The time has come for all who would call themselves Christians, to decide which set of beliefs and practices will be adhered to and taught in the church, and which vision will be offered to the world as the Christian faith. Are we sinners brought back into relationship with God through the atoning sacrifice of Jesus Christ, or, are all made in the image of God and therefore inherently good? Is Jesus Christ the only means of salvation, or is salvation available through a plurality of religions that lead us to the knowledge of the divine presence within each person?

We have entered a new historical time period. A paradigm shift has occurred and we are now living in the Oneworld Era, informed by oneworld technologies, guided by oneworld values, and pressed upon from every quarter to give in toward the movement for a oneworld humanity. This includes oneworld religion as well, or perhaps in more familiar terms, the validation of all religions as equal paths to God.

Within this new culture, anomalies must be smoothed out for the sake of peace and tolerance. This means that those who hold to faith in Jesus Christ as the exclusive means of salvation need to be persuaded through conversation and dialogue until they see the light. Yet, how is this possible for a committed follower of Jesus? Someone who holds to the objective authority of Scripture for everyone, in every place, and in every generation? It is not possible, for to do so is to compromise one's soul. Therefore, I see the emergence of two competing theological expressions: A oneworld religion based upon the precepts of the spirit of the age; and a oneworld church that consists of all believers in the traditional faith based in the spirit of the Scriptures.

The sorting and sifting out of church communities as we align with the competing visions has produced considerable friction. Nowhere has this been more evident than in my own denomination with the separation of Anglicans and Episcopalians. Yet regardless of affiliation, your church is facing the same challenges, or soon will be by virtue of the dynamics in which we live. It is time to lay aside the walls that divide us, and join together in unity that comes from adherence to truth -- agreeing in the essentials of the faith, and allowing for differences in the nonessentials.

Writing from the midst of the struggles of the Anglican Communion, I seek to ignite not only a reformation of Anglicanism, but a global reunification and revival of the Christian church. In the crisis of Anglicanism, I see a historic opportunity for Christianity as a whole. As the tapestry that was once the Anglican Church unravels, I see the possibilities of the bonding together of a new, unified, Fellowship of the Christian Church worldwide.

"Anglican Manifesto" examines the vibrant elements of our faith that have come down through the historical streams of Christianity. While specifically addressing the issues that are distinctly Anglican, the book moves further to incorporate theological perspectives of interest to the Christian Church as a whole. Readers will be challenged to think beyond existing paradigms.

You may order a copy at anglicanmanifesto.com or contact me at anglicanmanifesto@gmail.com for more information.

You can hear an audio version here: http://www.stlukesbakersfield.org/anglican-manifesto.html

The Rev. Jack Estes graduated summa cum laude from Westmont College with a bachelor of arts in religious studies and received his master of divinity at Trinity School for Ministry. Since 2002, Fr. Estes has served as the rector of St. Luke's Anglican Church in Bakersfield, Anglican Diocese of San Joaquin.