Welcome to Anglican Kossacks, a group dedicated to discussion of issues surrounding social justice, politics, LGBT issues and church polity from an Anglican perspective. Here's our group profile:
" A group for Anglican/Episcopalian Kossacks to discuss developments in the worldwide Anglican Communion, the Church of England and the Anglican Church of Canada as well as issues related to social justice and church polity. Open to all, regardless of religious affiliation. "
Follow me over the fold for more in our introductory diary.
The worldwide Anglican Communion consists of about 80 million members who are in full communion with the Church of England. We are the third largest Christian communion in the world, after Roman Catholics and the Eastern Orthodox churches. Each national church or province is autonomous, headed by an Archbishop or, in the case of the Episcopal Church in the United States (ECUSA), a "Presiding Bishop" or Primate. While the head of the Church of England is nominally the Queen, the Archbishop of Canterbury is considered the spiritual leader of both the Church of England and the worldwide Anglican Communion. He is not, however, a pope, and has no canonical authority outside of the English church. None the less, he is seen as a spiritual leader by Anglicans worldwide. The current Archbishop of Canterbury is Rowan Williams, and the Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church is the Most Rev. Dr. Katharine Jefferts Schori, the 26th Presiding Bishop since the American church declared its independence from the Church of England.
Anglicans carry a Catholic tradition in liturgy, worship and theology--though to varying degrees. Where the basis of Roman Catholicism is said to be "Scripture and Tradition", Anglican Catholicism stands on what we call the "three-legged stool" of Scripture, Tradition and REASON. Though individual prayerbooks are used in different provinces, what unites all Anglicans in corporate worship is the Book of Common Prayer, the "missal" of Anglicanism.
The stool of theology has three legs, and so does approach to worship and polity: "High", "Broad" and "Low" or "Evangelical". High Churchmen or "Anglo-Catholics", such as yours truly, tend towards a traditionalist Catholic sense of worship, often called "smells and bells". There is also a strong social justice bent in Anglo-Catholicism, which has eroded a bit in recent years with arguments over gay and female clergy. Not all high churchmen are conservative, however. The Society of St. John the Evangelist (the "Cowley Fathers"), monastics within the Communion, have long been involved with progressive social justice issues. They have had quite a presence in Haiti and the Caribbean since the 1930's, as well as in Boston and Philadelphia. The Brotherhood of St. Gregory, another monastic society, has also been instrumental in promoting social justice, especially on LGBT issues. The Bishop of Massachusetts, the Rt. Rev. Thomas Shaw, SSJE and the Bishop of New Hampshire, the Rt. Rev. V. Gene Robinson, are both Anglo-Catholics, for instance, and outspoken advocates for social justice and especially LGBT rights both in the church and in the country.
Broad Church is the experience of most US Episcopalians. Broadly catholic in theology, they tend to be middle-of-the-road in worship and theology. Also, generally interested in liberal issues, some can be as conservative as well.
The evangelical or "low" wing of Anglicanism is seen more in England than here, but they do exist. Anglican evangelicals have also been active in social justice issues, though tend towards an emphasis on scripture over "tradition and reason".
Nonetheless, all are Anglicans, and for most of us, the motto of the ECUSA--"The Episcopal Church Welcomes You!"--is exactly what you'll find if you visit an Episcopal church. Some of us consider ourselves Catholics, and others consider themselves Protestants, but we are all Anglicans together, and free to think and act for ourselves. It's a brilliant third way which has brought the world real heroes like Desmond Tutu.
The Intent of the Anglican Kossacks Group
While we may discuss some matters which are pressing in the worldwide Communion, this group is really meant to be focused on social justice, specifically from a point of view which has at its centre the Sermon on the Mount and the Beatitudes. Everyone is welcome here, including atheists. My only hope is that discussion remains civil and dignified, informative and loving. I intend this space to honor everyone's dignity and humanity, believers and non-believers.
A Word on Schismatic Anglicans
This is not a forum to debate schism. While I invite it to be discussed, hateful arguments against the ordination of women or LGBT folks will be considered trollish. Otherwise, all is up for discussion.
Conclusion
We Anglicans are, to a great extent, very tolerant and very focused on love for our fellow humans. I started this group because it was clear to me that there is a pretty large number of Anglicans present here on DKos. I invite all of you, Anglican or not, to join us for discussion in our upcoming diaries.
I will leave you with a Collect (a kind of prayer) for Social Justice from the 1979 Book of Common Prayer:
Almighty God, who created us in your own image: Grant us grace fearlessly to contend against evil and to make no peace with opression and, that we may reverently use our freedom, help us to employ it in the maintenance of justice in our communities and among the nations, to the glory of your holy Name; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.