Anglican FAQ

Why do Anglicans use the Book of Common Prayer (BCP)?
There are three reasons:

1. To be Biblical. To ensure that the worship of the Church is biblical in its language. Praying in a group teaches. The BCP has more Bible in it than any form of Christian Worship.
2. Spirit approved and anointed language. These are prayers that have commended themselves to the Saints of God over long periods of time. Bishop Ryle said, "if all of the people could pray all of the time the way some of the people pray some of the time, we might not need Prayer Books".
3. Participation. Common prayer is best entered into together if there are common prayers that can be prayed together.

What are the Sacraments of the Church?
There are two chief Sacraments of the Gospel: Baptism and the Lord's Supper or Eucharist. These have been instituted by Christ directly. In addition there are 5 lesser Sacraments or Sacramental acts: confirmation, marriage, holy orders, the reconciliation of a penitent and the ministration of the sick and to the dying. These apply the grace of Christ to specific stages and states in the Christian life and have been instituted in the life of the Church under the leadership of the Holy Spirit.
Sacraments are outward and visible signs and spiritual grace, given by Christ, as sure and certain means by which we receive that grace by faith. Since we are embodied spirits, it is good that the whole person is involved in the worship of God.


Why do Anglican clergy dress differently during different seasons and events?
Not all Anglican clergy dress alike. Anglican clergy have dressed differently at different times in history and in different places. Some clergy today dress just like the laity with the addition of a stole worn during the celebration of the Sacraments. Most Anglican clergy dress in one of three ways: as pre-reformation clergy...thereby stressing the traditional lineage of the Church; like the clothing worn after the Reformation of the 16th Century...thereby stressing the reformed character of the Anglican Church; or they dress in the commonly worn white alb that has become popular in many denominations today. The alb simply points out who is leading the worship of the congregation and the solemn nature and importance of the worship of the one true God.


Why do Anglicans stand, sit and kneel throughout worship?
Since we are not bodiless spirits but rather embodied spirits it is important to get the whole of our person involved in worship. The body impacts the spirit. In many Anglican churches we stand to praise and sing; we sit for instruction; and we kneel to pray. This is still followed in large measure except that now many stand to pray at various times as well. Simply keep an eye on the leader and those in front of you and do likewise.


Why do some people cross themselves?
People cross themselves because of the central importance of the Cross in the Christian life. It is because of the Cross of Christ who "bore our sins in his body on the tree" that we are acceptable to God and can enter into His presence in worship. The sign of the Cross is a recalling of that unfathomable gift and an application of the benefit of it to the individual. There is no requirement in Anglicanism that one uses this devotional act but it is an ancient and appropriate sign and custom.


Why celebrate the Lord's Supper so often?
The Lord's Supper is the central act of Christian worship. It is central because it centers on the Cross which is central in the Gospel. The centrality of the Lord's Supper has led some congregations to celebrate it as the chief act of worship of the congregation each week. Other congregations celebrate the Lord's Supper only once or twice a month as the chief service of worship on the Lord's Day in order to give the congregation opportunity for longer preparation. Most Anglican congregations have an early celebration of the Lord's Supper or Eucharist every Sunday.


What is Apostolic Succession and why is it important?
Apostolic Succession in the broadest and most basic sense refers to the passing along the Faith and Fellowship of the Apostles in the life of the Church in history. This succession is carried on through a variety of means. The Scripture of the Old and New Testaments, the historic Creeds, the Gospel Sacraments, and the lineage of Bishops, Priests and Deacons all assist the Church to pass on the Apostolic Faith and Life.

Sometimes people refer to Bishops as being in Apostolic Succession. This means being in an unbroken line of consecration from the time of the early undivided Church. This speaks of continuity in ministerial order...But it is important to keep in mind that it means only those who are truly faithful in apostolic succession...who are believing and teaching the Faith of the Apostles...and who are reaching out to the lost in the mission given to the Church through the Apostles.


Why Bishops, Priests and Deacons?
At the Reformation of the 16th Century the Anglican Church retained in the life and witness of the Church that which was good and in accord with harmony with the Scriptures. Bishops, priests and deacons were an early form of Church Orders raised up in the history of the Church under the leadership of the Holy Spirit; and many of these bishops, priests and deacons were proponents of the Reformation and Biblical in their Faith. Thus, the ancient orders were kept as a blessing and an expression of continuity with the historic Church. In some parts of the world, bishops, priests and deacons resisted the reform of the Church under God's Word and so another form of ordained ministry had to be adopted.


Why do Anglican churches provide healing services?
Anglicans hold healing services because of the many who need healing...because God heals through the laying on of hands and prayer and anointing in the name of Christ when and where he chooses...and because Christ commended the Church to do so. Healing services are not in opposition to the healing God works through the medical profession, but are complementary to it.


How do we differ from the Roman Catholic Church?
The Anglican Church differs from the Roman Catholic Church in many ways. Chief among them is that the Anglican Church embraces the Reformation of the 16th century and continues, where it is true to itself, to submit all of its teaching and morals to the teaching of Holy Scripture. Further, the Anglican churches are not under the jurisdictional authority of the bishops of Rome, nor do they require celibacy of the clergy.