Celebrate Anglicanism

Praise reports for Celebrate Anglicanism

Celebrate Anglicanism is a solid and clear way to understand who we are, where we came from, and where we are headed. It is well written; it is a true trajectory; it is a clear and helpful way to understand all the way Our Lord has led us in the church and for the world. Take part in it. Enjoy it, Celebrate Anglicanism!

Rt. Rev. Dr. Terence Kelshaw

Theologian, Author, Lecturer,

Trustee Emeritus and Former Professor,

Trinity School for Ministry.

There is an astonishing ignorance among church people about the origins, character and history of this worldwide (Anglican) Communion. This book is a much needed, well-written, accessible and healthy corrective to the idea that the Anglican Church in North America is a mere breakaway from the Episcopal Church. It is not a schism but a new Reformation, and takes us back to the Christianity of the New Testament. It’s a faith to celebrate!

Rev. Canon Dr. Michael Green

World Renowned Evangelist

Senior Research Fellow

Wycliffe Hall, Oxford University

It is important for lay people to contribute to the Church’s understanding of its faith. Bud Davis has done this well and has shown how Anglicanism can claim to be an authentic strand of apostolic faith given to us by a merciful and over-ruling providence. There is a good description of Anglican belief and devotion which will, undoubtedly, be a suitable introduction to those newly at church or those who are considering joining.

Bishop Michael Nazir-Ali

Eminent Church of England Cleric

President of the Oxford Centre for Training,

Advocacy, Research and Dialogue

A concise, readable and excellent introduction to Anglicanism as we experience it in America - this will be very helpful to many being drawn into the Anglican way of following Jesus.

The Rev. Dr. John W. Yates, II

Rector, The Falls Church Anglican

Falls Church, Virginia

In the past ten years the entire face of Anglicanism in North America has changed, going from an established church of older members to a younger thriving church with a membership spanning all ages. With that change has come a need to educate those who are new to the Anglican expression of the Christian faith along with the necessity for a book that is up to the task. Dr. Davis has provided such a useful resource. Celebrate Anglicanism is a user-friendly introduction to Anglicanism that avoids non-essentials and hits the mark on the essentials of the faith. Geared toward group use this book is an invaluable asset to the task of catechizing youth and young adults in the particularities of Anglicanism. I highly recommend this book!

Rev. Dr. Greg Peters

Associate Professor of Medieval and Spiritual Theology

Torrey Honors Institute

Biola University

Celebrate Anglicanism

The Faith That Anglicans Have Always Believed, Taught, and Practiced

Becoming a Fisher of Men

Second Edition

Anglican House Publishers

This book is published by Anglican House Publishers.

You may contact us at www.ahpub.org.

Text editing by Katy Laundrie

Cover design and layout by Margie Hunter

ISBN-13: 978-0-9860441-1-3

© 2012 and 2014 by Bud Davis

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying and recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher.

This work is fully protected under the copyright laws of the United States, Canada, the U.K., and approximately 90 other countries.

Scripture quotations are from The Holy Bible, New International Version, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

Additional Scripture quotations are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version® (ESV®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Additional Scripture quotations taken from The Message. Copyright © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002. Used by permission of NavPress Publishing Group.

Printed by ASIA PRINGING CO., LTD, Seoul, Korea

To Carol, the love of my life

Without her assistance, patience, dedication, and help

with editing, this work would not have been possible.

Table of Contents

About the Author

Bud Davis, PhD, is an Anglican layman and educator. Born in Detroit, Michigan, and raised in the small town of Belleville, he attended Trinity Episcopal Mission where he was confirmed at the age of 12. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree at Michigan’s Ferris State University, majoring in mathematics and chemistry. He and his wife Carol, with their first child, Charlie, moved to Southern California in 1968 where Bud began his career in education. He taught high school math and science for five years before moving into administration. He rose through the ranks as Dean of Students, Assistant Principal, Principal, Assistant Superintendent and, finally, Superintendent of Schools.

During his tenure as an educator, Davis attended California State University, Fullerton, where he earned a Master of Science degree in Educational Administration. He continued his education at United States International University in San Diego, earning the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Human Behavior.

Bud and Carol’s family grew to three children—two sons, Charlie and Jeff, and daughter Kristen. He and Carol now have six wonderful grandchildren.

Bud Davis is currently an instructor at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), where he teaches credential classes for Career and Technical Education teachers and serves as an academic coordinator for that division.

Dr. Davis is a member of the Executive Committee of the Diocese of Western Anglicans. He and his wife, Carol, are members of Saint James Anglican Church in Newport Beach, California, where he currently serves on the Vestry and the Finance Committee. He was chairperson of the St. James Rector Search Committee. Bud and Carol are active in prayer ministry and have been leaders in the Marriage Encounter, Anglican Faith Alive, Alpha, Life in the Spirit, and Cursillo programs.

Forward

Celebrate Anglicanism is an extremely accessible introduction to Anglicanism — and in particular to its North American expression. For any who want to understand the basics of Christian Faith and the way that Faith has come to be handed on by those who would describe themselves as Anglican Christians this book covers all the basics.

Celebrate Anglicanism is written by a layman for the laity of the Anglican Chruch. The book is for those who are curious, who want to learn, who need basic knowledge. It is for ordinary Christians and those who are considering claiming their vocations as laymen and women in the world. The book is an invitation to becoming a disciple, and being informed enough to invite others into following Christ as committed and informed Anglicans.

Celebrate Anglicanism is divided into seven chapters. It encourages use by groups — classes — where together inquirers can discover the treasure that is the Christian Faith in the Anglican Way. There are lots of questions to connect what is being learned to personal reflection or group discussion. The appendices offer everything from the classic creeds to a Church Constitution to contemporary statements from global gatherings.

Celebrate Anglicanism is particularly useful in describing the way in which historic and global Anglicanism has been recovered and renewed in the Anglican Church in North America. Indeed, the book helps one understand how the emergence of the Anglican Church in North America is the fruit of a world-wide Reformation of Anglicanism. Among the stories that are told is how the Global Anglican Future Conference of 2008 called for the foundation of the Anglican Church in North America as part of the re-centering of world-wide Anglicanism on the Faith once for all delivered to the saints. The second Global Anglican Future Conference has met (2013) where the North American Province took its place as part of the great missionary movement, which is 21st century orthodox Anglicanism.

As one whose ministry has been concerned to offer the fullness of Anglicanism as a very reliable way to invite, form, disciple and deploy committed Christians, I commend Celebrate Anglicanism to those who are looking for new life in Christ, and to those who are charged with preparing souls for such a life in the Anglican Way.

The Most Reverend Robert Duncan, D.D.

Archbishop of the Anglican Church in North America

Bishop of the Anglican Diocese of Pittsburgh

Preface

Celebrate Anglicanism addresses what I believe to be two of the most pressing questions facing the Anglican Church in North America.

First, what does it mean to be an Anglican? Most Anglicans in the United States are relatively new to the Anglican Church in North America. Even those who had been longtime members of the Episcopal Church have had little or no teaching about Anglicanism. A need exists, then, to establish a foundation for what it means to be an Anglican.

Second, what do I personally love about the Anglican Church? If we are to be successful church planters and to increase membership in our local parishes, we must all be able to tell our friends, neighbors, family, and coworkers what we personally love about the Anglican Church. Every member of every parish must be able to respond easily and comfortably to both questions.

Our journey will prepare us to Celebrate Anglicanism as we learn about:

• What it means to be an Anglican

• Basics of Apostolic Christianity

• Historical development of the Anglican Church

• Anglican doctrine, beliefs, and traditions

• Anglican liturgy

• The Anglican Communion

• The role of the laity in the Anglican Church

• The Jerusalem Declaration

Notice that Session One is rather long compared to the rest of the sessions. It is the longest session as it covers essential information about Apostolic Christianity as received from the apostles. It is important for all of us to understand the basics of Apostolic Christianity and the fundamentals of the orthodox