An Anglican Catechism
Packer, J. I., Joel Scandrett, and Anglican Church in North America, Editors. To Be a Christian: An Anglican Catechism (Approved Edition). Wheaton: Crossway, 2020. 160 Pages. Cloth. $29.99 https://www.crossway.org/books/to-be-a-christian-hconly/
We didn't have Episcopalians in my small town in Nebraska. I probably first encountered that Christian tradition in fiction or on TV before I met a real-life person of that confession in Lincoln during my university years. It was notable to me that he attended our LCMS campus ministry instead of a congregation of the PECUSA.
The Protestant Episcopal Church in the United States of America is no longer "the Republican Party at prayer" as one used to hear. You've heard about the changes in leadership and eligibility for leadership in that body for in the news for over twenty years. The 1979 Book of Common Prayer and Hymnal 1980 are still official for that church body, but used less in many parishes based on my own (limited) observation. Lawsuits wage on for the properties left behind by congregations that have affiliated with groups like the Anglican Church in North America. Even in that body, doctrine and practice can be rather diverse. The "big tent" philosophy of the wider Anglican Communion has consequences. Loyalty to the four components of the Chicago-Lambeth Quadrilateral (Scripture, Creeds, Dominical Sacraments, and Bishops) join the BCP and liturgical tradition as marks to rally around.
Yet, there needs to be more.
To fill this need, Crossway has published To Be a Christian: An Anglican Catechism for the ACNA. I believe it will be a blessing for its intended audience. I'm an outsider, an observer, a friend. I grieve with those who mourn traditional doctrine and practice. I sympathize with those who wish to regain hymnody, liturgy, and a biblical clergy. I empathize with those who have lost their prayer book to a computer as liturgical meat grinder.
I'm a Lutheran, a rostered pastor of The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod.
If I had one prayer for all Christians, it would be that their sole rule and norm for all their teaching and practice would be Scripture. To Be a Christian is a step in that direction for Anglican Christians.
TBC:AAC confesses infant baptism.
TBC:AAC confesses bread and wine are to be used in the Supper of Our Lord.
My biggest critique of the volume is that what is said of the Sacraments (Baptism and Holy Communion) is not enough. It does not fully confess all that Scripture teaches about them.
Again, it is a start. If every person of the ACNA, clergy and lay, held to these positions, the ACNA and its congregations would be blessed with a remarkable unity, and Lord willing, a hunger for more Scripture and a desire for even more conformity and faithfulness to the Scriptures.
The outline is dissimilar from that of Luther. Here you will find the Creed (and Sacraments), Lord's Prayer, and Ten Commandments followed by seven extensive appendices.
To Be a Christian has a noble goal: catechesis in the faith once delivered to the saints. I pray the saints so catechized are hungry for even more Jesus.
Rev. Paul J Cain is Senior Pastor of Immanuel, Sheridan, Wyoming, Headmaster of Martin Luther Grammar School and Immanuel Academy, a member of the Board of Directors of the Consortium for Classical Lutheran Education, Secretary of the Wyoming District of The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod and a member of its Board of Directors, Wyoming District Education Chairman/NLSA Commissioner, and Editor of Lutheran Book Review. He has served as an LCMS Circuit Visitor, District Worship Chairman and District Evangelism Chairman. A graduate of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, Rev. Cain is a contributor to Lutheran Service Book, Lutheranism 101, the LSB Hymnal Companion hymn and liturgy volumes, and is the author of 5 Things You Can Do to Make Our Congregation a Caring Church. He is an occasional guest on KFUO radio. He has previously served Emmanuel, Green River, WY and Trinity, Morrill, NE. Rev. Cain is married to Ann and loves reading and listening to, composing, and making music.
