Reformed Churchmen

We are Confessional Calvinists and a Prayer Book Church-people. In 2012, we remembered the 350th anniversary of the 1662 Book of Common Prayer; also, we remembered the 450th anniversary of John Jewel's sober, scholarly, and Reformed "An Apology of the Church of England." In 2013, we remembered the publication of the "Heidelberg Catechism" and the influence of Reformed theologians in England, including Heinrich Bullinger's Decades. For 2014: Tyndale's NT translation. For 2015, John Roger, Rowland Taylor and Bishop John Hooper's martyrdom, burned at the stakes. Books of the month. December 2014: Alan Jacob's "Book of Common Prayer" at: http://www.amazon.com/Book-Common-Prayer-Biography-Religious/dp/0691154813/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1417814005&sr=8-1&keywords=jacobs+book+of+common+prayer. January 2015: A.F. Pollard's "Thomas Cranmer and the English Reformation: 1489-1556" at: http://www.amazon.com/Thomas-Cranmer-English-Reformation-1489-1556/dp/1592448658/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1420055574&sr=8-1&keywords=A.F.+Pollard+Cranmer. February 2015: Jaspar Ridley's "Thomas Cranmer" at: http://www.amazon.com/Thomas-Cranmer-Jasper-Ridley/dp/0198212879/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1422892154&sr=8-1&keywords=jasper+ridley+cranmer&pebp=1422892151110&peasin=198212879

Monday, November 29, 2010

Deceit in the REC: Declaration of Principles of the Reformed Episcopal Church - The Anglo-Reformed Movement

At hat-tip to Anglo-Reformed (http://anglo-reformed.org/) which, by a turn, prompted these thoughts--which Psalm 139 advises have been known before uttered (great Psalter-lections for Monday in the First Sunday in Advent, 2010). A few thoughts in day 2-watch. Psalm 140 raises the issue of serpentine behaviours. Is it an exaggeration to say that "double-speak," conscious, volitional, and intentional, rises to the level of "serpentine" acts? There are such things as "mistakes." But what we raise is a matter of stated and historic principles--long published--and then dismissed by REC leaders.

1. Deceit in the REC as per the below "Declaration of Principles." Psalm 140 speaks of serpentine tongues, hence our photo to the left.

2. Complicity with Virtue, http://www.virtueonline.org/. As to the latter, this is the second day of conflict with Virtue, having begun on the First Sunday in Advent, 2010.

3. Psalm 139--His Majesty's omnipotence, omniscience, and providence knows the words, thoughts, goings and comings of ALL PLAYERS ON THIS ANGLICAN STAGE of doings.

4. Relatedly, Jack Iker goes to GAFCON where the 1662 BCP and Articles are affirmed. Jack walks out and says, "We read the articles like John Newman" (meaning, we reject the Protestant articles). ACNA double-speak. Would it be better for Mr. Iker to simply leave GAFCON? Join any one of the various alphabet Anglo-Catholic groups?

5. Total silence over this double-speak in the media. Akin to Mr. Leo Riches double-speak in the REC.

6. This is day two on the "Virtue-Watch." Below are the "Principles" tossed by Mr. Leo Riches, his own son, and other leaders in more double-speak. Who can abide dishonesty? Should Mr. Riches simply have left the REC--himself--and joined the TEC? Would that not have been the course of honour and respect? Would that still be the better course for him?

Declaration of Principles of the Reformed Episcopal Church - The Anglo-Reformed Movement

Adopted, December 2d, 1873

1.The Reformed Episcopal Church, holding "the faith once delivered unto the saints," declares its belief in the Holy Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments as the Word of God, and the sole Rule of Faith and Practice; in the Creed "commonly called the Apostles' Creed;" in the Divine institution of the Sacraments of Baptism and the Lord's Supper; and in the doctrines of grace substantially as they are set forth in the Thirty–nine Articles of Religion.


2.This Church recognizes and adheres to Episcopacy, not as of Divine right, but as a very ancient and desirable form of Church polity.

3.This Church, retaining a Liturgy which shall not be imperative or repressive of freedom in prayer, accepts The Book of Common Prayer, as it was revised, proposed, and recommended for use by the General Convention of the Protestant Episcopal Church, A. D. 1785, reserving full liberty to alter, abridge, enlarge, and amend the same, as may seem most conductive to the edification of the people, "provided that the substance of the faith be kept entire."

4.This Church condemns and rejects the following erroneous and strange doctrines as contrary to God's Word;

•First, That the Church of Christ exists only in one order or form of ecclesiastical polity:

•Second, That Christian Ministers are "priests" in another sense than that in which all believers are "a royal priesthood:"

•Third, That the Lord's Table is an altar on which the oblation of the Body and Blood of Christ is offered anew to the Father:

•Fourth, That the Presence of Christ in the Lord's Supper is a presence in the elements of the Bread and Wine:

•Fifth, That Regeneration is inseparably connected with Baptism.

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