Thank you. There is a tendency for us long-term Anglicans, and even more for British ones like me for whom it is part of the national culture, to take it for granted and grow jaded. You have reminded me of what a treasure we have. I will share this article widely. God bless.
Thank you for writing this; it really resonated with me. I’ve been attending an Anglican Church for about 6 months and it has changed my life. The Book of Common prayer has some of the most beautiful lines.
This is such an eye opening observation! I was raised in a high-church style presbyterian reformed church but now attending international baptist church for the past 9yrs. There are so many beautiful things from both denominations but anglicanism always stands out for me on the depth and width of its beautiful tradition in liturgy, words/prayers and music.
Thank you for sharing brother, my wife and I were also non-denom/Baptist Christian our whole lives and I was working full time in a Baptist Student Ministry but now we are becoming Anglican. We get snide comments sometimes and it’s hard not to worry or wonder what our families or friends will think of us. The best case scenario feels that we will be the odd Christians out. Yet we have joy knowing we are united and convinced this is best for our family. I appreciate you sharing your story and some of your writing has enlightened me!
I appreciated reading this because it is so foreign to my own experience of Baptist and nondenom churches, pastors, and alma mater, yet it is clearly a live element, because I keep seeing people reacting to what you describe here. Praying for you and your family now.
Thank you for sharing. There's a new REC mission 35 minutes from us now whereas before all parishes were an hour or more from us. They dont have a permanent building yet nor a designated Presbyter, so they don't have communion every time. That said we've visited twice but no communion, which is what I've been wanting to experience.
Happy for you man. I’m not Anglican, and probably never will be, but I appreciate so much about the Anglican Church. Including most of the reasons you listed, especially BCP/Accountability/Heritage & Ecumenism.
An Anglo-Catholic (APA, Anglican Province of America) who was steeped in Southern Baptist tradition before the Lord introduced me to the liturgy. I especially enjoyed your poignant description of the partaking of the Eucharist with your child. The liturgical life is a constant voyage of discovery and wonder.
This was very interesting Joshua. Though there was one thing I couldn’t help wonder about as I read it. Do you think your Anglican brothers would respond differently if you were leaving to become a Baptist pastor? It’s hard for me not to imagine there being the same type of split and mixed experience going the other direction.
There would definitely be people who were upset. I would never expect anything different. Attachments are real and moving to a different church can leave behind painful feelings. But I would still be considered a brother, not a heretic, and nobody, especially not my closest mentors, would be consigning my family to hell.
I don’t know much about Anglicans but I have had very kind and respectful conversations with “high” church folks who none the less will say things like “there is no salvation outside of the x Church.”
Thank you. There is a tendency for us long-term Anglicans, and even more for British ones like me for whom it is part of the national culture, to take it for granted and grow jaded. You have reminded me of what a treasure we have. I will share this article widely. God bless.
Thank you for writing this; it really resonated with me. I’ve been attending an Anglican Church for about 6 months and it has changed my life. The Book of Common prayer has some of the most beautiful lines.
The BCP was a major game changer for us. So happy for you.
Bless you and welcome.
Thank you for sharing - isn’t the Prayer Book a wonderful treasure?
An absolute blessing.
Amen to that!
Hear hear!
This is such an eye opening observation! I was raised in a high-church style presbyterian reformed church but now attending international baptist church for the past 9yrs. There are so many beautiful things from both denominations but anglicanism always stands out for me on the depth and width of its beautiful tradition in liturgy, words/prayers and music.
Thank you for sharing brother, my wife and I were also non-denom/Baptist Christian our whole lives and I was working full time in a Baptist Student Ministry but now we are becoming Anglican. We get snide comments sometimes and it’s hard not to worry or wonder what our families or friends will think of us. The best case scenario feels that we will be the odd Christians out. Yet we have joy knowing we are united and convinced this is best for our family. I appreciate you sharing your story and some of your writing has enlightened me!
Dude, if you ever need to talk, DM me. I'll give you my number. It's not an easy transition, but you aren't alone.
I appreciated reading this because it is so foreign to my own experience of Baptist and nondenom churches, pastors, and alma mater, yet it is clearly a live element, because I keep seeing people reacting to what you describe here. Praying for you and your family now.
Thank you for sharing. There's a new REC mission 35 minutes from us now whereas before all parishes were an hour or more from us. They dont have a permanent building yet nor a designated Presbyter, so they don't have communion every time. That said we've visited twice but no communion, which is what I've been wanting to experience.
Let me know how it goes. If you ever need to talk, dm me.
Happy for you man. I’m not Anglican, and probably never will be, but I appreciate so much about the Anglican Church. Including most of the reasons you listed, especially BCP/Accountability/Heritage & Ecumenism.
Even non-Anglicans can gain so much from the BCP 💪
Several churches in the CREC use it, I believe.
An Anglo-Catholic (APA, Anglican Province of America) who was steeped in Southern Baptist tradition before the Lord introduced me to the liturgy. I especially enjoyed your poignant description of the partaking of the Eucharist with your child. The liturgical life is a constant voyage of discovery and wonder.
Btw - please keep writing!!
Which BCP do you use?
Our parish uses the 2019
That is a lovely Prayerbook.
This was very interesting Joshua. Though there was one thing I couldn’t help wonder about as I read it. Do you think your Anglican brothers would respond differently if you were leaving to become a Baptist pastor? It’s hard for me not to imagine there being the same type of split and mixed experience going the other direction.
There would definitely be people who were upset. I would never expect anything different. Attachments are real and moving to a different church can leave behind painful feelings. But I would still be considered a brother, not a heretic, and nobody, especially not my closest mentors, would be consigning my family to hell.
I don’t know much about Anglicans but I have had very kind and respectful conversations with “high” church folks who none the less will say things like “there is no salvation outside of the x Church.”
Yes, I’ve heard that too. It’s one of the reasons I became Anglican in particular because it isn’t normal in our tradition.
I love that. Thank you for sharing your thoughts brother.