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| An absolute must-read for the discerning and those with good sense and taste |
http://heidelblog.net/2012/09/the-growing-influence-of-the-anglican-tradition-in-reformed-worship/
The Growing Influence of the Anglican Tradition in Reformed Worship
Jonathan W. Williams writes,
I would dissent, however, from his claim that corporate confession of sin and a ministerial declaration is “Anglican.” Calvin practiced this in Strasbourg and the Reformed practiced it in Heidelberg. These were not Anglican/Episcopal churches nor did they operate on the normative principle. Kneeling is not distinctly Anglican nor is it the result of the normative principle. In general the Reformed have regarded posture as morally indifferent (adiaphora). Likewise, weekly communion is hardly an exclusively Anglican practice. Again, Calvin sought (and failed to get) weekly communion in Geneva and Calvin was no Anglican. Nevertheless, Williams’ observations are worth considering. He thinks that the Anglican inroads into Reformed worship are a good thing. I think we should dissent but we should pay attention.
By “Anglican Tradition” I have in mind a number of elements that include but are not limited to the following: use of language from The Book of Common Prayer in the worship liturgy; corporate confessions of sin/declarations of pardon/absolution; weekly Communion; kneeling for corporate prayer; beautifully adorned sanctuaries (even if some spaces out of necessity used for worship were not intended for this purpose); marking time with the ecclesiastical calendar.I agree with Williams, he has correctly identified a trend. In some places weekly drama has been replaced by weekly communion. More significantly, he’s correct to identify Martin Bucer as one of the sources and he implicitly recognizes that there are two competing principles by which worship is governed, the normative (we do what is not forbidden) and the regulative (we may do only what is commanded).
I would dissent, however, from his claim that corporate confession of sin and a ministerial declaration is “Anglican.” Calvin practiced this in Strasbourg and the Reformed practiced it in Heidelberg. These were not Anglican/Episcopal churches nor did they operate on the normative principle. Kneeling is not distinctly Anglican nor is it the result of the normative principle. In general the Reformed have regarded posture as morally indifferent (adiaphora). Likewise, weekly communion is hardly an exclusively Anglican practice. Again, Calvin sought (and failed to get) weekly communion in Geneva and Calvin was no Anglican. Nevertheless, Williams’ observations are worth considering. He thinks that the Anglican inroads into Reformed worship are a good thing. I think we should dissent but we should pay attention.
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