renewal in the anglican church

[Yitzchak]

What is the stance of the anglican church on the issue of renewal movements like the one which came out of the Toronto blessing?
I have met several anglicans who said their congregation is moving in renewal in a way that sounds almost charasmatic or pentecostal.

[PaladinValer]

can you provide some information?

[Yitzchak]

I'm not sure what kind of info you are asking for, but I will try.

[Yitzchak]

There is a website for the toronto church which is where the "toronto blessing " happened. www.tacf.org. It stands for toronto airport christian fellowship. I have been there myself to visit. It used to be a vineyard church and is that style but is now independent I think.
I know some friends who live here in calgary who go to a vineyard church and said they were anglican when they lived in England and that their church was moving in toronto style renewal but when they came here they switched to vineyard because the anglican parish here is not . They said their parrish back home was similar to a vineyard church.

[TomUK]

While i agree with you that there is a significant element within the anglican church moving in a pentecostal direction, i also think the inverse is also true. I think the Anglo-Catholics are growing in support tremendously, are there is an increasing disparity within the church- this has been highlighted recently with the homosexual debate and women priests.
Not sure if that really answers your question, but that's my input anyway:)

[PaladinValer]

I'm curious if this church is a Charismatic Episcopal Church parallel. If so, then it really isn't a member of the Anglican Church.

If not, there are those Anglican parishes that are becoming more charismatic, but they are few and far inbetween compared to those parishes who are becoming much more like the Early Church of the Apostles and Ecumenical Councils. The Second Vatican rediscovered many things that the "Western Church" had lost or fogotten, and that has spread into the Methodists, Lutherans, and Anglicans especially as well as the Catholic Church.

It really doesn't sound very orthodox of an Anglican perish to become so charismatic. Although we acknowledge the gifts of the Holy Spirit, we, like the Early Church, do not place as much emphasis on them as Pentecostals and Charismatics do. We believe that the idea of extreme emotion that those Christian groups experience isn't traditional and somewhat strange. That is why charismatic Anglicans are so rare.

This isn't to say that Pentecostals or Charismatic Christians aren't good or true Christians. Its simply that their ideas are foreign to us and our vision.

[bonniea84]

Ever heard of Faith Alive? That's one way to get the church into renewal. I've seen some terrific things happen through an event, and the entire church is involved. I've worked on two teams for two different churches. Take care.

Blessings,
Bonnie Ainsworth
Laramie, WY

[Yitzchak]

One anglican church which i visited here in our town has two services. one traditional and one more what i would call charasmatic.

[Bartimaeus]

One anglican church which i visited here in our town has two services. one traditional and one more what i would call charasmatic.
My big concern would be this "barking in the spirit" and things of that nature that the Toronto movement exthols. Their services are too chaotic, too unorganized for my personal liking. Just my two cents.


:idea:

[TomUK]

I echo your views about that Bartimeus. All churchs need to have an appeal as wide as possible, but they also need to maintain some sort of consistency. A church should be a sanctuary, and i don't think i'd be too happy to attend a church where i knew that i didn't agree with all that was going on there.

[PaladinValer]

Ok, from what I've further read is that this isn't an Anglican church (although the OP never said he did but I originally thought he implied it; my most sincere apologies for the misunderstanding...my fault!) but what seems to me to be a Pentecostal ministry.

As such, the rest of my above post IMO still holds. The Anglican Church isn't charsimatic. Although there are some charismatic-like churches that use the Anglican name, they are mostly those of the Charismatic Episcopal Church, which is not in Full Communion with the See of Canterbury (thus not "fully" Anglican). There are those parishes in the AC that are charismatic, but they are few and far inbetween, and since I've never been to one, I couldn't tell you of my full opinion about them. So long as a person uses the gifts of the Holy Spirit properly and in a traditional way (Holy Tradition is important to us Anglicans), then we don't have a problem. :)

[Yitzchak]

Ok, from what I've further read is that this isn't an Anglican church (although the OP never said he did but I originally thought he implied it; my most sincere apologies for the misunderstanding...my fault!) but what seems to me to be a Pentecostal ministry.

As such, the rest of my above post IMO still holds. The Anglican Church isn't charsimatic. Although there are some charismatic-like churches that use the Anglican name, they are mostly those of the Charismatic Episcopal Church, which is not in Full Communion with the See of Canterbury (thus not "fully" Anglican). There are those parishes in the AC that are charismatic, but they are few and far inbetween, and since I've never been to one, I couldn't tell you of my full opinion about them. So long as a person uses the gifts of the Holy Spirit properly and in a traditional way (Holy Tradition is important to us Anglicans), then we don't have a problem. :)

I am sorry that i didn't make it clear. The church in toronto is not an anglican church. It used to be a vineyard church and is charasmatic. There have been literally a few hundred thousand visitors from all over the world to Toronto in the past several years because of the word gettign out about miracles and revival there. It surprised em though that it crossed denominational lines to the extent that it did and when i met several Anglicans who have been to Toronto and are very much in favor of that style of worship, i was suprised.

[Karl - Liberal Backslider]

There are quite a number of charismatic Anglican churches. They don't suit me.

I'm not against them, although I do wonder, when most traces of Anglican liturgy, vestments and practice, even those demanded by the Canons of the CofE, have been abandoned, exactly what they mean by "Anglican". As has been said, such churches are often more like a charismatic Baptist or Pentecostal church than a middle-of-the-road Anglican church.

On the other hand, the breadth of practice and belief in the Anglican church is one of its strengths and distinctive features; but to what extent does Common Prayer (even if not BCP but rather Common Worship or whatever liturgy is authorised in that Province) have to be present to really be Anglican? What does "being Anglican" mean?

[Zacharias]

I'm curious if this church is a Charismatic Episcopal Church parallel. If so, then it really isn't a member of the Anglican Church.


We were never part of the Episcopal church.

[Zacharias]

I'm part of the Charismatic Episcopal Church (CEC) which exists as "convergence of streams" -- a unifier of the liturgical/sacramental, evangelical, and charismatic tributaries of the Church Universal, which flow into the one “river, whose streams make glad the city of God, the Holy Place where the Most High dwells" (Psalm 46:4). We also have apostolic succession through both the Anglican and the Catholic church. We are a 12 year old denomination and we didn't split from a church, we totaly separate.
If anyone has any questions you can ask me. ;)

[Polycarp1]

I cannot speak for the Charismatic Episcopal Church (which, by the way, meets with the broad definition of "Anglican" which this forum has subscribed to, so you CEC folks are very much welcome as a part of us). But within the Episcopal Church and the Church of England (quite possibly other national churches as well) there are Anglicans within the charismatic renewal movement. With my poor search capabilities, I will not attempt to research out Episcopal Renewal Ministries, but they used to have a big web presence. The current Bishop of Central Florida, John W. Howe, and the Bishop of Albany, Daniel Herzog, are both firmly and for many years part of this strand of Anglicanism. Looking up Dennis Bennett and Terry Fullam, two Anglican priests who were among the earliest of the folks in the charismatic renewal, would be interesting. Also Alden Hathaway had a great deal to do with this. (Someone with a good DSL connection might do me the kindness of posting links to the above, if they feel so moved.)

[Zacharias]

Here is a little history about the Charismatic Episcopal Church.

While the CEC (Charismatic Episcopal Church) is a relatively young communion, it occupies a position within the crucible of historic faith through both Anglican and Catholic [i.e., Catholic Apostolic Church of Brazil] lines; receiving its apostolic succession through pure lines of undisputed orthodox Christianity. While rooted in the ancient we also believe that the CEC has been raised by God to be a new jurisdiction with pillars in the historic, apostolic churches as well as the charismatic and evangelical movements of our own generation. In this respect the CEC exists as a "convergence of streams" -- a unifier of the liturgical/ sacramental, evangelical, and charismatic tributaries of the Church Universal, which flow into the one “river, whose streams make glad the city of God, the Holy Place where the Most High dwells" (Psalm 46:4).

The seeds of this “convergence movement” were planted in May, 1977, when a group of evangelical leaders came together to issue a powerful call to all evangelicals to rediscover their roots in historic Christianity. "The Chicago Call," as it came to be known, was signed by such people as Peter Gilquist, Thomas Howard, Robert Webber, and Jon Braun. Their message--a recovery of our common and apostolic roots for the faithful transmission of the Gospel-- became the catalyst and heartbeat for our church.

Uniquely, the CEC is not a schism or splinter group from another denomination. It was a unique work of God borne into the hearts of dedicated and faithful clergy from a number of denominations (Pentecostals, Baptists, Anglicans, Lutherans, Independent Charismatics, Wesleyans, etc.) who studied, prayed over, and witnessed this need for a house of convergence. They were burdened for a church that not only exercised apostolic authority within a liturgical framework but operated under the inspiration and anointing of the Holy Spirit. On June 26, 1992, Father Randolph Adler was consecrated as the church's first Bishop and Primate.

Today, clergy and laymen of the CEC, traveling from their heritage in Evangelical, Pentecostal/Charismatic, Anglican, Roman, and Eastern Orthodox expressions, now have the common vision of making the Kingdom of God visible to the nations of the world. The founding vision of the CEC states: “We seek to bring the rich sacramental and liturgical life of the early church to searching evangelicals and charismatics as well as carrying the power of Pentecost to our brothers and sisters in the historical churches, all the while providing a home for all Christians who seek an expression of faith that is equally liturgical/sacramental, evangelical, and charismatic.”