The Ecumenical Significance of Anglicanism

Extract

Such generous and sympathetic recognition of the ecumenical importance of Anglicanism as that expressed by Professor Manson in his paper on Church and Intercommunion¹ is always both inspiring and humbling to Anglicans who feel the pain of separation from their Christian brethren. They believe that God is calling the Anglican Church to play a difficult but important role in the healing of Christian divisions, and cannot but be encouraged when they find, among members of other Churches, an appreciation of what Professor Manson calls the ‘immense ecumenical potentiality’ of Anglicanism. But if Anglicanism is to be in any real sense an ‘instrument of ecumenical rapprochement’, both Anglicans and non-Anglicans must understand clearly what it is and what it is not; much confusion exists because it has been misrepresented both from within and from without, by those who would have it, or suppose it to be, something other than it really is. To define Anglicanism, how-ever, is far from easy, for it has an elusive and, indeed, a unique quality, but I hope to suggest in this paper certain lines at least along which better understanding may be sought, and to remove one or two of the more obvious misconceptions which tend to confuse discussion and to exacerbate controversy.