Why I Am Not Anglican

This is a response to a question I am often asked: Why are you not Anglican? I talk about the primary reason I am Lutheran rather than Anglican.

[cinnamondan]

As a Catholic expat in Shanghai I’ve been rolling with the Anglican community…it just feels like home. One has to make sacrifices in China in worship…especially the Protestants. We have people from Catholicism, Lutheranism, Anglicism and Methodism in our church all worshipping together which is beautiful.

[Mygoalwogel]

I was thinking, "Don't go there, Dr. Cooper. There's hardly any difference and you'll just make unnecessary enemies." But so far, responses from Anglicans have been positive, kind, and gracious. I'm thankful for the Anglican voice in Christianity.

[thisissweeney]

Thanks for this video! i’m a recent Anglican convert from a more “pop calvinism”, and I ironically became Anglican for pretty much the reason why you stated you would not join the Anglican Communion. I joined because, yes, I wanted to be a part of a more ancient faith that had liturgy and tradition behind it, but mainly that all Anglicans are united by their membership in the broader Anglican Church and the Book of Common Prayer. I believe paradoxically, that allowing different doctrines and different practices all under a big tent such as creedal, orthodox, (c)atholic christianity such as Anglicanism is key to practicing the unity that Jesus wants for his followers in John 17. i’m willing to lay down my differences such as my disagreement with women’s ordination or the more Anglo-Catholic-leaning traditions, or Arminianism, to be one with my fellow Anglican’s worshiping the Triune God, confessing the Creeds together. I felt like streams like Lutheranism and Presbyterianism were too narrowly defined doctrinally that they essentially had a “paper pope” and this would be a big hinderance for unity if every minister, local church, member had to adhere to those confessions. At the same time I have much respect for those other traditions and I mine their theological riches greatly!

[georgiapeach]

I am an Anglican, and I feel that the King Of Kings should be worshipped in a manner worthy of a King. I love the tradition, the worldly cultural aspect (incorporating different cultures into our faith) the reverence, and....that we don't feel that we are the ones with sole exclusive truth. Unlike the Roman Catholics and Eastern Orthodox, we don't exclude baptized Christians from the eucharist. How can ANYONE deny a believer such a thing! Growing up Church Of Christ, this is a sticking point for me. So I say, as long as you are giving praise and glory to Lord Christ, then worship him in the manner you see fit, so long as you do it within scripture. Peace Of The Lord Be With You!✝️❤️👑

[alexwarstler]

I can give you 39 reasons why you should be. 😎😎😎

[bmstellar]

I always appreciate Dr. Coopers grace when talking about non-Lutherans. As an Anglican (ACNA), Jordan’s comments are fair and salient. I am thankful for the critique and it has given me things to ponder I wouldn’t typically consider rolling around in my own bubble.

[TitusCastiglione]

Ironically, the lack of strict doctrinal unity is one of the reasons I left the PCA for a local Anglican Church. It’s freeing to be able to mine a huge swath of orthodox church history and tradition without a strict adherence to a set of beliefs I am obligated to believe.

[nimanderoftheleaf]

Beth Moore being Anglican is now the least cringey thing about her.

[novadawg]

Excellent explanation, but my only quibble (and something I’ve seen other Lutherans do) is ignoring the doctrinal differences within Lutheranism. You only have stronger “unity” because you’re drawing an invisible line between the ELCA (and many Continental Lutherans) and the others. If you were to allow Anglicans to draw a line excluding Anglo-Catholics & the super low-church charismatics, essentially those who don’t hold to the 39 Articles & the Formularies, than Anglicanism suddenly becomes a lot more unified in appearance. It’s essentially holding the two different traditions to different standards. If you were to include the other Lutheran bodies, then you would suddenly have to recognize a plethora of beliefs not in the Book of Concord.

[nathanc]

I am an Anglican but I appreciate your sensitive and informed approach to the matter.

[dutchmagpie]

A very thoughtful and interesting insight. As a low church Anglican, I think it would be a struggle to put the width of a cigarette paper between us, theologically. The Anglican Church's 39 Articles are a clear Statement of Faith and are required to be confirmed by each Anglican Minister when he takes up an appointment in a new Church. Article 11, Justification by Faith, Article 28, rejection of Transubstantiation, to give just 2 examples are clear statements of a Protestant Faith. How Anglo Catholics square that circle is something I have never understood, while loving them as Brothers and Sisters in Christ. The Anglican Church, probably for reasons of history has tolerated those who do not accept the 39 Articles. So, in summary, I would say there is a clear doctrinal statement of faith within the Anglican Church although adhering to it is almost optional.

[ccecnmh]

I'm from the Philippines, and I 'm PROUD to be ANGLICAN, and still be ANGLICAN no matter what 👍. because ANGLICAN here in the PHILIPPINES makes you feel like one FAMILY

[markwaters]

I’m a member of the Episcopal branch of the Anglican Church, I teach religion at a university, and I’m a trained theologian like you. The Table unites us across varieties of doctrines and beliefs. (And, yes, I understand that my affirmation of the Table is a doctrine.) Everyone is welcome at the Holy Eucharist, by which I mean that Jesus welcomes everyone. My point transcends the sacrament itself. You say we are not consistent. The Table IS our consistency. And I’m not referring to particular beliefs about the elements of the Table. I’m talking about the all-embracing welcome of God revealed in Jesus the Christ.

[joshuatanis]

As an Anglican, I appreciate a lot that was said. With the sacraments, there objectivity is valid no matter what a Zwinglian might think, but the ACNA needs to admit what their report said, womens ordination is not supported by Scripture or tradition.

[matiasgamalieltolmosuarez]

I hope one day anglicans and lutherans could be in communion as the Anglian churches in Europe are in communion with scandinavian lutherans

[matthew]

I am from the Reformed tradition but am leaning towards Anglicanism. I do agree there are doctrinal inconsistencies, but in my study of church history, that's really been the norm for the church since very early on. I think there is definitely a hierarchy of which issues require more unity vs where it's acceptable to disagree, and women's ordination is the one that makes me the most nervous about Anglicanism. Especially since what is traditionally thought of as "Anglicanism" in the USA is the Episcopal Church, which can basically be written out of any sort of orthodoxy at this point. So evaluating Anglican denominations within the "Continuum" is really the only option. I think there are a lot of parallels between the denominational differences within Anglicanism and within Lutheranism though. So I think some of the same critiques apply to both sides. I thought Dr Cooper's assessment was fair though.

[vngelicath]

I still do think that at least between Wittenberg and Canterbury, they form nice foils for each other. I'm not of the opinion that any tradition/denomination is without its flaws/weaknesses (my own included) and at least with Anglicans and Lutherans there does seem to be a LOT that we can learn from each other as we each are strong where the other is weak (doctrine v practice -- both liturgically and ecclesiologically).

That's why I go by "Lambeth Lutheran" -- two halves of one whole.

[DrMJS]

In September 2020 when I knew I had to move out of American Evangelical More-Conservative Presbyterian, I figured my choices were Lutheran or Anglican.
Thank you for this video.

[dukedex]

I left the anglican church shorty after becoming christian when the church I went to started flying the gay pride flag above the church and also draped them over the altar.

[warrenmalach]

You're spot on, Dr. Cooper, regarding the lack of doctrinal unity among even "conservative" Anglicans, but the differences in doctrine and practice among even "conservative" Lutherans beg the question of the proper application of Rom. 16:17 to the subject of Lutheran Church fellowship. After being raised in Reformed Churches and spending some time with Anglo-Catholics while in college, I myself was a member of the American Lutheran Church (now the ELCA, ) then a pastor in the Lutheran Church--Missouri Synod, then a member of the Concordia Lutheran Conference, later a member of the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod, and now I am a member of the Church of the Lutheran Confession. The differences in doctrine and practice between these different (except for the ALC) "conservative" Lutheran synods prevent them from practicing fellowship (I know that your AALC is in fellowship with the LCMS, ) a situation which would not arise among "conservative" Anglicans. I understand Amos 3:3, Rom.16:17, and 1 Cor. 1:10 to teach that there should be complete agreement in doctrine and practice for church fellowship, and that no Christian has the authority to limit such agreement for the sake of pragmatism or expediancy in church fellowship, as in the notions "we agree on ENOUGH for fellowship" and "we agree on ALMOST everything." It would be wonderful if Lutherans could give Anglicans and other Christians a faithful Scriptural example of complete agreement in doctrine and practice for church fellowship, but unfortunately they really don't!