The Truth About Anglicans & Lutherans

Many high church Protestant Christians claim they also have valid apostolic succession in the same sense that the Catholic Church, Assyrian Church of the East, and Orthodox churches do. After all, during the Protestant Reformation, there were many validly consecrated priests and bishops who became Protestants. However, because of what King Edward VI did, this is no longer the case.

[nathanfaryon]

The claim that Anglican Holy Orders lack validity due to deficiencies in form, matter, and intention does not hold up under serious scrutiny, particularly when examining both the historical Church of England and the Anglican Church in North America.

The form of ordination, preserved in the Edwardian Ordinal and carried forward to the ACNA, is entirely consonant with Apostolic tradition. The words "Receive the Holy Ghost for the Office and Work of a Priest in the Church of God" explicitly affirm the priestly vocation. Critics often charge that Anglican liturgies omit references to sacrifice, yet the words of ordination clearly align with early Christian texts, such as the writings of St. Hippolytus and the Sacramentary of Serapion, where the focus is on the ministry of Word and Sacrament.

The matter—the laying on of hands—is an unbroken practice in the Anglican tradition, rooted in Scripture itself (Acts 6:6, 1 Timothy 4:14). Whether in the Church of England during the Reformation or in today’s ACNA ordinations, this physical act has always been performed with reverence and in continuity with the Apostolic tradition. Even Pope Leo XIII in Apostolicae Curae did not dispute the presence of proper matter in Anglican Orders.

As to intention, this is the linchpin of the argument, and here Anglicanism stands firm. The Preface to the Ordinal declares the Church's commitment to the historic threefold ministry of bishops, priests, and deacons, ordained to preach the Gospel and administer the Sacraments. The ACNA inherits this same intention, explicitly affirming the sacramental theology of the wider Catholic tradition. The Eucharist is celebrated as a true participation in the Body and Blood of Christ, with priests ordained to serve at the altar in the pattern handed down from the Apostles.

Critics may claim a defect in intention based on theological differences over transubstantiation or the nature of the priesthood, but intention is judged by what is done and said in the rite, not by polemical accusations. If intention were subject to such subjective criteria, few ordinations anywhere could be judged valid.

Finally, let us not forget that Anglican succession is historically verifiable. Archbishop Matthew Parker was consecrated in 1559 by bishops with valid Holy Orders, and this line continues to the ACNA today. Furthermore, the participation of Old Catholic bishops in Anglican consecrations over the centuries has reinforced the validity of Anglican Orders, even by Rome’s own standards.

To dismiss Anglican Orders is to dismiss a tradition that has held fast to the essentials of Catholic and Apostolic faith, while seeking to minister to the world with faithfulness and integrity. Truth requires that we set aside prejudice and recognize the work of the Holy Spirit in the Anglican Church, both past and present. @IronInquisitor, I love your channel, but I pray you do not stray into subjects that you are not fully familiar with yet, especially as the Roman Catholic Church is possibly (likely) going into Communion with the ACNA and recognizing our Holy Orders as valid.

[JustinCage]

That's donatism, Patrick!
If you are baptized in the name of The Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, they're Baptized regardless of the denomination

[mbhftw]

Intention, Im pretty sure God judges us based on intentions. When all of us non-Catholics are judged are we going to get penalized on a technicality? "Opps, I see you were baptized in my name, but the person who did it, did it wrong" This is another case of "Im Catholic and Im better than you"

[Veritas_Christi]

The Roman Catholic Church is in talks with the ACNA to come to communion with them and if this happens their sacraments and their apostolic succession and holy orders will become valid

[davidww]

Non-Catholic Christians (especially Orthodox) could use this exact same argument and make the case that the Catholic Church gave the Eucharist in improper form. For hundreds of years, the laity only received the bread and not the cup, which is not the form that was instituted by Christ.

[blewis]

This is ridiculous, humans determining the sanctity of other humans….

[bobnas]

If there’s a long form video/documentary on this subject that anyone is aware of, please let it be known. God bless

[enricochestri]

So if I receive communion from an Anglican or Lutheran pastor it isn't valid? God is above all this stuff and nonsense.

[legovidz]

The sacraments derive their power from Jesus’ words. In your example of the baptismal formula, the plain words of Jesus require baptism in the triune name.

Likewise in communion, Anglicans and Lutherans will recite the exact Words of Institution as spoken by Jesus. The real dispute is whether “Apostolic Succession” is required for the Sacraments to be effective.

[christopherpineda]

Yes your are right, Im born into anglican and now see the truth, I want to become Catholic. The reformation took out the intencion and the form . And still this day try to "amend it" but it a mess . Anglicanism need to submit to the pope. That only way.

[danib]

Protestants have gave us our freedom in America. God bless the protestant reformation.

[richardounjian]

Actually, the Anglicans were in good standing until 1896 when Pope Leo XIII declared their holy orders null and void

[denknichtschau]

Thank you for this! I was asking myself this question today, how serendipitous

[Deww-ez]

This will never not just be crass donatism

[hismajesty]

The Catholic Church officially recognizes Anglican and Lutheran baptisms. In addition, the laying on of hands is the sacrament of Ordination, and it is Donatism to say a Sacrament is ineffectual based on the beliefs of the priest.

[khron]

name me one single difference between a Lutheran baptism and a Catholic baptism? You can’t.

[ThClticNrd]

And how did selling indulgences fit into this?

[JacksonVarnado]

Anglicans also are in communion with old Catholics and the words were only temporarily changed and bishops from the catholic church left and joined the Anglican Church in the time period

[Canadiana_Invicta]

Is the form of laying on hands really the same in Catholic, Orthodox, and the other recognized denominations?

[mariaochenas]

I would not trust an adolescent with making important Church decisions (Edward VI)