Questions About Anglicanism

[Pádraigín Ní Saorlaith]

I've had an interest in the Anglican Tradition for a while. I have a few questions, most of which have to do with the ACNA.

First, aside from having a stronger position on not ordaining women and breaking away from the Episcopal Church at a different time, I’m a little fuzzy on what makes the Continuing Anglican movement distinct from the ACNA. I’d look this up myself, but I’m having a hard time finding a website for any dioceses in my area. Are there any other differences? What ought I know?

Second, I experience bisexuality (or SSA, whatever you want to call it), but I’m also Side B. This means that while I am attracted to men and women, I do not intend to pursue romantic/sexual relationships with other women. Even so, I’m concerned about how different Anglican churches (particularly those with a more theologically conservative bend) respond to Christians who deal with same-sex desires.
I understand that the ACNA does not affirm same-sex unions. But what do they believe a lesbian, gay, or bisexual person ought to do about their same sex desires? Are they officially Side B, like the Catholic Church? Are they proponents of the ex-gay movement? Do they have an official position? Does it vary from church to church? I could not find anything about it on their website.
Third, as a non-Anglican who believes in the Real Presence, am I allowed to take communion in Episcopal, ACNA, or Continuing Anglican churches? I also understand there is a lot of tension between the Episcopal Church and the ACNA. If I joined one, would I not be allowed to take communion in the other?

(As an aside, I’m not here to argue about why I am Side B and not Side A—that is, affirming of same-sex relationships—or ex-gay. I’m also not here to argue about why I chose to use the term “bisexuality” in this post instead of just “same-sex attraction” or “SSA”. If someone wants to send me a personal message about all of this so that we can discuss it further, they are free to, so long as they are polite about it, but as for this thread, I am just trying to get a better understanding of Anglican doctrine and viewpoints.)

 

[HTacianas]

I've had an interest in the Anglican Tradition for a while. I have a few questions, most of which have to do with the ACNA.

First, aside from having a stronger position on not ordaining women and breaking away from the Episcopal Church at a different time, I’m a little fuzzy on what makes the Continuing Anglican movement distinct from the ACNA. I’d look this up myself, but I’m having a hard time finding a website for any dioceses in my area. Are there any other differences? What ought I know?

Second, I experience bisexuality (or SSA, whatever you want to call it), but I’m also Side B. This means that while I am attracted to men and women, I do not intend to pursue romantic/sexual relationships with other women. Even so, I’m concerned about how different Anglican churches (particularly those with a more theologically conservative bend) respond to Christians who deal with same-sex desires.
I understand that the ACNA does not affirm same-sex unions. But what do they believe a lesbian, gay, or bisexual person ought to do about their same sex desires? Are they officially Side B, like the Catholic Church? Are they proponents of the ex-gay movement? Do they have an official position? Does it vary from church to church? I could not find anything about it on their website.
Third, as a non-Anglican who believes in the Real Presence, am I allowed to take communion in Episcopal, ACNA, or Continuing Anglican churches? I also understand there is a lot of tension between the Episcopal Church and the ACNA. If I joined one, would I not be allowed to take communion in the other?

(As an aside, I’m not here to argue about why I am Side B and not Side A—that is, affirming of same-sex relationships—or ex-gay. I’m also not here to argue about why I chose to use the term “bisexuality” in this post instead of just “same-sex attraction” or “SSA”. If someone wants to send me a personal message about all of this so that we can discuss it further, they are free to, so long as they are polite about it, but as for this thread, I am just trying to get a better understanding of Anglican doctrine and viewpoints.)

@Albion might be able to help. He'll be along shortly.

 

[Anthony2019]

I'm a practicing Christian and an Anglican, and belong to the Church of England. I'm sorry but I don't know much about the ACNA and how it differs from the Episcopal church, but my understanding is that the Episcopal Church is very similar to others in the Anglican Communion such as the CofE.

In my experience, the Anglican church has theologically been very diverse. In my church there a people with a wide range of views on different subjects, but we respect each others differences and place an emphasis on including and support everyone whatever their backgrounds, their views, and stage in their Christian faith. For instance, I tend to lean towards traditional Anglican beliefs such as the creeds, real presence in the Eucharist, prima scriptura, adult and infant baptism. I tend to have fairly liberal positions on subjects such as the ordination of women, human sexuality, and baptised Christians of other denominations taking communion in the church and am comfortable with liturgical and non-liturgical forms of worship. We don't always agree on every point, but we continue to support and love one another in Christ.

I hope you will find a church that will welcome you just as you are, and that you will feel at home, whatever your theological position and whatever your personal experiences in your journey of faith.

 

[PloverWing]

I'll address the part of your question that's relevant to TEC, the question about communion: All baptized Christians are welcome to take communion in our church. This includes members of the ACNA and other non-TEC Anglican churches. It also includes Presbyterians, Methodists, Baptists, and so on. Catholics are welcome too, although they may have reservations of conscience because of their church's teachings, and we respect that. You do not have to believe in the Real Presence to receive communion. You may believe that TEC is completely wrong about women's ordination and same-sex marriage and inerrancy of the Bible, and still receive communion in our church.

 

[Albion]

Hi, R. Genevieve

...and thank you to HTacianas.

The Continuing Anglican movement came along first and produced a number of separate Anglican church bodies. You can get a good overview by checking into the Wikipedia entry entitled Continuing Anglican movement. This should also lead you to listings for each jurisdictions local parishes and missions.

There is a tendency for newer, shirt-tale churches that are not Continuing Anglican to identify themselves as Continuing Anglican, but if you go by the list given on the Wikipedia page you will be well-served.

By definition, the C.A. churches meant to continue the line of Anglican bishops and the faith of historic Anglicanism and, in particular, reject the new positions taken by the Episcopal Church USA and the Anglican Church of Canada with regard to the following: ordaining women to the priesthood and replacing the historic Book of Common Prayer. Those two churches did both of those towards the end of the last century.

The Anglican Church in North America (ACNA), was formed later, only around 2009. Its people were able to tolerate everything that the Continuers would not accept from ECUSA and the ACofC. However, they would not accept the change that came from those two churches a generation or so after the start of the Continuing Anglican movement. I am referring the acceptance of homosexual clergy and, ultimately, the homosexual lifestyle and s-s marriage.

ACNA, therefore, has women clergy, some new prayerbooks, describes itself as a charismatic (three streams) church, gets involved with political issues (which the Continuers avoid), has negotiated compacts with non-Anglican churches, and is, more or less, the clone of the Episcopal Church except for the homosexual issue.

As for your specific questions…

But what do they believe a lesbian, gay, or bisexual person ought to do about their same sex desires? Are they officially Side B, like the Catholic Church? Are they proponents of the ex-gay movement? Do they have an official position?

All these churches find homosexual relations to be sinful, just the same as adultery or fornication among heterosexuals. However, they do not bar homosexual persons from membership.

Third, as a non-Anglican who believes in the Real Presence, am I allowed to take communion in Episcopal, ACNA, or Continuing Anglican churches?

Generally speaking, yes--in all cases.

However, there are a couple of Continuing Anglican churches which would not approve, the Anglican Catholic Church, for one.

I also understand there is a lot of tension between the Episcopal Church and the ACNA. If I joined one, would I not be allowed to take communion in the other?

You would be allowed.

Does it vary from church to church? I could not find anything about it on their website.

That would be rare.

 

[Shane R]

Unfortunately, there are seldom one size fits all answers for any Anglican jurisdiction. I will refrain from saying much about ACNA except that there are some vocal promoters of ex-gay therapy in that body and there are many who take a "don't ask, don't tell" approach and there are even other views of the question.

In the continuing churches, you will find that most opinions are well over on the conservative side of the spectrum. There are, again, promoters of ex-gay therapy. Then, there are some far-right folk who, in private conversation, might suggest it wouldn't be the worst thing in the world for homosexuality to be a capital offense (these are the type of folks who constantly rant about 'Sodomites'.) There are some who refuse to acknowledge that bisexuality is even real: for them there's only gay and straight (they also tend to struggle with asexuality.)

In summary, you have to poke around and see what your local affiliated congregation is like in any Anglican body. You might have an unpleasant or uncomfortable experience along the way. But a colleague of mine summed up the position of my parish as we were counseling a bisexual male a few weeks ago. He said, "We're going to let you work through things for yourself [which is not entirely the same as by yourself or on your own - we will continue to listen to him and advise when he wishes to talk] and trust in the aid of the Holy Spirit."