Our Faith

We are Orthodox, but not Eastern

We are Orthodox because we, like the Holy Eastern Orthodox, find the fullness of apostolic faith in that same Holy Tradition which existed during the first 1000 years of the church. Consequently, like all Orthodox, we reject any additions or subtractions from the ancient faith. Like all Orthodox, we believe that the doctrine or dogma of the faith as expounded in the documents produced by the three ecumenical creeds and the seven ecumenical councils. Like all Orthodox we affirm that in them the church has spoken with one voice, and therefore, they alone contain the teachings that can be considered undisputed. The substance of our faith is identical.

Nevertheless, unlike the Eastern Orthodox, we are distinctly western. The difference between us is cultural only, and not doctrinal. Unlike the east we express the apostolic faith with western customs. We use a western liturgy, western vestments, western forms of sacramentality, western music, and a western calendar. In summary, we believe that Anglo-Catholicism is "Western Orthodoxy."

We are Catholic, but not Roman

We are also Catholic because, like all Catholics, we are Episcopal, Sacramental, Liturgical, and Creedal. The episcopacy of our clergy is of apostolic succession. Like all Catholics, our sacramental practices involve signs, gestures, vestments, bells, iconography, incense, and water, bread, and wine. Like all Catholics, our worship practices involve the same ceremonies and music of the ancient church. Like all Catholics we find the summation of the faith in the catholic creeds. Enter an Anglo--Catholic church and there will be little doubt that you are in a Catholic Church.

However, unlike Roman Catholicism, Anglican Catholicism holds strictly to that which has been believed by all, in all places, at all times, and therefore we reject the medieval additions of the Roman Catholic Church. We are Unlike the Roman church in that we reject the required celibacy of clergy, the use of indulgences, the teaching of purgatory, the teaching that there exists a Papal Infallibility that is independent from the voice of the undivided church, and several other innovations of this kind. We reject these doctrines for two reasons; first, because they are innovations of late entrance into Holy Tradition, and second, because they do not pass the canonical test of scripture. In summary, we believe that Anglo-Catholicism is an “Apostolic Catholicism” that pre-dates Roman Catholicism and is in perfect alignment with the faith of the undivided church.

We are Evangelical, but not Protestant

We are Evangelical because, like all Evangelicals, our main focus is on what the bible calls the salvation. Like all Evangelicals, we believe that this salvation of individuals as well as of the world comes about by the power of the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ. Like all Evangelicals, we place a high value on the power of biblical preaching, and on the centrality of the word of God for doctrine. In fact, we see the word of God as the canon (measure) and the ultimate authority over all that is necessary for faith and salvation.

Yet, unlike the Protestants, we do not accept subtractons from the faith of the undivided church. such as looking to the bible alone for instruction in the Christian life; unlike Protestants we also look to the Holy Tradition out of which the bible came. For this reason, Anglican Evangelicalism does not protest against everything that occurred before the Protestant Reformation. Unlike most Evangelicals we believe that the traditions of the church handed down to us prior to medieval innovations is truly “Holy Tradition.” We are convinced that within this apostolic Holy Tradition of the undivided church we find both the true interpretation and the true application of the gospel.

We Are Orthodox, Catholic, and Evangelical