valid. Having said that, the way the church is resolving the issue looks like it is being done in a very Anglican manner, and it will be interesting to see how it plays out.
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Amended on:
August 01, 2004