Anglicanism is
one of the largest and most widely dispersed of all religious traditions. How
it reached this status is replete with irony and with conflict. The origins
of Anglicanism lie in the Church of England, still its largest branch and
arguably its defining center.
But the majority of Anglicans now reside in sub-Saharan Africa and do not
speak English as their primary language. Given Anglicanism’s roots, and its
integration into British colonialism, the expansion of this branch of
Christianity seems puzzling. Moreover, intramural Anglican conflict, from the
end of colonialism onward, seemingly has torn the fabric of Anglican life. It
seems problematic that this tradition, and the church bodies that represent
it, will remain intact.
By looking at the Church through the lens of the biblical theme of promise,
this book seeks to offer neither lament for a tattered tradition nor facile
hope for an expanding one. It considers the key phases of Anglican history,
each defined by clear intentions, from securing English national life, to
mission, to finding contextual roots in various locales. Whilst not denying
that the ongoing contestation about the proper shape of Anglican faith and
practice has become central, the book highlights the emergence of fresh
consensus among Anglicans, centered on grassroots initiative and innovation,
creating informal patterns of collaboration that can transcend context and
overlook divergence. |