Anglican Way Institute Summer Conference

The Anglican Way Institute is holding a summer conference on the theme of Finding Grace Through the Sacraments. It will be held July 2nd - 6th at the Church of the Holy Communion (REC) in Dallas, TX. This conference is especially geared towards college and career aged Anglicans, but anyone who wants to learn more about orthodox Anglicanism is encouraged to attend. I strongly encourage young people to attend this conference if at all possible!

Anglican Theological Education

Recent comments about reading for orders made me think of a book that I recently bought and am reading - Faith and Freedom: A Study of Theological Education and the Episcopal Theological School by Rev. George Blackman (Seabury Press, 1967). Theological education, and education in general, has always been of interest to me, because I am a former teacher, and have also had a strange, meandering education myself. The book, which was I scored at a used book store in Lancaster, PA, is a study of the early days of seminary education in PECUSA. It focuses on the founding and early histories of General, Virginia, and Gambier (aka Bexley Hall), and comes complete with books that were used, course listings, and more. Then it goes into an in depth study of the founding and history of the Episcopal Theological School in Cambridge, MA. It is a fascinating look into a bygone era.

In reading these histories it is amazing to see so many parallels to struggles we face today. Gambier, for instance, was equally blessed and cursed by its founder Bp. Philander Chase. General relocated to New Haven due to lack of funds at one point. Virginia was eventually shut down due to the Civil War. The Civil War also lead to the founding of the Philadelphia Theological Seminary, which was the north's "evangelical" alternative for Virginia when they could no longer send students there.

Of particular interest, though, is the history of Episcopal theological education before the advent of seminaries. Prior to 1804 men simply read for orders. Men such as Bp. White acted essentially as private tutors, and allowed postulants to use their libraries to prepare for ordination. That there were obvious drawbacks to this goes without saying. Pastoral work often prevented the tutors from spending adequate time with their students. Most received no exams along the way except the one right before their ordination. Often times education was a mishmash of tons of reading, but little thinking and processing of what was read. Then of course there was the fact that each tutor had a slightly different program and order of study. Obviously something needed to be done.

So in 1804 the Bishop's Course of Study was established by the General Convention. This was basically a standardized reading for orders. Everyone had to read the same texts in the same order beginning with a study of natural theology and apologetics. (NOTE: The book lists the actual texts that were used in each catagory, but I will not list them here.) Then came a study of the Scriptures through approved commentaries and other texts. Then came Church history, with particular attention being paid to the Apostolic Fathers. Then came Christology and Episcopacy, which was based on Hooker and others. Then came systematics (or "divinity", as it was then called), which was built in large part around a study of the Articles of Religion and the Creeds through various texts. After this came liturgics, the pastoral theology. So all in all, it was pretty exhaustive. And if I were to type out all of the books and authors that were used in each of these catagories everyone would be duly impressed. Like seminary today, they assigned more to be read and studied than one could possibly actually read and study! This course of study is generally thought to have been written up by Bp. White, though we do not know that for sure. The books used in this course of study were classics, which were still in print at the time, and were to remain in print for the next fifty years.

Reading for orders is often maligned, and sometimes rightfully so. But it is not bad in and of itself. Maybe it would be better if a standard, systematic, and well thought out formula was followed by those in charge. Obviously reading for orders was the only option available for men in the early days of the Episcopal Church, as well as other churches. Today we can still do that, if it is done right.

"The Church is within you."

Recently I had lunch at the hospital with a local radio personality and a friend of his, a Roman Catholic priest (from Ireland, no less, though he's lived in Florida for years now - he was probably in his 60's). When we sat down a big, burly black construction worker who was there doing work recognized the radio host and began to chat with him, so the host invited him to sit with us, and there we were: a radio talk show host, a construction worker, an Anglican priest, and a Roman priest, eating lunch together in hospital cafeteria.

Here's where it gets interesting. I asked the construction worker where he went to church, and he said nowhere. The Catholic priest, trying to play it cool, says, "Oh, well, the Church is within you." (in other words, it's fine if you don't go to church) But I looked at the man, gave him my card, and said, "Come to St. Mark's. Our services are at 8:00 and 10:00 on Sunday mornings. We'd love to have you. And you need to go to church." He thanked me, ate some more, and then got up to go back to work. Then the Catholic priest turns to me and says, "Ahh, so you're trying to get more members, are you?" I thought to myself, "No, not necessarily; I am trying to save souls, which is what I thought priests were supposed to try to do."

We talked some more about a variety of things - one of which was the Motu Proprio - this guy thought it was the stupidest thing in the world to allow priests to say the old mass... somehow I was not surprised. Then he asked if I ever read Newman, which of course, I have. But beneath his question, and in his eyes was the suggestion that I should "read Newman", and then do what he did: become Roman Catholic. But why do that, or why read Newman at all, or the Bible at all, or do anything if "the Church is within you"?

To me, this catholic priest typified everything that is wrong with the church today: no missionary sense; heretical theology; no interest in souls; etc. He was just a corporate guy collecting a paycheck. Who knows how many people he is leading astray, or not even taking care of pastorally, at his parish?

For the record, the Church is not "within us", and we do have to go to church to be saved.

Canon Docent of St. Mark's

That is my unofficial role and title which I have given myself. I am not a canon, but I do feel like a docent much of the time. The reason is that St. Mark's is something of a tourist attraction and pilgrimage spot here in Vero Beach. The architecture in Florida - and especially here in Vero - is very "beachy" and "airy"... much of it is in the Spanish style. So when people drive down the boulevard and all of a sudden see this huge stone tower, and gothic arches, they invariably swing by so they can "see inside". Even if they have seen a million gorgeous churches in their lifetime, they always want to see this one. I'll bet I have given close to 100 tours of the church since being here! I have it down to a science: tell them about the doors; the floor tile; the stained glass; the plans to get other appointments, such as Stations; the chapel; the "Elizabethan" language of the liturgy; the plans for the rest of the property, etc. It is actually quite fun, and a good way to break up the day. Most tours last no more than 10 minutes. I obviously give more during the winter season when there are more people here in town. It is funny because years ago an old man I befriended at a retirement community told me once that he thought I would be a good docent. And now here I am....

This just goes to show what a nice building can do to attract visitors - especially in a small town. Continuing Anglicans often have a chip on their shoulder about people who worship "brick and morter", i.e. who care more about worshiping in a fancy old building with a paid choir rather than the Catholic faith. I would be lying if I said I never had that chip on my shoulder before. But the fact is that a beautiful physical plant, along with nice music and liturgy, and stunning decor, does a lot to get people in the door. God is also, quite obviously, deserving of the best that we have to offer.

Rogation Days

I find the Rogation Days to be very meaningful and more important than ever these days, especially in light of the shortage of food around the world. During the Rogation Days (rogare - to ask) we ask God to "pour forth His blessing upon the land and to give us fruitful seasons" (Collect for the Rogation Days, BCP p.261). There is a good prayer for the Rogations Days on BCP p. 39 as well which asks God's blessing upon agricultural workers, and also for us - that we would eat our own bread and essentially be happy with what we have. Of course it is customary and especially important during Rogationtide to recite the Litany (BCP p. 54) which, among other things, asks for God to bless the earth.

Any food shortage or famine may perhaps be viewed as God's judgment and curse upon the land. (Jer. 14:1-9) With the way that this world has be wholeheartedly turning its back on God over the last few decades is it is any surprise that there is more famine, death, and natural disaster than ever before? If we do not turn back to God, and "forswear our foolish ways" what will become of us?

"The earth is the Lord's and all that therein is." (Ps. 24) That means us, the earth, everything. Because the earth is the Lord's we can pray that He would bless it, which is what we do in Rogationtide. But will He do so if we do not repent of our sins and turn to the Lord, who is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness?

The Rewards of Being a Priest

One of the most exciting things about being a priest is watching people's faith come alive, and seeing people who come to church with very little in the way of Christian discipleship and discipline begin to grow and bear the fruit of the Spirit. There are people who never owned a bible, and then when we give them one, they begin to study it, and absorb it, and have lots of questions. There are others who though previously didn't have much of a prayer life learn how to pray and what to pray for. There are people who previously compartmentalized there faith who are coming to see that the Lordship of Jesus Christ is over every aspect of life. There are lifelong churchmen who are very faithful and have seemingly seen it all, but yet are filled with wonder and awe when they learn some new aspect of the Holy Eucharist that they had never thought of before. There are people who through the power of Jesus Christ overcome addictions and other destructive behaviors and begin to live a life of godliness and devotion to our risen Lord. It is so exciting to be in the midst of all of this, and to be used of God to help bring some of this about. Being a spiritual father to part of Christ's flock, and helping them grow in knowledge and love of Jesus, praying for them and with them, and teaching them is so unbelievably satisfying and rewarding.

Knowing your product

All of this stuff in the news about the polygamist sect in Texas has increased the general level of interest in Mormon religion and history. As a priest it is important to know something - even if it's very basic - about other religions, as well as other topics (such as philosophy). But with everything else a priest has to stay current with, and know, and do, it is simply impossible to become an expert in everything. There just isn't enough time in the day. One could spend a lifetime studying just one other religion!

It is important to know something about other religions, such as their history and how they began, and some of the basic differences between them and the catholic religion, but ultimately, as I learned in sales, it is better know your own product inside out, and be able to explain it, then to know some other product super well. You don't get "sales" when you bash someone else's product, or attack intricate details of their process (i.e. theology). "Sales" - in this case, convincing people of the truth of the catholic faith - come when you know, believe in, and can explain it well.