The Anglican Understanding of the Church: An Introduction, 2nd ed.

by Paul Avis

Publisher:

SPCK

, 2013

Overview

What is the Church? The Anglican answer to this question is clearly given in this short guide to the origins, structure, ministry, and values of the Churches of the worldwide Anglican Communion. Paul Avis explains and clarifies the history and theology involved. The reader is introduced to the concepts in a structured way, making the book clear to those who may be coming to these issues for the first time. It will also serve as an invaluable aide-mémoire and reference tool for the specialist, presenting a clear outline of the structure, form, function, disposition, and beliefs of the Church. Concise and informative, this is an ideal handbook and textbook.

The second edition has updated examples and refers to developments such as Fresh Expressions, women bishops, and the Anglican Covenant. It is more reader-friendly with questions for reflection or discussion, and suggestions for further reading.

Key Features

• Explains and clarifies the history and theology involved in defining the Church
• Introduces key concepts on the origins, structure, and values of the Churches worldwide
• Presents an outline of the structure, form, function, disposition, and beliefs of the Church

Contents

• The Spirit of Anglican Ecclesiology
• Why Do Christians Need to Understand the Church?
• The Quest for Anglican Ecclesiology
• Three Models of Anglican Self-Understanding
• The Threefold Appeal of Anglican Ecclesiology
• The Sources of Anglican Ecclesiology
• The Shape of Anglican Ecclesiology

Top Highlights

“This commitment to the ancient threefold ministry of the Church became, by the seventeenth century, a non-negotiable platform of Anglicanism. Thus, in Anglicanism, Scripture shows the way of salvation but reason and tradition play their part in shaping the life of the Church.” (Page 69)

“Anglican theology has often been marked by a spirit of openness towards other Christian traditions.” (Page 1)

“The New Catholic Encyclopedia defines ecclesiology in a nuanced way as ‘the branch of theology that seeks to give a scientific exposition of the faith of the Church concerning itself’. Ecclesiology may be defined, therefore, as reasoned and informed reflection on the nature of the Christian Church, understood theologically, that is to say in the light of God’s revealed nature and purpose.” (Pages 12–13)

“Everywhere, however, the Church of England is under pressure from three modern phenomena that go under the catch-all names of secularization, privatization and pluralization.” (Page 4)

“Second, there are particular Churches, such as the member Churches of the Anglican Communion (sometimes called ‘provinces’), of which the Church of England is one.” (Page 82)

Product Details

• Title: The Anglican Understanding of the Church: An Introduction
• Author: Paul Avis
• Edition: Second
• Publisher: SPCK
• Print Publication Date: 2013
• Logos Release Date: 2013
• Pages: 144
• Language: English
• Resources: 1
• Format: Digital › Logos Research Edition
• Subjects: Church of England › Doctrines; Anglican Communion › Doctrines
• Resource ID: LLS:ANGUNDCHURCHAVIS2ED
• Resource Type: Monograph
• Metadata Last Updated: 2024-03-25T19:08:25Z

About Paul Avis

Paul Avis is an Anglican priest, theologian and ecumenist. He is General Secretary of the Church of England’s Council for Christian Unity. At the University of Exeter he is honorary Professor of Theology and Director of the Centre for the Study of the Christian Church. Paul Avis is also a Chaplain to Her Majesty The Queen, Canon Theologian of Exeter Cathedral and Convening Editor of the journal Ecclesiology.