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The Identity of Anglicanism: Essentials of Anglican Ecclesiology
Anglicanism can be wonderful, mystifying and infuriating. For some it is an expression of the Church catholic, going back to the early Church and the apostles. For others it is a pragmatic compromise dating from Henry VIII's dynastic ambitions. Some see Anglicanism today as self-destructing, torn apart by internal pressures.
Paul Avis expounds an Anglicanism that is both catholic and reformed and open to fresh insight. On this interpretation, what is distinctive about Anglicanism is its understanding of the Church and of authority. These issues are addressed in relation to the origins of Anglican ecclesiology, the diversity and coherence of the worldwide Anglican Communion, its understanding of baptism and the Eucharist, the question of women priests and bishops, its ecumenical engagement and the internal conflicts of the early twenty-first century. This is a authoritive and passionate vindication of classical Anglicanism, evolving to respond to contemporary challenges.
Paul Avis expounds an Anglicanism that is both catholic and reformed and open to fresh insight. On this interpretation, what is distinctive about Anglicanism is its understanding of the Church and of authority. These issues are addressed in relation to the origins of Anglican ecclesiology, the diversity and coherence of the worldwide Anglican Communion, its understanding of baptism and the Eucharist, the question of women priests and bishops, its ecumenical engagement and the internal conflicts of the early twenty-first century. This is a authoritive and passionate vindication of classical Anglicanism, evolving to respond to contemporary challenges.
216 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2008
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
December 29, 2016
Very insightful though I believe some terms could be defined better. The author is also very careful not to condemn Members of the Communion which is unfortunate when he addresses their particular "disruptions" to the church as apposed to naming it what it is, apostasy.
July 2, 2025
Anglicanism is one of the largest branches of Protestantism. Paul Avis tries to unpack how Anglicanism is structured in the book The Identity of Anglicanism. This book focuses on church structure, looking at how the Anglican church is structured and how it functions as a denomination. The focal point is the sacraments of the Anglican church, but there is a focus on female ordination.
The book uses a fair amount of research to look over the Anglican church. I think the book gives a good assessment of Anglicanism, particularly its ecumenical. I think there is a downplaying of the number of historical issues of Anglicanism. The question is whether this book needs to emphasise the history of Anglicanism, as other books can write about this. Its assessment of female ordination does not look at the scriptural debate around whether women should be ordained, but instead looks at the issues with tradition around it. This may be problematic for evangelicals, but I don’t personally disagree with this.
The book also looks over the different factions of the Anglican church, including liberals, evangelicals and sacramental Anglicans. Another interesting analysis in the book is how the traditions of Anglicanism evolved in ecclesiology, in that it moved from being a Reformed-influenced denomination in the 16th and 17th centuries towards a more Lutheran-influenced church in the 18th century. I would say this is probably because of the politics of England, particularly the political issues from Reformed churches, but also likely German influence from the various kings of England.
The book does a good analysis of Anglicanism, explaining it as a catholic rather than a Catholic denomination. The Lambeth Conference is mentioned as having a significant influence on Anglicanism alongside the impacts of Vatican II. The Identity of Anglicanism is a good overview of Anglicanism.
The book uses a fair amount of research to look over the Anglican church. I think the book gives a good assessment of Anglicanism, particularly its ecumenical. I think there is a downplaying of the number of historical issues of Anglicanism. The question is whether this book needs to emphasise the history of Anglicanism, as other books can write about this. Its assessment of female ordination does not look at the scriptural debate around whether women should be ordained, but instead looks at the issues with tradition around it. This may be problematic for evangelicals, but I don’t personally disagree with this.
The book also looks over the different factions of the Anglican church, including liberals, evangelicals and sacramental Anglicans. Another interesting analysis in the book is how the traditions of Anglicanism evolved in ecclesiology, in that it moved from being a Reformed-influenced denomination in the 16th and 17th centuries towards a more Lutheran-influenced church in the 18th century. I would say this is probably because of the politics of England, particularly the political issues from Reformed churches, but also likely German influence from the various kings of England.
The book does a good analysis of Anglicanism, explaining it as a catholic rather than a Catholic denomination. The Lambeth Conference is mentioned as having a significant influence on Anglicanism alongside the impacts of Vatican II. The Identity of Anglicanism is a good overview of Anglicanism.
January 27, 2024
Knowledgeable about Anglican History and Theology. Definitely helpful in better understanding a British Anglicanism, and thus, what shapes or does not shape American Anglicanism.
Negatively, the author is often opaque in regards to what needs to change in Anglicanism (or what makes a lasting Anglicanism). Certainly, this reader was not expecting concrete "steps" or programmatic answers, but the writer seems to struggle with that common Anglican ailment of overt subtlety where some clarity in application would be helpful.
The Author is more open to a "broader" interpretation of some historic understandings of scripture, yet seems to value the historic development of Anglican and Orthodox theology. How much of this is cultural (academically) and emotional for him (individually), versus exegetical, communal, and historic...well, this is hard to asses.
Negatively, the author is often opaque in regards to what needs to change in Anglicanism (or what makes a lasting Anglicanism). Certainly, this reader was not expecting concrete "steps" or programmatic answers, but the writer seems to struggle with that common Anglican ailment of overt subtlety where some clarity in application would be helpful.
The Author is more open to a "broader" interpretation of some historic understandings of scripture, yet seems to value the historic development of Anglican and Orthodox theology. How much of this is cultural (academically) and emotional for him (individually), versus exegetical, communal, and historic...well, this is hard to asses.
November 12, 2008
I read this book at the same time as Always Open by Richard Giles. The books come from slightly different social perspectives, but both seem to put a great emphasis on the road of theological politeness (not a term either uses) as central to the Anglican raison d'etre. Considering the murderous and bloody time that birthed the Church of England, that makes sense. Both books seem to be a call to that politeness from the perspective that really, it's what Anglicanism is all about to start with.
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November 14, 2017262.03
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews