Reformed Episcopal Church? Is it Reformed?

[bill c.]

Anybody know anything about this denomination? Are they Reformed?

 

[Scott Bushey]

http://anglicanprovince.org/pressrel702.html

Baptism It is through baptism by water in the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost that an individual dies to sin and rises to new life in Christ.[18] Through this rebirth, or regeneration, baptism washes away original sin and opens the door to God’s grace.[19] At baptism, a person is grafted into the Church, the Body of Christ, and becomes a branch of the Vine. Furthermore, in Baptism a visible confirmation is given of God’s forgiveness of the individual’s sins, and one’s adoption as a Son of God and an heir of salvation.[20]

Eucharist Scripture clearly teaches what has traditionally been called the Doctrine of the Real Presence.[21] In short, Jesus Christ is really, truly, and uniquely present in the Eucharistic celebration in which the dominical elements of bread and wine serve as focus. Our Lord’s Presence is also to be celebrated in the life of the whole Church militant and triumphant of which the Eucharistic community is the local manifestation. Anglicans have been loath to go beyond this basic definition, except to reject as dogmatic the theory of transubstantiation and to stress the role of the Holy Ghost in the celebration of the sacrament.[22] In the words of John Cosin, "as to the manner of the presence of the Body and Blood of Our Lord in the Blessed Sacrament, we...do not search into the manner of it with perplexing inquiries; but, after the example of the primitive and purest Church of Christ, we leave it to the power and wisdom of Our Lord..."[23]

Affirmation It is therefore affirmed that Christ directly instituted only two sacraments, Baptism and the Eucharist, for use in the Church, by means of which his people partake of the mystery of the Incarnation. These two sacraments are rightly considered "generally necessary for salvation." Furthermore, the Church orders her life sacramentally in services, rites, and signs that are rooted in the baptismal and eucharistic mysteries. The Church through these ministrations is the instrument and channel of God’s grace. For this reason, it is permissible within Anglicanism to refer to the rites and ceremonies of confirmation, penance, matrimony, ordination, and unction as "minor or lesser sacraments."

It is also affirmed that the sacrament of Baptism effects a new birth into the life of Christ and his Body the Church, and is thus rightly called "regeneration." According to our Lord’s command and institution, Baptism is the necessary sacrament of Christian discipleship, and thus ordinarily necessary for salvation. The grace conferred in Baptism, when received rightly, includes the remission of both original sin and all personal sins (when applicable) through one’s union with Christ in the Paschal mystery, the adoptive sonship of the Father and membership in Christ and his Body. Through Baptism, a person is incorporated into the Church and becomes the temple of the Holy Spirit. Baptism configures a person to Christ and makes him a sharer in his priesthood, consecrating the baptized person for Christian service and worship. Hence, the character of Baptism is rightly said to be indelible and the Sacrament not repeatable.

It is also affirmed that the Eucharist, or Lord’s Supper, was instituted by Christ to be a true partaking of his Body and Blood, a sacrament of our spiritual nourishment and growth in him, and a pledge of our communion with him and with each other as members of his mystical body. There is but one sacrifice for sin--the "one oblation of [Christ] once offered" upon the Cross. This one offering is the perfect redemption, propitiation, and satisfaction for the sins of the whole world. Thus, the Eucharist cannot be said to be a propitiatory sacrifice to the God the Father. Finally, the medieval doctrine of transubstantiation, as stated in Article XXVIII, "cannot be proved by Holy Writ"; nor can any dogmatic definition comprehend the mystery of the Real Presence of Christ in the Eucharist. The mystery of the Real Presence can only be affirmed by faith.

 

[bill c.]

Thanks. So it would seem they are not Reformed. I did not know that.

 

[yeutter]

no longer reformed

Thanks. So it would seem they are not Reformed. I did not know that.

Many good reformed men are still in the Reformed Episcopal Church, but as a body it has strayed from its roots in seeking union with the APA.
A web site maintained by Reformed Episcopal Church types who are still Reformed may be found at http://www.no-way-apa.net
the only Anglican body in North America that I would call distinctively reformed is the Traditional Protestant Episcopal Church. Their web site may be found at http://www.reformer.org

 

[jtbusfield]

Reformed Episcopal - no longer

The REC has (in the past 15 years) abandoned its Reformed background to become "inclusive". They have moved ever higher, allowing for more than the traditional 2 sacraments, baptismal regeneration, considering union with Mary worshipers, leaning toward Apostolic Succession, and allowing for masses, charismatics, Anglo-Catholics, and sacerdotalists. Much the same can be said for the sister Free Church of England, though in that land the church has separated over such (and other) issues. The last bishop consecrated in the FCE (2006) had participants from churches who ordain women and (Eastern) Orthodox bishops.

For more info see www.TRECUS.net

A traditional REC site is www.RedemptionTREC.org

Information on the separating FCE body - the FCE-Evangelical Connexion - which is committed to maintaining the Reformed witness of the English Reformation and the faith of the founders of the FCE/REC can be found at www.FCE-EC.org.uk

IFOTL,

A former "life-long" RE
JTB

 

[AV1611]

The REC has (in the past 15 years) abandoned its Reformed background to become "inclusive". They have moved ever higher, allowing for more than the traditional 2 sacraments, baptismal regeneration, considering union with Mary worshipers, leaning toward Apostolic Succession, and allowing for masses, charismatics, Anglo-Catholics, and sacerdotalists. Much the same can be said for the sister Free Church of England, though in that land the church has separated over such (and other) issues. The last bishop consecrated in the FCE (2006) had participants from churches who ordain women and (Eastern) Orthodox bishops.

For more info see www.TRECUS.net

A traditional REC site is www.RedemptionTREC.org

Information on the separating FCE body - the FCE-Evangelical Connexion - which is committed to maintaining the Reformed witness of the English Reformation and the faith of the founders of the FCE/REC can be found at www.FCE-EC.org.uk

IFOTL,

A former "life-long" RE
JTB

From what I understand the Free Church of England split in the south over Freemasonry which it was full of.

 

[jtbusfield]

FCE and Free Masonry

Correct. The original split was (largely) precipitated by Free Masonry. Since then, the split has been widened and vindicated by the FCE - Ecumenical moving closer in form and practice to the Neo-REC and all its Anglo-Catholicism and unbiblical ecumenism. There is a great interest in "churchianity", less so in Reformed Christianity.

IFOTL,

JTB