Introduction to Anglican Theology

This course introduces students to a series of questions in Anglican ecclesiology at a time of significant tensions in the self-understanding of the highly diverse churches that comprise the worldwide Anglican Communion. Is there a discernable and coherent core to Anglican ecclesial life and its traditions of theological reflection or has its vaunted comprehensiveness elided its commitments and eclipsed the integrity of its identity. It takes note of the ways in which its impetus towards mission and ministry in diverse historical moments and cultures has led to such a highly ramified understanding and appropriation of Anglican identity while at the same time exhibiting significant concern for the unity of the Communion which this impetus has produced. It locates reflection on mission and unity around four core concerns that have crystalized since the late nineteenth century, namely Holy Scripture, the historic Creeds, the Sacraments of the Gospel, and the Historic Episcopate. It also holds in view the constructive, catechetical task that awaits Anglicans today in every place.