Anglicanism is a happy blend of ancient Catholicism and Reformational insight. It drinks appreciatively from two wholesome fountains: the orthodoxy of the fathers and the early Creeds, and the confessional stance of the Protestant divines of the fifteen and sixteen hundreds. Although some demur at the term, Anglicanism offers the world a Reformed Catholicism, a combination of the cream of Christian thought and spirituality. Anglicanism affords ready access to the wealth and wisdom of the Christian understanding and experience of all the ages AD.

Its Book of Common Prayer (1662), Articles of Religion, and Ordinal encapsulate a comprehension of the will, ways, and works of God that edify the mind, delight the soul, and drive the Christian life in a most effective fashion. The peaks of Anglican history (i.e. Reformation, Great Awakening, 19th Century manifestations of Christian compassion and social reform) all testify to the massive and magnificent influence of the "BCP" - valid and convenient shorthand for its afore-mentioned precious components.

Anglicanism is an adopted discipline. Those nurtured within it may continue if they wish. Those attracted to it may merge with it and meet with the warmest of welcomes. For maximum spiritual benefit its foremost features should become familiar to all, and consequent gain for mind and soul are derived from a strong historical perspective. Believers cannot help but possess a keen "family history" whatever their allegiance to any branch of Christendom may be, from historic institution to home fellowship. Everything important to us is a product of history and in a very personal way. We live within the legacy of our forebears who, genetically as it were, condition who we are and often point to what we should become.

The BCP has not become remotely redundant, even if some ill-advisedly relegate it to the ecclesiastical museum of past oddities. It deserves and has its place as a vital force in classic Anglicanism. It is irreplaceable, even though worthy revisions may and should be placed alongside it. It has the power to stand on its own as a vehicle of communion with God and communication of his gospel in ways that nothing else can equal. It molds maturity in those who use it faithfully and prayerfully. The BCP is, in the main, a compendium of Scripture turned to the purpose of worship and serious reflection. In being "common" it unites the gathered people of God in the reverence and honoring of his Name, and it ensures that private prayer is union with the dispersed people of God everywhere.

The BCP is an exceedingly versatile manual of Christian development, orthodox in its content and pastoral in its tone. It encapsulates in one handy volume a summary of sound Christian doctrine, a deposit of sincere devotion, and a comprehensive pattern of pastoral care.

Doctrine

Doctrine is the essence of Christian faith. Teaching makes converts and sustains maturing believers. The Scriptures are the divine description of God and his glory, fallen man and his misery present and prospective, and it reveals the great program of redemption that restores lost mankind to a gracious God. The Bible's range of saving truth has to be related to human understanding. Its inspired message has to be imparted. God speaks to man, and appointed men must convey what he says to their fellow men, some in public proclamation and all in private conversation and behavior.

The BCP teaches throughout its entire extent. It informs the mind with truth, it trains the heart in piety, and shepherds the soul along the winding trails of life. What we believe as Anglicans is articulated through the Articles, creeds, and the passages of Scripture, both printed in the text and prescribed in the lectionary. The BCP is a veritable school of faith and a mentor in the mysteries of God.

Devotion

The BCP bends our minds to the contemplation of God in a reverent manner. We concentrate upon and become consumed by his ineffable Being, righteous character, and compassionate nature. The BCP inclines our hearts to adoration, affection, and awe. It elicits an attitude of confidence and trust expressed in true repentance, sincere belief, and rejoicing in the Spirit. The BCP prompts ardent prayer providing a platform for our own petitions and praise. It empowers our resolve to live and love as God's children. We are furnished with thoughts, insights, and endeavors we could never cull from our own unaided resources. We live in the legacy of the saints of Sacred Scripture and those of subsequent centuries. We pray and meditate in company with them in fulfillment of the communion of saints and in rescue from barren individualism.

Discipleship

Much time is given to urging and defining Christian discipleship. Some of it is forced artificially and through ecclesiastical authoritarianism of various kinds. It is fundamentally the formation of Christ more and more fully in the person and life of the believer, and from the mind of Christ firmly implanted within will flow instinctively an authentic likeness to and service of Christ. The BCP is eminently suited for the role of discipling believers in an intelligent, mature, and graceful way. Candidates for confirmation in membership of the Anglican Communion are advised to adopt a "rule of life" for a daily walk with God and Scripture, of course, is the basis of this discipline for every believer, and other fine printed companions can be obtained to deepen our prayer over Scripture and before the Lord when we rendezvous with him. BCP is an excellent friend to take to heart and mind when we are seated before the Lord and our hearts are bowed to him. Whatever our physical posture BCP determines our demeanor before the Deity.

Discipleship ought not to be manufactured by schemes and formulae in hothouse situations towards worldly ends, numerical, financial, or churchly kudos. It is not fundamentally an exercise in recruitment, but rather the development of resemblance to Christ that winsomely allures people to him through respectful relationships and discernible friendship and care.

Proselytizing pressure obscures the attractiveness of Christ and the free generosity of redemption. The severity of the law and the sweetness of the gospel in their advocacy must bear the vesture of humility and love. Talk of disciple-making disciples is not a license for scalp-hunting and emotional bullying.

Conclusion.

A 3D religion - doctrine, devotion, and directions for discipleship - is facilitated by sincere use of or reference to the Book of Common Prayer. All of us whether we are liturgically-minded or not actually contrive some form of liturgy for ourselves (liturgy literally meaning the work we invest in worship). It makes sense to employ as beneficial and worthy a liturgy as we possibly can. Our foundation for fellowship with the Lord is best derived from the riches of our Christian heritage and the accumulated wisdom and piety of those saints who came to know God well.

Each great Trinitarian tradition within the Church of God has its distinctive features and emphases, and shares in an enormous fund of common Christian understanding and custom. The root is Scripture though the routes taken may vary within bounds of Biblical correctness. Anglicanism is permeated with Augustinianism, the largely reliable insights of Aurelius Augustine whose influence over Christianity generally, Eastern Orthodoxy excepted, is vast, especially in his concepts of sin and grace. Augustine is Pauline, biblical through and through in the great issues of our faith. Much that is best in Catholic and Protestant thought complies with the theology of Augustine and his grasp of the dimensions and doings of divine mercy. The BCP is accurately defined as a Scriptural and Augustinian manual of doctrine, devotion, and discipleship.

The Rev. Roger Salter is an ordained Church of England minister where he had parishes in the dioceses of Bristol and Portsmouth before coming to Birmingham, Alabama to serve as Rector of St. Matthew's Anglican Church.