Need some help

[wondering1]

Hi,
I posted earlier on the chapel board, but I think I should have posted here instead. Anyway, I'm here because I could really use some help. I don't know much about the Anglican Church. I am a Protestant who grew up in an evangelical church. Now that I'm older, my beliefs have changed in some ways. I seem to be a weird mix between Catholic and Protestant. There are things I love about both.

I have been seriously considering becoming Catholic, but there are a few problems. Although I agree with the Catholic Church on most things, I don't agree with them on ALL things. I've been told that I need to agree on everything the church teaches to be Catholic. I know most Catholics don't agree with all the church teaches, but I've been told that I would need to state that I agree on everything in order to convert. I can't honestly do that, because I disagree with their stand on birth control, I don't like how "political" the Church has become in the U.S., I don't believe the Church has the right to tell people who to vote for, and I don't believe that God would send anyone to hell for missing one mass.

However, I do believe in the Real Presence in the Eucharist and the Communion of Saints. I love the liturgy, Mary, the rosary, the reverential form of worship, and many other things.

I seem to be caught between a rock and a hard place so to speak. I don't feel either Catholic or Protestant -- I feel both. So, my question is, would the Anglican Church perhaps be a good fit for me, and if not does anyone have any suggestions as to a church home for someone in my situation? I've posted on the Lutheran boards as well, because I know that most Lutherans believe in the Real Presence in the Eucharist, but I'm not sure if I would fit in there either. Thanks for any information you can give me. I really want to find a church home.

 

[Albion]

It's tough to give a hard and fast answer to a question like yours for the reason that the theology, etc. of every church is very complicated and there are some issues which are required under some specific penalty for non-compliance while others are merely expected of the members and yet others considered optional--so long as you don't dissent too loudly. You see what I mean.

Yet I think your discussion of things suggests that Anglicanism would be a "good fit" (if we can put it that way) for you and better than the other two you mentioned or any other church. We have our factions, you know, and one Anglican church may worship somewhat differently from the next one, but nothing you said you are supportive of is foreign to Anglicanism. There's nothing, IOW, that would rule out Anglicanism from what you told us.

Lutheranism could be seen as somewhat between Catholic and Protestant (although they were the original Protestants!) in the sense that they are not anti-liturgical, do believe in the Real Presence unlike Baptists, etc. BUT Lutherans are also known to draw that line in the sand, not much different from Catholics, when it comes to what doctrines are expected of the faithful. You do seem to want less of that kind of thing, and Anglicanism is indeed more open to a range of beliefs and practice than either the Catholics or the Lutherans.

 

[AngCath]

I'd say the best first step would be to look into parishes in your area and consider visiting them and talking to the priests.
You won't know for sure until you actually experience it, but it sounds like Anglicanism (which is, essentially, English Reformed Catholicism) would be a good place for you to explore these questions... you may even find a wonderful new church family.

 

[scotsdoc54]

Hi,
I posted earlier on the chapel board, but I think I should have posted here instead. Anyway, I'm here because I could really use some help. I don't know much about the Anglican Church. I am a Protestant who grew up in an evangelical church. Now that I'm older, my beliefs have changed in some ways. I seem to be a weird mix between Catholic and Protestant. There are things I love about both.

I have been seriously considering becoming Catholic, but there are a few problems. Although I agree with the Catholic Church on most things, I don't agree with them on ALL things. I've been told that I need to agree on everything the church teaches to be Catholic. I know most Catholics don't agree with all the church teaches, but I've been told that I would need to state that I agree on everything in order to convert. I can't honestly do that, because I disagree with their stand on birth control, I don't like how "political" the Church has become in the U.S., I don't believe the Church has the right to tell people who to vote for, and I don't believe that God would send anyone to hell for missing one mass.

However, I do believe in the Real Presence in the Eucharist and the Communion of Saints. I love the liturgy, Mary, the rosary, the reverential form of worship, and many other things.

I seem to be caught between a rock and a hard place so to speak. I don't feel either Catholic or Protestant -- I feel both. So, my question is, would the Anglican Church perhaps be a good fit for me, and if not does anyone have any suggestions as to a church home for someone in my situation? I've posted on the Lutheran boards as well, because I know that most Lutherans believe in the Real Presence in the Eucharist, but I'm not sure if I would fit in there either. Thanks for any information you can give me. I really want to find a church home.

You sound just like me actually. I have a soft place in my heart for all those things you listed, and I have found a great home in the Anglican Communion (the Episcopal Church for me) after seriously considering the RC church. You'll find Anglicans come in all stripes, from those who use incense and pray the rosary to those who use as little formality as possible within a liturgy. Most churches are in the middle and most folks have a variety of beliefs/practices within a parish. I do encourage you to speak to priests at your local parish(es) though. You can search for the best fit intellectually all you want, but you need to experience the church itself to find out if it is right for you. Take it from me, I've experienced it myself.

 

[tinythinker]

You sound just like me actually. I have a soft place in my heart for all those things you listed, and I have found a great home in the Anglican Communion (the Episcopal Church for me) after seriously considering the RC church. You'll find Anglicans come in all stripes, from those who use incense and pray the rosary to those who use as little formality as possible within a liturgy. Most churches are in the middle and most folks have a variety of beliefs/practices within a parish. I do encourage you to speak to priests at your local parish(es) though. You can search for the best fit intellectually all you want, but you need to experience the church itself to find out if it is right for you. Take it from me, I've experienced it myself.

So does anyone know of any groups (informal or otherwise) in the Anglican Communion for such like-minded people to share and encourage each other or it is it more like "Well, if it floats your boat do what you like on your own time"...?

 

[boswd]

Hi,
I posted earlier on the chapel board, but I think I should have posted here instead. Anyway, I'm here because I could really use some help. I don't know much about the Anglican Church. I am a Protestant who grew up in an evangelical church. Now that I'm older, my beliefs have changed in some ways. I seem to be a weird mix between Catholic and Protestant. There are things I love about both.

I have been seriously considering becoming Catholic, but there are a few problems. Although I agree with the Catholic Church on most things, I don't agree with them on ALL things. I've been told that I need to agree on everything the church teaches to be Catholic. I know most Catholics don't agree with all the church teaches, but I've been told that I would need to state that I agree on everything in order to convert. I can't honestly do that, because I disagree with their stand on birth control, I don't like how "political" the Church has become in the U.S., I don't believe the Church has the right to tell people who to vote for, and I don't believe that God would send anyone to hell for missing one mass.

However, I do believe in the Real Presence in the Eucharist and the Communion of Saints. I love the liturgy, Mary, the rosary, the reverential form of worship, and many other things.

I seem to be caught between a rock and a hard place so to speak. I don't feel either Catholic or Protestant -- I feel both. So, my question is, would the Anglican Church perhaps be a good fit for me, and if not does anyone have any suggestions as to a church home for someone in my situation? I've posted on the Lutheran boards as well, because I know that most Lutherans believe in the Real Presence in the Eucharist, but I'm not sure if I would fit in there either. Thanks for any information you can give me. I really want to find a church home.

I would look to see if there is a Anglo Catholic Church in your area. I think you'll find alot of what you are looking for especially in the veneration of Mary and the Rosary.
An Anglo Catholic Church retains much of the theology of the Catholic Church but without some of the issues you seem to have.
Hopefully some will chime in here where they could explain it much better than I could of course.
But just from the surface that sounds like a perfect fit for you

or a High Episcopal Church .

 

[mark46]

Yes, the Anglican Church seems a reasonable place for you to visit. It is in fact the "via media" (middle way) between Catholics and Protestestants. Since the Anglican Church has open communion for all baptised Christians, you should have no barriers in visiting Anglican churches. You might visit the websites of churches before coming. There are certainly many parishes (or services within a parish) that are more Catholic in form than the Catholic Church itself.

You don't say what country you are from or what area. There is a tremedous variety in the Anglican dioceses. You might find some of their theological approaches very different from each other. I have certainly found this to be the case.

Hi,
I posted earlier on the chapel board, but I think I should have posted here instead. Anyway, I'm here because I could really use some help. I don't know much about the Anglican Church. I am a Protestant who grew up in an evangelical church. Now that I'm older, my beliefs have changed in some ways. I seem to be a weird mix between Catholic and Protestant. There are things I love about both.

I have been seriously considering becoming Catholic, but there are a few problems. Although I agree with the Catholic Church on most things, I don't agree with them on ALL things. I've been told that I need to agree on everything the church teaches to be Catholic. I know most Catholics don't agree with all the church teaches, but I've been told that I would need to state that I agree on everything in order to convert. I can't honestly do that, because I disagree with their stand on birth control, I don't like how "political" the Church has become in the U.S., I don't believe the Church has the right to tell people who to vote for, and I don't believe that God would send anyone to hell for missing one mass.

However, I do believe in the Real Presence in the Eucharist and the Communion of Saints. I love the liturgy, Mary, the rosary, the reverential form of worship, and many other things.

I seem to be caught between a rock and a hard place so to speak. I don't feel either Catholic or Protestant -- I feel both. So, my question is, would the Anglican Church perhaps be a good fit for me, and if not does anyone have any suggestions as to a church home for someone in my situation? I've posted on the Lutheran boards as well, because I know that most Lutherans believe in the Real Presence in the Eucharist, but I'm not sure if I would fit in there either. Thanks for any information you can give me. I really want to find a church home.

 

[Albion]

So does anyone know of any groups (informal or otherwise) in the Anglican Communion for such like-minded people to share and encourage each other or it is it more like "Well, if it floats your boat do what you like on your own time"...?

Honestly, it's more the latter than the former. There are, of course, a variety of special interest organizations within the Anglican fold, some promoting Catholic-style devotions, some for charismatics, or some functioning mainly as pressure groups or lobbying organizations within the national church body and trying to keep its official policies one way or the other, etc. Most of those are structured on a national, not a local, basis.

Unless you are particularly concerned about some special issue, you'll find your niche--the 'like-minded people'--by joining the appropriate congregation/parish OR one of the smaller independent Anglican churches not affiliated with The Episcopal Church. In either case, they vary from Evangelical Protestant all the way to Anglo-Catholic.

But there is another way of looking at it, too. For most Anglicans, it's no particular problem to worship alongside other Anglicans who personally have quite different views of many of these things. I know some who are not too fond of statues, crucifixes, and the priest engaging a lof of postures and gestures who happily belong to the same parish as people who say the rosary, pray to the saints, and favor as much pageantry as possible.

Because you aren't the author of the OP, we don't have much to draw from when answering your question....so this is a general answer. If we had more specific wants, likes, and dislikes to work from, it might be possible that we could pinpoint things and give more precise "directions."