Our beliefs
What does it mean to be Anglican?
First and foremost, Anglicans are Christians. Globally, Anglicans form the third largest body of Christians in the world (around 80 million members) behind the Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox churches. Anglican churches exist in more than 165 different countries.
To be Anglican is not to embrace a distinct version of Christianity. Rather, it is a distinct way of being a “mere Christian”—one that is at the same time
evangelical, apostolic, catholic, reformed, and Spirit-filled.
Anglicans celebrate what Christians of all times and places have held to be the central truths of the gospel. We value a connection both with the historic church through the centuries and with the Protestant reforms of the 16th century. Our worship is shaped by liturgies found in the Book of Common Prayer, which is basically the Bible arranged for prayer, and our faith is best summarized by the Creeds of the early Church and our confession, the Thirty-Nine Articles of Religion.
What do we believe?
Our faith is best summarized in the words of the ancient Creeds (Nicene and Apostles’). To learn more about the theology that unites our global faith community, you can read the Jerusalem Declaration (from GAFCON, our international network of Anglicans committed to the authority of Scripture, historic Christian Orthodoxy, and Gospel mission).
The ACNA (Anglican Church of North America) has declared seven elements as essential for membership in the Anglican church and can be found listed here.
We recognize that all of us are on a faith journey, and we warmly welcome those with questions and doubts.
Anglican authors C.S. Lewis, J.I. Packer, John Stott, and John Wesley are great examples of our Anglican identity.
