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Anglican Church in North America -- A review of its Catechism

Anglican Church in North America -- A review of its Catechism

By The Venerable Norman Russell
www.virtueonline.org
Nov 6, 2014

To Be A Christian -- An Anglican Catechism, Anglican House Publishers, Newport Beach, California, 2013/4 -- ISBN 978-0-9860441-2-0

The new catechism of the Anglican Church in North America has yet to be discovered as a rich resource for Christian formation and devotion by members of the Church of England. I have not seen it in any of our Christian bookshops, nor have I seen it reviewed in the church press, but it is obtainable on Amazon for about £10.

It is beautifully produced in bonded leather and for many is likely to become a treasured accompaniment to a much loved bible and maybe a prayer book.

The catechism however has emphatically not been produced as a coffee table adornment for a Christian home.

It is offered as an accessible working book to enable Christians to grow into a maturity of faith and understanding which will be life sustaining.

Although compiled by a working group appointed within the Anglican Church of North America, English Readers will be interested to know that the Rev. Dr J.I. Packer was a significant member of the group and has written the introduction.

In content and doctrine, the catechism contains a clear statement of Prayer Book Anglicanism in terms which can be easily embraced by evangelical and catholic Anglicans alike.

There is a clear and classically Anglican commitment to be faithful to the teaching and practice of the undivided church of the early Christian centuries.

Dr. Packer writes of the drafting guidelines: "Everything taught should be compatible with, and acceptable to, all recognised schools of Anglican thought, so that all may be able confidently to use all the material.

"Everything taught should be expressed as briefly as possible, in terms that are clear and correspond to today's use of language.

"All the answers and questions should be as easy to explain and to remember as possible."

The form of the text follows historic catechetical practice by adopting a question and answer form which is clearly set out and easy to read.

It also follows the classical model by using the Apostles' Creed, the Lord's Prayer and the Ten Commandments as the structure around which the Christian faith is set out and explained.

Where it breaks new ground is by preceding that with a very clear section explaining the Gospel which can be used with enquirers.

The catechism is therefore intended to be both missional and a helpful manual as Dr Packer puts it "for all Christians seeking deeper grounding in the full reality of Christian faith and life".

It also sets out the practical implications of each section of teaching with appropriate biblical references.

The compilers have indicated that they are working on notes to accompany the catechism in the future which they hope will be helpful to catechists.
There are several appendices.

The first is a well chosen selection of relevant prayers, effectively Prayer Book collects in good up to date English.

The second is a short Rite for the Admission of Catechumens which emphasises our need of God's grace "found in Word and Sacrament" at which those being received as catechumens are anointed with oil.

There is no attempt to "modernise" Christian teaching. The compilers are clear that they are seeking to set out "the faith once delivered to the saints" and, in the view of this reviewer, they do so with a combination of that nuanced restraint and faithfulness to scripture with which we are familiar in the Book of Common Prayer.

Marriage continues to be between "a man and a woman" and the Virgin Birth of Our Lord, His Resurrection, Ascension and Return as Judge of the Living and the Dead are all affirmed as set out in the New Testament and the Creeds. Discussion, for example, of the nature of Christ's Resurrection Body does not go beyond what is said in scripture and the historic creeds.

That and other entirely proper discussion is left to those working through the material with catechumens.

For those who seek to be faithful to our biblical and Anglican inheritance and are weary of quick fix and trivialised religion, this catechism will be a joy for personal refreshment in the great truths of the faith as well as a challenge to its personal implementation in our lives. For clergy and others who seek to teach a rounded and coherent version of the Christian faith which will be life sustaining among the pressures of today's world, this catechism is nothing less than a Godsend with potential for use in every parish.

Here we have not only Alpha, but Beta, Gamma and Delta with huge potential for the renewal of the church. I commend it warmly.

The Venerable Norman Russell, Prolocutor of the House of Clergy of Canterbury Province at General Synod 2005-2010

A typical extract from the ACNA Catechism -- from the section on The Lord's Prayer

What is the Third Petition

The Third Petition is: "Thy will be done in earth as it is in heaven."

How is God's will accomplished in heaven?

The heavenly company of angels and perfected believers responds to God in perfect, willing obedience, and perfect worship. (Psalms 103:20; 104:4; 148:2)

Where can we find God's will?

I find the will of God outlined in the Ten Commandments, learn its fullness from the whole of Scripture, and see it culminate in the Law of Christ, which calls for my complete love of God and my neighbor. (Deuteronomy 29:29; Psalms 119:1-16, 104-105; Proverbs 4; John 13:34; Acts 7:51-53; Galatians 6:2)

How is God's will accomplished on earth?

God's Kingdom comes whenever and wherever God's will is done ............................

END

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