[Ted Logan]

Originally Posted by ICTHUS

Well, the Anglican communion, from what I've seen, is inherently Protestant. Very liturgical, but still Protestant nevertheless. One need only take a good hard gander at the Thirty-nine Articles of Religion to see that.

The Thirty-Nine Articles aren't binding to members of the Church, however, and I've never known anyone outside the clergy who has read them unless they just stumbled across them at the end of the BCP. It is true that the Anglican Communion straddles the line between Protestantism and Roman Catholicism; it might be called "The Least Protestant Protestant Church". But you're right, Ryan, it is most definitely a Protestant Church.

[Mathaytace ><>]

Yes, correct, I am a Member of the REC.

[Astonished]

The sign of the cross in the anglican church is a matter of opinion and personal preference. I used to never do the sign of the cross but now I have started doing it just because it makes my prayers and worship seem more sacred.

[twofish]

Hey Aaron,

I've read the 39 Articles. There is some interesting stuff in the ole BCP. Everyone should check it out.

[fivesolas]

Some Anglicans do it; some do not. I cross myself fairly often.

[fivesolas]

I studied the Articles before starting at my parish. IMHO, they ought to be binding on all clergy. Anglicanism's genius is in its cleansing of medieval superstition from liturgy and devotion and maintaining catholic worship and reformed soteriology.

[sicklesj]

Originally Posted by ICTHUS

Well, the Anglican communion, from what I've seen, is inherently Protestant. Very liturgical, but still Protestant nevertheless. One need only take a good hard gander at the Thirty-nine Articles of Religion to see that.

Ryan, yes on the surface the traditional Book of Common Prayer is Protestant. These are the 1549, 1552, and 1662 in England; in the U.S., 1789, 1894, and 1928). The so-called 1979
BCP does not follow the doctrine and faith of the early - Medieval - Western Christian Church
(today's Roman Catholic Church in many ways). Hence causes of the division over issues such as Women's ordination and consecration of active homosexual as an Episcopal Bishop and
so on. Cranmer achieved in his BCPs what the Church has taught since 1539, the the Anglican
Communion is "reformed but not Protestant; Catholic but not Roman Catholic." It would be
worth your while to put the 1928 and 1979 Books of Common Prayer side by side and compare them. They are fundamentally different.

I am a "Continuing Anglican" whose Parish - www.st-thomas-of-canterbury.org - uses only
the 1928 Book of Common Prayer - not because it is perfect(there are several small
things worth changing) but because it maintains as Archbishop Cranmer did in 1549( and
was martyred for it) the doctrine of the "faith which was once delivered to the Apostles"
(Jude 3).

Yours in Christ,

John

[cajunhillbilly]

I am an Episcopalian who attends the Episcopal Church of the Resurreection in Dallas, TX. I have attended other Episcopal Churches in the area as well. All the chrches perform the Sign of the Cross during the Divine Liturgy and at other times when appropriate. It is a very conservative diocese, and is opposed to the ordination of gay bishops/priests and so on. I fully agree with the 39 Articles of Religion, and also consider myself both Protestant and Catholic.