Three Streams: The Scripture…the Spirit…the Sacred

In the course of Church history, three major “branches” have developed which incorporate a particular emphasis of belief, teaching and worship. The Anglican Mission believes that each of these traditions represents an essential element of Christian faith, worship, life and ministry. We refer to these elements using a descriptive short-hand: the Scripture, the Spirit and the Sacred, envisioning them as three streams flowing from one river – Jesus Christ and His Gospel imperatives. We believe the three streams together provide a balanced blend of the Christian faith as taught in the one holy catholic and apostolic Church. The Scripture, the Spirit and the Sacred are exemplified in our discipleship, worship, congregational life and outreach.

The Scripture

Our focus on Scripture mirrors the “evangelical” tradition within Christianity that emphasizes the authority of Scripture, the proclamation of the Gospel, the need for a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, evangelism and outreach/missions. The Anglican Mission believes and upholds eternal truths revealed by God through His Son and His Word. We recognize Scripture as the final authority in matters of faith and practice and proclaim Jesus Christ as the unique Son of God, believing that salvation is found in His sacrificial death and Resurrection alone, which we attain by grace through faith in Him.

“All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work” (2 Timothy 3:16-17).

"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16).

The Spirit

We celebrate the power of God’s Spirit at work in the Church and the world, a focus often associated with the “charismatic” tradition. The Anglican Mission believes God’s Spirit was poured out at Pentecost and continues to move in a mighty way by demonstrating His presence through powerful acts and the transformation of believers. We believe the Spirit of God guides, instructs and equips believers for works of service.

“ I am going to send you what my Father has promised; but stay in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high" (Luke 24:49).

“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth" (Acts 1:8).

The Sacred

Anglican Mission embraces the sacred nature of the historic faith and sacramental life of the Church – God has set the Church apart as holy. Sometimes termed the “catholic” tradition, we understand the sacred as embodying that which has been taught and believed within the one holy catholic apostolic church throughout the centuries, as expressed in the Creeds and 39 Articles of Religion. Liturgy (forms of worship) and our sacraments of Baptism and the Lord’s Supper (Holy Eucharist) are rooted in the earliest Christian church and express these truths.

One River

Together, the three streams of the Scripture, the Spirit and the Sacred define the core values that shape our identity and guide the expressions of our faith – our words, our actions and our worship. We are committed to extending the kingdom of God through evangelism by the power of the Holy Spirit through calling people into a saving relationship with Christ and making disciples who make disciples. We build congregations through relational ministry that express the love, intimacy and unity of God as revealed in the relationship of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. We desire to hold ourselves accountable before God and to one another within the one holy catholic and apostolic Church and our Anglican polity. We are also committed to discipleship, servant ministry and Biblical leadership; our ministry is supported through sacrificial giving and under girded with expectant prayer. We believe that nothing of significance happens in God’s Kingdom in the absence of prayer. Therefore, seeking God is a priority – inviting Him to lead, restore, heal and transform our lives, our churches, our communities and the world.

The Heritage of Anglicanism

Anglicanism upholds Scripture as the primary source of authority in matters of faith and practice. The essence of the Anglican expression of faith lies in the Prayer Books of the 16th and 17th centuries. Anglicanism has no named figure that embodies Anglicanism but the Liturgy, Articles, and Homilies of Thomas Cranmer and others, is the worshiping structure and the theological foundation of Anglicanism. Its connections with the English state and with the Archbishop of Canterbury are peripheral factors subordinate to its worship and theology. The Prefaces to the Prayer Book of 1662 and to the American book of 1789 declare in exquisite language the necessity and legitimacy of changes in worship and polity as long as the substance of the Church's faith remains constant. That faith endures among responsible Anglicans of different languages, races, and nations across the world.

The Rt. Rev. C. FitzSimons Allison, Bishop of South Carolina, Retired

Our Doctrinal Documents

• Creeds
• 39 Articles of Religion
• Solemn Declaration
• Women’s Ordination Study

Back To Top

Print this pageSend to a Friend