Saturday, November 01, 2008

Work Continues on Anglican “Proto-Catechism”

From The Anglican Communion Network:

Editor’s Note: The Young Anglicans Project, a ministry of the Anglican Communion Network, has issued the following report on their work to move forward the creation of an Anglican Catechism.

Therefore, having this ministry by the mercy of God, we do not lose heart. But we have renounced disgraceful, underhanded ways. We refuse to practice cunning or to tamper with God’s word, but by the open statement of the truth we would commend ourselves to everyone’s conscience in the sight of God. (2 Corinthians 4:1–2)

Several members of the Young Anglican Project from across the US and Canada gathered October 13–15 at Nashotah House Theological Seminary, where people have been prepared for ministry for over 150 years. The purpose of the gathering was to discuss the daunting task of compiling a Proto-Catechism for the emerging Anglican province in North America. The term Proto-Catechism has been chosen to note that it is a first draft of a new Anglican Catechism for North America, intended to provide a basis on which to foster further conversation among Anglican theologians and bishops of the Common Cause Partnership.

The group met in the spirit of charity, recognizing that we are of varying experiences within the broad range of Anglicanism. However, all were of one mind regarding the need for a Catechism that offers a plumb line for the teaching of the “faith once delivered.” The Director of the Young Anglicans Project, The Rev. Dr. Jack Gabig noted, “We were in all agreement that part of the beauty of the weight of this task is that it forces us all to our knees in prayer before the Lord that His will would be done through this process.”

The heart of this Proto-catechism, spelling out the essential doctrines of the Christian Faith in the Anglican Tradition, is divided into five sections, treating: the nature of God, The Scriptures, The Church, Worship (prayer, liturgy and sacrament) and the Church’s mission to the world. Each section is being generated by teams from among the members of the group with the goal of producing a draft document by the end of this year to be presented to the sub-committee on Catechism of the Theological Education committee of the Common Cause Partnership and in due course to the bishops of the Partnership.

There was significant hope expressed that this work is actually being undertaken, and that there is a desire to generate a product that will be theologically solid, and in its final form, may be usable for generations to come. Those present were keenly aware that the task at hand must be undertaken with great humility, knowing that it is only through the enabling of the Holy Spirit that this work will be done and that it is only by offering it to the glory of God that it will be blessed by Him. In that spirit the members of the Young Anglicans Project left Nashotah House with a request for prayerful study and preparation of this work.

Posted on 2008-10-28 14:11:41

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