The Future of Orthodox Anglicanism

by Gerald R McDermott

Overview

Anglicanism is currently the fastest-growing Christian communion in the world. Evangelicals hungry for connection to the early church's mystery, sacraments, and liturgy are being drawn to this historic denomination. But what sets today's Anglicanism apart from its own history as well as that of other Christian denominations? Eleven essays by prominent Anglican scholars and leaders representing diverse perspectives from East Africa, North Africa, and North America explore the rich legacy of the Anglican Church-grounding readers in the past in preparation for the future.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781433581359
Publisher:	Good News Publishers
Publication date:	02/25/2020
Pages:	288
Product dimensions:	5.50(w) x 8.50(h) x 0.72(d)

About the Author

Gerald R. McDermott (PhD, University of Iowa) is a renowned Jonathan Edwards scholar and an Anglican priest. He served as the Anglican Chair of Divinity at Beeson Divinity School and is the author and editor of more than twenty books.

Gerald Bray (DLitt, University of Paris-Sorbonne) is research professor at Beeson Divinity School and director of research for the Latimer Trust. He is a prolific writer and has authored or edited numerous books, including The Doctrine of God; Biblical Interpretation; God Is Love; and God Has Spoken.

John Yates III (PhD, Cambridge University; MDiv, Trinity School for Ministry) serves as rector of Holy Trinity Anglican Church in Raleigh, North Carolina. He is the author of The Spirit and Creation in Paul and has contributed to various edited volumes and periodicals.

Timothy George (ThD, Harvard University) is the founding dean of Samford University’s Beeson Divinity School, where he teaches theology and church history. He serves as general editor for Reformation Commentary on Scripture and has written more than twenty books. His textbook Theology of the Reformers is the standard textbook on Reformation theology in many schools and seminaries.

Foley Beach (DMin, Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary) is the Archbishop of the Anglican Church in North America (ACNA). He is also the Bishop of the Anglican Diocese of the South, located in a suburb of Atlanta, Georgia. In 2018, he was elected to Chair the Primates Council of the Global Anglican Future Conference.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments 11

Abbreviations 12

Introduction: Why This Book? Gerald R. McDermott 13

Part 1 Regional Perspectives on Anglicanism

1 An East African Perspective: What Does the Lord Require of Anglicans? Eliud Wabukala 23

2 A Middle Eastern Perspective: Rooted in Egyptian Soil Mouneer Hanna Anis 33

3 A Canadian Perspective: Process, Providence, and Anglican Identity Ephraim Radner 60

4 A North American Perspective: Neo-pagan Anglicanism Foley Beach 81

Response to the Regional Perspectives Stephen F. Noll 103

Part 2 Vocational Perspectives on Anglicanism

5 A Rector and Scholar: Out Anglican Essentials John W. Yates III 111

6 A Journalist and Theologian: Reformed Catholicism Barbara Gauthier 130

7 An Anglican Historian and Theologian: A Church in Search of Its Soul Gerald Bray 153

Response to the Vocational Perspectives Chandler Holder Jones 174

Part 3 Ecclesiastical Perspectives on Anglicanism

8 An Episcopal Dean: Renewed Anglicanism Andrew C. Pearson Jr. 181

9 An Anglican Theologian: An Ancient-Future Anglicanism Gerald R. McDermott 196

10 A Baptist Theologian: Reflections on Anglicanism Timothy George 227

11 A Catholic Theologian: Reflections on Anglicanism R. R. Reno 246

Response to the Ecclesiastical Perspectives Ray R. Sutton 253

Conclusion: Where Is Orthodox Anglicanism Headed? Gerald R. McDermott 259

Contributors 264

General Index 267

Scripture Index 279

What People are Saying About This

From the Publisher

“To be Anglican does not mean being part of a church created solely to sort out Henry VIII’s marital strife and procreative problem. To be Anglican does not mean to be white and vaguely religious. To be Anglican is not about trying to solve tense theological debates in ways that please no one and fail to address the underlying problem but will have to suffice for now. Rather, this courageous volume, ably edited by Gerald McDermott, shows that being Anglican is really about being part of the one, holy, catholic, and apostolic church. Anglicanism at its best is the marriage of the church’s ancient catholic faith with the recovery of the apostolic gospel from the English Reformation. But the question is this: what will this kind of Anglicanism look like in the future? This international lineup of contributors outlines the current state of orthodox Anglicanism in its various provinces, the challenges facing Anglicanism in its various centers, and what might be the future of global Anglicanism. A fascinating read about a future fraught with challenges and buoyed by hopes.”
—Michael F. Bird, Academic Dean and Lecturer in New Testament, Ridley College, Melbourne

“Whatever the future of orthodox Anglicanism may look like, it seems safe to suggest that it will not be monolithic. The essays in this book discuss not just the future of orthodox Anglicanism but also its identity, and on both topics the authors arrive at varying and, at times, disparate conclusions. United in opposition to what Archbishop Foley Beach calls ‘neo-pagan’ Anglicanism, these authors represent a broad range of traditional Anglicanism. Warm kudos to Gerald McDermott for skillfully bringing together these insightful essays from across orthodox Anglicanism.”
—Hans Boersma, Chair, Order of St. Benedict Servants of Christ Endowed Professorship in Ascetical Theology, Nashotah House Theological Seminary

“In The Future of Orthodox Anglicanism you will hear scholarly voices, perspectives from the majority world, viewpoints from ministry practitioners, and encouragement from leaders of other denominations, spoken with great conviction of the gift that Anglicanism is to the worldwide church. The writers’ historical reflection and engagement with contemporary concerns serve up a feast for those new to Anglican life and for those of us who love the old ship despite its barnacles.”
—Rhys Bezzant, Lecturer in Christian Thought, Ridley College, Melbourne; author, Jonathan Edwards and the Church and Edwards the Mentor

“Gerald McDermott has brought together eleven essays and three responses by bishops, theologians, and church leaders from around the world, including two non-Anglicans. This varied collection provides valuable historical perspectives as well as an interesting range of opinions on the current faith and practice of the Anglican Church, coming as they do from different backgrounds, with different perspectives on the Anglican Church today and different outlooks on the future of Anglicanism. A sharp warning of the potentially suicidal effects of ‘neo-pagan Anglicanism,’ coupled with hopeful views from African contributors, leads McDermott to conclude that the orthodox Anglican future ‘will be mostly nonwhite, led by the Global South, and devoted to Scripture.’ While a book this size cannot address all major areas of contention and new developments in the global Anglican Church today, this helpful volume should provoke further thought and discussion about a subject that needs urgent prayer and active response: the future of orthodox Anglicanism.”
—B. A. Kwashi, Bishop of Jos, Nigeria