why does the priest do this?

[JustAnglican]

I'm sure that's true. My feeling--and that's all it is--is that there is a general trend affecting most denominations to "modernize" and remain "relevant," etc. and that this manifests itself in different ways. For the more ceremonially-minded, it often means "contemporary" hymns and vestments and experimental liturgies, but for those churches that were less ceremonial to begin with, it becomes something that is barely identifiable as liturgical (more like a Presbyterian church, for instance).

On another note Albion: I find it interesting that most Anglicans here in South Africa are not even aware of the existence of CESA.

I just found myself there because I had lied to my husband and said I was going to our then pentecostal church. After a decade of flirting with pentecostalism, I was feeling drained and empty inside. "On my way" to the pentecostal church " I happened" to see a board pointing toward CESA and "I decided to get inside out of curiosity". The real story is that I was secretly looking for an Anglican church and I assumed when I saw CESA that it was the same thing.

I believe they've changed their name now completely?

 

[Albion]

Isn't this common in most liturgical Churches?

No, it's not.

 

[Albion]

On another note Albion: I find it interesting that most Anglicans here in South Africa are not even aware of the existence of CESA.

I believe you, but what does that say about "most Anglicans here in South Africa?"

Far away in North America, I know of CESA, for instance; and there's nothing hidebound about a church that was the original Anglican church in S.A., has a membership of 200,000, and has relationships with other Anglican churches around the world.

I believe they've changed their name now completely?

I believe that's so. It must have been quite recent. The name , or alternate name, seems now to be Reformed Evangelical Anglican Church or something like that, for which the acronym spells out REACH. The church in Namibia has followed suit, I believe also. Why not take a look at their website and see what you find--just out of curiosity?

 

[PurpleRabbit187]

On another note Albion: I find it interesting that most Anglicans here in South Africa are not even aware of the existence of CESA.

Hi JustAnglican, I can't tell you how I'm so happy to see another South African on this forum. I remember telling the same thing to Albion in another discussion, I didn't even know about them till he mentioned them. I've read about their practices and I would assume they have just strayed too far from traditional Anglicanism, the one we're all so familiar with in SA.

 

[PurpleRabbit187]

I believe you, but what does that say about "most Anglicans here in South Africa?"

Far away in North America, I know of CESA, for instance; and there's nothing hidebound about a church that was the original Anglican church in S.A., has a membership of 200,000, and has relationships with other Anglican churches around the world.

Albion why do you think the CESA is the oldest Anglican church in SA? I would argue that the sort of Anglicanism the British brought to our shores were very traditional(our old prayer books reflect this) and not with the extreme reformed bent you see in the CESA. The internet is a wide place and does not always reflect whats on the ground

 

[Albion]

Hi JustAnglican, I can't tell you how I'm so happy to see another South African on this forum. I remember telling the same thing to Albion in another discussion, I didn't even know about them till he mentioned them. I've read about their practices and I would assume they have just strayed too far from traditional Anglicanism, the one we're all so familiar with in SA.

Folks, here's a webpage that might interest you (including the link to the homepage of "REACH"). It will probably answer a lot of your questions.

 

[Yardstick]

You seem to have forgotten to include the link, Albion.

 

[Albion]

You seem to have forgotten to include the link, Albion.

Yipes. Thank you for mentioning it. I don't know how that happened.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Church_of_England_in_South_Africa

 

[Decanus]

I stumbled upon this thread mea culpa, mea culpa, mea maxima culpa

 

[PurpleRabbit187]

I have looked on their website, one of their churches (which I'm not going to mention) I am familiar with....(sigh)where do I start?

This church is known for incorporating 'messianic' customs in order to attract jewish converts. It's menorah is bigger than its cross (just some feeble wood nailed together). I have heard its 'priest' speak on numerous on a local christian station on a hebrew roots program. I remember after we, several christians and clergy, all marched in support for the Palestinians being slaughtered by Israel, this priest had the nerve to say we christians who support the Palestinian cause ' should be ashamed of ourselves'...according to him the only reason why were are against Israel's policies is out of 'pure jealousy for the jewish people'.