Tracts for the Times 2.0 Tract #2 Part 2 Today’s offering is Part 2 (of 3) of Tract #2. In it, I will continue presenting evidence that the Church in the British Isles was planted long before 597, was relatively well-established, and was associated with but not under the rule of the Roman Catholic Church during this time. At least five early Church historians speak of Christianity as existing in the British Isles long before 597 (last time we looked... Read more

      Tract #2 Part 1 – When Did Anglicanism Begin?       Here is Part 1 of Tract 2 of my Tracts for the Times 2.0 – “When Did Anglicanism Begin?” In my first Tracts for the Times 2.0, I provided a nuanced definition of Anglicanism that I hope will provide an anchor and encouragement in these fractured and fractious times. A definition of Anglicanism was the place to begin because in times of confusion, contestation, and... Read more

Tract #1 – What is Anglicanism? Today, I’m going to start re-publishing the Tracts for the Times 2.0 which I’ve been writing for The North American Anglican. I’m often asked the question, “What is Anglicanism?” To which I respond: “Do you want the two-word answer, the long one-sentence answer, or my book on Anglican identity? Avoiding having to answer the question of what Anglicanism is has been a favorite Anglican hobby for decades, and when we do get answers to... Read more

In my last blog, I gave a 2-word definition of Anglicanism: “Reformed Catholicism.” I also promised this time to provide a 1-sentence definition. Recognizing the full weight of the truism that “fools rush in where angels dare to tread,” here it is: “Anglicanism is the life of the catholic church that was planted in England in the first few centuries after Christ; reshaped decisively by the English Reformation that reformed the received catholic traditions and also by the Evangelical and... Read more

How would you define Anglicanism? There used to be a game show called “Name that Tune,” in which contestants competed to name tunes in as few notes as possible. One contestant would say, “I can name that tune in ten notes,” and the other might respond, “I can name it in eight.” The two contestants would bid lower and lower until one dared the other, saying: “Name that tune!” I will now attempt to define Anglicanism not in ten words... Read more