In 2009, self-described Anglican "conservatives" began a great journey in which they will rediscover the principles and habits that formed them. The journey will be long and hard as old principles and habits they acquired while living among revisionists cling to them in ways that they do not yet even realize. Anglicans In The Wilderness is about getting back to the Promised Land. We don't have many answers, but we do have a little map called the 1662 Book of Common Prayer, and we intend to share it as we travel together, hopefully in fresh ways and with renewed vigor.
Liturgical re-Discovery
Our #1 goal is to engage the re-discovery of authentic Anglican liturgy under the theory that good liturgy when fed to Anglicans regularly begets a healthy Anglican Communion.
The word "Liturgy" suggests that it is the product of a single mind. As such, it is inconsistent to use multiple "liturgies", even if they are paved with good intentions. Accordingly, Anglicans In The Wilderness advocates a conforming use of the Book of Common Prayer:
- Use the BCP version that Anglicans claim is authoritative.
- Use the BCP version that bridges gaps of Anglican generations, ethnicities and cultures.
In changing times, when Anglicans are in conflict over a range of issues, the 1662 BCP can become the essential guide. We would do well to take it out of the closet and redeploy it for ministry, perhaps in new ways but not with altered content.
Revisionist theologies over the course of the last century have followed alterations to the Book of Common Prayer. As painful as it is to put away these familar and comfortable liturgies, we must now understand them as instrumentalities of our lack of health.
Anglicans in every province of the Communion make reference to the 1662 BCP as authoritative in one way or another, but few actually use it or even know much about it. We have dwelled so long in "the foreign land" that we are unaware of how far these foreign liturgies depart from of our own declared standard. Anglicans In The Wilderness intends to help overcome that lack of understanding.
We present therefore The 1662 Book of Common Prayer with the smallest changes that our efforts will allow... adjustments merely to accommodate the multinational character of our online membership.
How can an online experiment with authentic Anglican worship help to bring Anglicans through the wilderness?
1. The Internet's social media (Twitter, Facebook, and Skype especially) are humanity's new "front porch" and "water-cooler". It is where the people are.
2. The traditional liturgy of the 1662 BCP is truly beautiful. 3. Online worship services can evolve into deeper ministry, including:- Bible Study
- Prayer
- Fellowship
- Discipleship
- Evangelism
- Giving
4. Online ministry can be performed by the laity.
5. Offline ministries and churches need an online partner.