Why I Am Joining the Episcopal Church
As promised on facebook, I decided to write a post about my joining of the Episcopal Church (it won’t be officially until May).Yes, you did read that correctly. After years of wandering between theological traditions, unable to find an appropriate fit, the journey has ended.
After Florrie and I moved to Columbus, GA we continued our search for a “home” church. We instantly fell in love with Trinity Episcopal in Columbus, GA. And, after an impromptu conversation with Father Rich Martindale, both Florrie and I agreed that the search was over.
Why, then, aren’t we just joining Trinity, rather than the Episcopal Church as a whole? That’s a little more complicated. I won’t presume to speak for my amazing wife, but here’s a listing of my reasons for joining the Episcopal Church (c’mon, who doesn’t love a good list?!):
- A Loving Community. While this seems minor to many, I am sick of being in traditions that define themselves by what they are not, by the things they oppose. Even the phrase “Bible-believing Christian” implies a distinction from those Christians who don’t believe the Bible. My experience with Episcopalians has been loving and affirming (though every church has its pin-heads). The Episcopal Church defines itself by its desire to share the love of Christ with the world. I can really get behind that.
- The Eucharist. Based on my study at Candler School of Theology, the psycologizing of the Bread and Wine in communion is a perversion of the early Church. As early as Justin Martyr (d. 166 CE) one can find an understanding the that the bread and wine are transformed and transform those who partake of them. This understanding, though it evolves, can be found throughout the history of the Church until Ulrich Zwingli abandoned it in the Reformation. The Anglican Church, and its American sister, the Episcopal Church, respect and continue the Eucharist tradition began with the earliest disciples.
- The Respect of History. The Episcopal Church deeply respects the history of the Christian Church. Its Eucharistic tradition is just a small part of the historical nature of the Episcopal Church. It’s leadership is educated in the history of the Church. It’s people participate in the Liturgical Calendar. While the Episcopal Church affirms the Reformation’s creed of “Scripture alone” as the firmest foundation for belief, it holds that the Scriptures can only be properly understood in light of their historical interpretation and appropriation.
- Inclusivity. The Anglican Church was founded to be a ‘third-way’, a bridge between Protestant and Catholic traditions. The idea behind the Church was the find unity in our dependence on Christ, rather than doctrinal assertions and divisions. This has provides the Episcopal Church with the foundation for deep diversity within its unity. One Church and one Body does not require on doctrinal statement or one set of beliefs. It only requires the we all meet at the same table, admit our universal dependency on Christ, and partake in God’s grace via the Eucharist. Therefore, the Episcopal Church provides the me with the theological latitude that I have been unable to find in other traditions. The 39 Articles aside, there is no other doctrinal statement to sign my name to. Questioning is encouraged.
- A Respect of Theologians and Theological Education. This may seem petty to many people, but I genuinely felt chased out of my previous non-denominational evangelical tradition. I was never asked to leave, but Non-Denominational Evangelicals (and their Pentecostal and Baptist compatriots) make a point of degrading theology and the theologians who dedicate their lives to such endeavors. This is not the case with the Anglican/ Episcopal Church. Rowan Williams, the Archbishop of Canterbury (head of the Anglican Communion), is one of the most renowned theologians in the world today. Williams aside, the Anglican Communion is also home to a diverse number of contemprorary theologians such as N.T. Wright, Alister McGrath, Mark A. McIntosh, Joy Ann McDougall, Kathryn Tanner, Stanley Hauwerwas, Miroslav Volf, John Webster, Desmond Tutu, John Macquarrie, etc. As a second sub point, the Episcopal not only encouarges theological scholarship, it encourages education. It requires its priests and bishops to be heavily educated. It even mandates they continue education after ordination! While in non-denominational evangelical circles I constantly had to justify my theological education and defend my role in the Church. I have received nothing but praise for dedicating my life to the service of the Church since participating in Trinity.
- The Ordination of Homosexuals? Undoubtedly, the issue of homosexual marriage comes up in conversation any time I tell a friend about my joining the Episcopal Church. To be honest, this isn’t an issue for me. Either I sit in a Baptist Church where I vehemently disagree and have to be silent, or I sit in an Episcopal Church where I am free to share my beliefs and join an ongoing conversation about the things I disagree with. I’ll disagree with leadership wherever I am. Why not join a Church that encourages conversation rather than stifling it?
So… there’s the summary. Add all these together and I honestly believe, after 5 years of searching, I will never find a better fit than I have found in the Episcopal Church. Hopefully this will help convince some of my friends that I’m still a Christian (yes, I’m serious). Regardless, I’d love to hear your thoughts.
-Earl
Eh, still not convinced. But, I suppose this will have to do.
Seriously though, congrats. Too bad JI Packer is no longer Anglican. But, they really have a diverse theological tradition, which makes it tough but interesting.
Alan: Thanks for commenting! I appreciate you considering joining my conversion to the Episcopal Church. However, I wasn’t really trying to convert folks. I just wanted to give a quick explanation for why.
Earl
PS- We can live without Packer. However, I probably should write a post on why I didn’t join that bunch.
This is cool… I like seeing everything you considered before joining a church, and that you thought about more than just “how you felt” and that you’re more interested in a healthy environment than purely a comfortable one. Mad props!
Earl and Florrie,
Thank you for sharing your journey with us. Your diligence and humility and commitment in searching out a church home is a model for us. Thank you!
May God bless you now as you covenant yourself to this church family, that you would be blessed and be a blessing, that you would grow and give, that God’s kingdom would be made here on earth as it is in Heaven through your obedience and worship.
ps. you guys ROCK!
Haha….sorry, Earl, I was trying to be funny. Fail. I was (jokingly) saying that I’m not convinced you’re a Christian. I know you’re not trying to win converts (to the Episcopal church). And I have a short list of reasons why I stay Baptist (even if I feel like throwing that list out the window and running like hell sometimes).
But, I fully respect your decision here. And, I certainly feel you on a few things (lack of ability to disagree in Baptistic churches, and the anti-education bent as well).
Will you be much involved in the denomination at large, or will your involvement mostly be at the local level? Just curious, more than anything.
Alan
@Alan: Yeah, I completely missed that joke.
Regarding you being Baptist, much of my reasoning for joining the Episcopal Church has been addressed by Baptist theologians like the late Stanley Grenz. I still think his book with John Franke, Beyond Foundationalism is an incredible introduction to a conservative, and yet postmodern theological method. It can be done within a Baptist context.
I would love to participate in the larger Denomination. Since I hope to teach systematic and historical theology, it seems inevitable that I’ll participate in the larger denomination eventually. However, right now I’m just more concerned with keeping regular attendance and at least some participation in my local community. I want to learn the ropes right now. Nothing is worse than the know-it-all new converts who think they should be put into leadership positions (you pastors know exactly what I’m talking about).
Earl
Earl (and Alan),
Glad to hear you’ve found a home among the Episcopalians – enjoy the Scotch, they know how to find the best of it. HOWEVER, I just don’t get the assumption that all baptists are authoritarians who want to stifle diversity and conversation. There are many Baptists (in the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship and Alliance of Baptists) who seek to foster conversation, dissent, diversity and who also work to pursue peace, justice and inclusivity.
Granted, all of the critiques that people have of Baptists are true some of the time. However, I have served in ministry among Baptists, Methodists, Episcopalians and Lutherans and I have never (ever) in a Baptist context been silenced from asking questions, discouraged from pursuing theological education or denigrated for political or ethical positions that I hold. So I never have been able to wrap my head around the stereotypes of baptists as bigoted, conservative, anti-intellectual or authoritarian because I’ve never experienced it…ever.
These assumptions simply do not hold true among MOST Baptists and I find it unfortunate that people tend to think of Baptists as the last group of morons still clinging to racism, sexism and any other negative “ism” that the rest of the more “enlightened” mainline world has supposedly moved beyond.
Again, I am very glad you’ve found a home (the Anglicans need sharp minds like yours) but please be aware that many – if not most – Baptists aren’t what you think they are.
Andrew:
First, thanks for the comment and the congratulation!
Second, I think I’ve been very evenhanded with Baptists (at least in this post). I will volunteer that I do posses many of the biases you mentioned against the majority of Baptists. However, I did also tip my hat to the late Stanley Grenz. He was a Baptist cut from the cloth you’re describing. I don’t presume to speak for Alan, however. He’s more than capable of speaking for himself.
“These assumptions simply do not hold true among MOST Baptists”
I hope that you are correct. However, my experience does tell me otherwise. I do know Baptists like you describe. But, nevertheless, the Southern Baptist Convention is reported as the largest sub-denomination of Baptists. And the SBC, as a whole, epitomizes the racist, sexist, and other negative ‘isms that you describe. Moreover, lets not forget that much of the (slowly dying) Religious Right stems from Baptist Churches or ascribe to Baptist doctrine under the guise of Evangelicalism. The Baptist fundamental of Church autonomy creates an ample breeding-ground for insularity (just as mainline Churches are way over exposed the latest and greatest liberal thinking)
Lastly, you do raise a very important critique. I appreciate your challenge that we ought to be carefully about painting whole groups with a single brush. I still don’t think that I’ve done it here, but I’ll readily admit that I’m guilty of it in other contexts. So thanks! I hope you’ll stick around. I look forward to future conversations!
Earl
Earl,
I’ll definitely stick around. And, in hindsight, my comment may have been a bit more passionate than was warranted. Nevertheless, just as not all Catholics agree with all the positions of the Vatican (a phenomenon which is increasingly common these days), many – if not most – Southern Baptist people in the pews either disagree with or could not care less about the myriad positions taken by the SBC.
True local church autonomy does potentially breed insularity. However, local church autonomy also allows local churches to determine the method and means of worship, missional cooperation, and social ministry. At its best, this freedom means that local churches are not hampered by denominational politics in reaching and serving the people that the Spirit has called them to love and serve. At its worst, however, we get Westboro Baptist Church and Fred Phelps. But I don’t think local church autonomy is really the root of these negative realities
I’ve been fortunate to experience far more of the former than the latter but I do recognize that – for many folks – Baptists represent the worst of American Christianity’s complicity in racism, sexism, etc. I am hopeful that – in the future – the sorts of Baptists that I’ve been around will become the majority and that people will begin to see the authentic good that can come when people freely associate for worship, ministry, peace and justice.
Thanks for your thoughtful post and rebuttal and forgive my impassioned response.
Peace, A.T.
“The Episcopal Church defines itself by its desire to share the love of Christ with the world. I can really get behind that.”
You mean, as opposed to churches that don’t desire to share the love of Christ with the world? :) I’m thinking there’s an antithesis to every thesis.