by Shane Anderson

In seeking to discover how a local congregation may participate in the movement of Global Anglicanism, it is essential to ask the question: What is global Anglicanism? As the third largest Christian communion, with 85 million members worldwide, the issue escaping us is not whether the Anglican communion is global; but more precisely, what does it mean, especially to the local congregation, to be involved and contribute towards the global movement? We hear buzzwords like “global” and “worldwide,” used to describe commerce or technology; but to people of faith representing a God who holds the whole world in His Hands, what role do congregations play advancing the cause of Anglicanism and more importantly the Gospel of Jesus Christ?

A major challenge for any organization, ministry or cause spanning across multiple continents is navigating all the diverse cultures represented. Tantamount to the worldwide advancement of the Anglican church is supporting and celebrating the relevant contributions being made by diverse cultures. Global Anglicanism, made up of people from distinct cultures and backgrounds, makes its goal to find unity amidst diversity. As different people groups across the world come together daily, weekly to partake of the Holy Eucharist, the miracle of Isaiah 9 is revealed, as the glory of Christ refracts like the colors of the rainbow. In the Eucharist, we are reminded that God truly loves the world and has given His Son that the world might be saved. Global Anglicanism, united by the Lord’s table, testifies of the power of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

On the secular world stage, it seems governments at all levels, as well as secular institutions, are straining, recoiling even, from disparities inherent with attempting to unite peoples of diverse cultural and social backgrounds. Economic unions with states and countries of imbalanced socio-economical and ideological differences often falter; and we have seen this occur most recently with Brexit, as just one example. Institutions made of well-intended people walk a difficult path, trying to play fair with others. That is to say, global secularism struggles to maintain unity within diversity. Whether motivated from toxic xenophobia, from observed fractures and failures of policies and treaties, or from a sincere bent towards conservative values not represented or appreciated by all parties involved, secular institutions strain to remain in unity with one another.

 If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand. And if a house is divided against itself, that house will not be able to stand. – Mark 3:24-25

Apart from a firm foundation established by the grace of God, it is impossible to find unity. How is it possible for Anglicans, as a faith community, to rise above and maintain solidarity and commitment globally amidst socioeconomic, cultural, political, and even moral differences? Certainly, the answer cannot mean compromise of Biblical truth. The question before us, then, is an important one to consider: What is pure, global Anglicanism, and how may we participate in the wider movement in our local congregations without compromise of Biblical truth?

Anglicans affirm the doctrine of Sola Scriptura, that is, Scripture is the final authority for matters of belief and practice, and nothing on a global scale may impose this basic tenet, not even should the headwaters of Anglicanism be polluted. Concerning this good doctrine, one thing we can do as individual congregations is to highly esteem those sincere and worthy leaders within the Anglican faith; those bishops, priests, deacons, and rectors courageously committed to defending both our global and local community of saints from toxic roots seeking to defile many among us.

Therefore lift your drooping hands and strengthen your weak knees, and make straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame may not be put out of joint but rather be healed. Strive for peace with everyone, and for the holiness without which no one will see the Lord. See to it that no one fails to obtain the grace of God; that no “root of bitterness” springs up and causes trouble, and by it many become defiled; that no one is sexually immoral or unholy like Esau, who sold his birthright for a single meal. For you know that afterward, when he desired to inherit the blessing, he was rejected, for he found no chance to repent, though he sought it with tears. – Hebrews 12:12-17

We owe much respect to those leaders who remain faithful to teach and preach Biblical truth amidst growing pressures, from both inside and outside Anglican fellowships, to yield to the decay of moral values especially common within Western culture.

From the midst of global Anglicanism arises, then, the Kigali Commitment, the final statement issued from those many Anglicans gathered in Kigali, Rwanda at GAFCON this year. This statement stands as a beacon in the night to chart a new course for Anglicans seeking to set anew the Anglican Communion on the foundation of Biblical authority and classic Anglican principles of doctrine, discipline, and worship, as articulated in the Jerusalem Declaration (2008.)

To best understand and participate in the global Anglicanism movement, then, I propose that we should consider the following four things.

Firstly, as a local congregation, we must not merely know that the Jerusalem Declaration exists. It is insufficient to let passively lie the important principles set forth before us. We must commit to putting them into action so that we embody these principles. I have taken the liberty for the sake of the question set before us to reframe the statements of the Jerusalem Declaration into actionable commitments, particularly for their application to and participation by the laity within our local congregations.

As a local congregation seeking to participate in the global Anglican movement, we must:

• Rejoice in the gospel of God through which we have been saved by grace through faith in Jesus Christ by the power of the Holy Spirit. Because God first loved us, let us love him and bring forth fruits of love, ongoing repentance, lively hope and thanksgiving to God in all things.

• Believe the Holy Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments to be the Word of God written and to contain all things necessary for salvation. Help directly in the work of, or indirectly in support of, translating, reading, teaching, and obeying the Bible in its plain and canonical sense, respectful of the church’s historic and consensual reading.

• Seek to understand and uphold the four Ecumenical Councils and the three historic Creeds as expressing the rule of faith of the one holy catholic and apostolic Church.

• Seek to understand and uphold the Thirty-nine Articles as containing the true doctrine of the Church agreeing with God’s Word and as authoritative for Anglicans today.

• Gladly proclaim and submit to the unique and universal Lordship of Jesus Christ, the Son of God, humanity’s only Savior from sin, judgment, and hell, who lived the life we could not live and died the death that we deserve. By his atoning death and glorious resurrection, he secured the redemption of all who come to him in repentance and faith. Let us actively share this truth with our neighbors within our local communities.

• Actively rejoice in our Anglican sacramental and liturgical heritage as an expression of the gospel and understand and uphold the 1662 Book of Common Prayer as a true and authoritative standard of worship and prayer.

• Recognize that God has called and gifted bishops, priests, and deacons in historic succession to equip all the people of God for their ministry in the world. Pray regularly for their ministry in the world.

• Acknowledge God’s creation of humankind as male and female and the unchangeable standard of Christian marriage between one man and one woman as the proper place for sexual intimacy and the basis of the family. Repent of our failures to maintain this standard and call for a renewed commitment to lifelong fidelity in marriage and abstinence for those who are not married.

• Gladly accept the Great Commission of the risen Lord to make disciples of all nations, to seek those who do not know Christ and to baptize, teach and bring new believers to maturity.

• Be mindful of our responsibility to be good stewards of God’s creation, to uphold and advocate justice in society, and to seek relief and empowerment of the poor and needy.

• Be committed to the unity of all those who know and love Christ and to building authentic ecumenical relationships. Recognize the orders and jurisdiction of those Anglicans who uphold orthodox faith and practice and encourage them to join us in this declaration.

• Celebrate the God-given diversity among us which enriches our global fellowship and acknowledge freedom in secondary matters. Pledge to work together to seek the mind of Christ on issues that divide us.

• Reject the authority of those churches and leaders who have denied the orthodox faith in word or deed. Pray for them and call on them to repent and return to the Lord.

• Passionately rejoice at the prospect of Jesus’ coming again in glory, and while we await this final event of history, actively praise him for the way he builds up his church through his Spirit by miraculously changing lives.

Secondly, and as an underscore to several of the commitments from the Jerusalem Declaration, the local congregation may participate in global Anglicanism by demonstrating the love of God within their local parish. The Lord Jesus’s words in John’s gospel rings out to all followers, to any global advancement of the Cross of Christ:

“Just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” – John 13:34-35

At the Lord’s charge, let us commit to loving one another that the world might know and see the life of Christ evident among us. May our sincere fellowship be a respite for sojourners, a haven for strangers, and a help for people of all walks of life seeking to overcome crippling fear and anxiety plaguing the world today. Let us love, not as the world loves, but as only the Holy Spirit can love through us as we look to the example of Christ’s love to us while we were still sinners. Love does not mean compromise of Biblical truth as Christ Himself demonstrated, but we do well to hold fast to truth in love not thinking more highly of ourselves than we ought and rejoicing in the Lord that in Him we have overcome the world.

Thirdly, the local congregation may participate in global Anglicanism through committing to regular charitable giving within our local parishes and sharing of our time and talents to enrich the spiritual house that exists among our local fellowships. We can participate in global Anglicanism with cheerful and open hearts, loving our faith community through the exuberant sharing of the wealth that God has blessed us with. In this, global missions are supported. In this, we may hear the call to participate ourselves in overseas missions for the strengthening of others and deepening of our walk in obedience to God and to his purpose for our lives.

Finally, and not least importantly, it is important for local congregations under bishops and rectors holding fast to sound Biblical authority to pray for all saints, but especially those congregants and congregations outside the territory of healthy parishes or dioceses. Pray even for those leaders and congregations that have lost the way, strayed from the path, and ask that by God’s mighty hand they may be humbled and return to truth.

The Apostle Paul admonished the church in Corinth with hard words, encouraging them to pray for those who have lost their way that their spirits “may be saved in the day of the Lord.” (1 Cor. 5:5b)

Your boasting is not good. Do you not know that a little leaven leavens the whole lump? Cleanse out the old leaven that you may be a new lump, as you really are unleavened. For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed. Let us therefore celebrate the festival, not with the old leaven, the leaven of malice and evil, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth. – 1 Corinthians 5:6-8

It is an exciting day in which to live and be able to witness the glory of the Cross of Christ advancing with hope to many across the globe. As the seeds of revolution of Jesus’s kingdom continues to fall upon fertile soil of human hearts, may those institutions and nations once bold to inscribe Christ’s words and God’s law upon their hallowed walls, their constitutions, icons, and statues bear witness to bold statements like the Kigali Commitment, repent and return to Biblical authority as Prodigal Sons in desperate need of the Father’s mercy and grace.

Added post submission to the competition form:

The answer to the question posed, What is global Anglicanism? in full hope may be answered: none other than the resetting, refining, and redirection toward King Jesus and the truth represented in him. From the centrality of Christ our King and High Priest flows the water of life, and any member of His Body, the global Anglican church included, must find the source in him alone. Let us pray that we remained unfettered and fixed to him our Rock and our Salvation, pure and undefiled before God and man.

---

This essay was written for a writing competition sponsored by the ACNA in 2023. It was submitted at the end of August 2023.