Episcopal and Anglican, are protestant?

[ArmenianJohn]

I know. It is not uncommon for people who belong to one or another of the "Catholic" denominations to hold to the storyline they have been brought up with, come what may. We are still happy to give them the facts when they ask. As for asking them to appreciate the critical details in a complicated history, however...they almost never want to bother with that.

I disagree with what you present as facts but I don't think it is a critical issue either.

Interesting further that they prefer the moniker "Protestant" anyway, especially in their history of fighting with the Catholics (especially Irish). It's always "protestant vs. catholic", not so much English vs. Irish, because there are protestant Irish (and Scots) as well as catholic ones (and Catholic English).

 

[lambofgod43985889]

Well, actually, Anglicans have unbroken apostolic succession...

how so?

 

[Albion]

how so?

The lineage is a matter of record.

 

[Willie T]

I observed quite young: Robes, sashes, and hats, etc.= Catholic leaning.
Normal clothes= Protestant leaning.

 

[Quasiblogo]

I think the Anglican Church has always kept to the Scriptures + Tradition formula. If true, hardly Protestant.

 

[fhansen]

Well, actually, Anglicans have unbroken apostolic succession...

Anglicanism would still depart from Othodox and Catholcism on justification though, right, as well as on some of the other Solas? Or is justification a doctrine that's necessarily agreed upon within Anglicanism?

 

[GoingByzantine]

I observed quite young: Robes, sashes, and hats, etc.= Catholic leaning.
Normal clothes= Protestant leaning.

And what do you consider "normal clothes"?

 

[seeking.IAM]

They adopted unique Protestant theology, at least in part, and thus couldn't be considered "Catholic".

Please elaborate on what you see as our "unique Protestant theology." I don't know what that is.

 

[Willie T]

And what do you consider "normal clothes"?

Whatever they typically wore to their office job or school or possibly even Seminary in the years prior to them deciding to preach. In other words, not special garb to proclaim their religious position.

 

[joshua 1 9]

want to know

No they are not protestant. They use the book of common prayer. I was a member of the Episcopal church at one time. They are a lot more liberal now then they were back then.

 

[joshua 1 9]

I observed quite young: Robes, sashes, and hats, etc.= Catholic leaning.
Normal clothes= Protestant leaning.

Wesley felt it was a mistake that he did not set a higher standard, esp when it came to clothing for the Methodist church. Most of the Holiness Churches that followed his tradition did set higher standards for clothing that covered them up. I think of the women praying at the alter with full length dresses and long hair that is a covering for them.

 

[Ignatius the Kiwi]

When it comes to Anglicanism it's best to talk about people rather than the Church itself.

It's an interesting question. A good deal of the Episcopalian Church has abandoned what would be traditionally considered Protestant and even traditionally Christian. The Reformers today would probably not recognize the Episcopal Church USA as being legitimately Christian, let alone Protestant.

There are definitely those Anglicans and maybe even Episcopalians whom adhere to those essentials of the reformation and thus be considered Protestant. Though those categories between those whom are more Evangelically minded (low Church) and those who are more (high Church) Catholic orientated.

 

[Albion]

Please elaborate on what you see as our "unique Protestant theology." I don't know what that is.

good one, seeking! Especially because the Anglican churches are as close as can be gotten among Christian churches to not having any beliefs that are unique or peculiar to them. Almost every other denomination of any size does.

But in the Protestant vs Catholic debate, I hope everybody is getti8ng the feeling by now that the church can be seen as one or the other or as both at once, depending on which characteristics are emphasized.

 

[Not David]

I think it is wrong to think of Protestantism as merely the Radical Reformation or the Evangelicals.

 

[seeking.IAM]

good one, seeking! Especially because the Anglican churches are as close as can be gotten among Christian churches to not having any beliefs that are unique or peculiar to them. Almost every other denomination of any size does.

Our theology is summarized in the Nicene Creed. I'm unsure what is so unique about that. I hope to learn more shortly.

 

[The Barbarian]

I think of them as protestant. I think of any church with broken apostolic succession as protestant.

That's the Roman Catholic position, too. But it's not quite that simple. All Anglican bishops, so far as I know, trace their orders from others leading back to the apostles. But lacking holy orders in the Catholic sense, they are different. I think in this, too, they are between Apostolic Christians and Protestants.

My thought is that God is pleased when we affirm our unity as Christians, and less pleased when we make distinctions among us.

My church is often called Armenian Orthodox by most people but actually our church's name is the Armenian Apostolic Church. We use apostolic succession as the defining factor whether or not a church is protestant.

Which I think all apostolic Christians do.

 

[Willie T]

I happen to have on my computer, just about the most fantastic book about the beginning and development of Protestantism,— Christianity's Dangerous Idea— that you will ever read.

I don't mind sharing it... Or, you can either download it or buy it. But, it is well worth reading.

https://www.google.com/search?sourc..._enUS810US810&q=Christianity's+Dangerous+Idea

 

[Chris V++]

That's the Roman Catholic position, too. But it's not quite that simple. All Anglican bishops, so far as I know, trace their orders from others leading back to the apostles. But lacking holy orders in the Catholic sense, they are different. I think in this, too, they are between Apostolic Christians and Protestants.

So are the offshoots of the Anglican church, like Methodism, considered heretical or in schism, or is there a communion between Anglican and the Wesley inspired churches?

 

[ViaCrucis]

want to know

It depends. Sometimes Anglicanism is classified as Protestant, and sometimes Anglicanism is classified as its own thing. Many Anglicans prefer to think of themselves as Via Media, a middle-way between Catholicism and Protestantism.

-CryptoLutheran

 

[Albion]

Our theology is summarized in the Nicene Creed. I'm unsure what is so unique about that.

Obviously, it's not. That is what I was saying before.