Seventy million assorted individuals comprise a church family that is renowned for its rich diversity. Christians of all shades of belief together make up the Anglican Communion, a fellowship of churches that extends around the world and includes the Episcopal Church in the United States. At its best, the spirit of openness that marks this fellowship is a sign of openness to the Holy Spirit. Few Anglicans would presume to have “arrived” spiritually, and the door is always open to all who are seeking God. Whether you are a cradle Episcopalian or are exploring the denomination, Always Open is an excellent introduction to Anglican beliefs and practices. Down–to–earth and good humored, Always Open explains the essentials of the Anglican approach to authority, the Bible, social and moral questions, dialogue with people of other faiths, and much, much more.
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Anglicans above all are pragmatists, followers of the Great Pragmatist of Nazareth who, in telling the story of the two sons—one of whom was full of wind and one of whom got the job done—came down heavily on the side of work rather than words (Matt. 21:28). The son commended in the story had bad manners, no theology and was moody to boot, and yet he delivered the goods. His brother, so full of good intentions and a favorite with every auntie at Christmastime, turned out to be a dud. We Anglicans are likewise keen to know what actually works. What will help get us through this vale of tears, or just this one pig of a day, with a chance of sanity and contentment at the end?
We are always open because we know only too well our constant need of God’s mercy. Cast iron certainties are inappropriate when we can never be sure how God will choose to surprise us next. It might be in a carpenter’s son from a one–horse town called Nazareth, or in the stranger in need of a bed for the night, or in the person that others want to banish from the church. One can never be too sure: best to remain open, always
About the Author
Richard Giles is a leading authority on the design of liturgical space and the reordering of church buildings for contemporary worship. After thirty years as a parish priest in England, he became Dean of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in 1999. He is author of Creating Uncommon Worship and of the bestselling Re–pitching the Tent.
Richard Giles is a leading authority on the design of liturgical space and the reordering of church buildings for contemporary worship. After thirty years as a parish priest in England, he became Dean of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in 1999. He is author of Creating Uncommon Worship and of the bestselling Re–pitching the Tent.
Richard Giles is a leading authority on the design of liturgical space and the reordering of church buildings for contemporary worship. After thirty years as a parish priest in England, he became Dean of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in 1999. He is author of Creating Uncommon Worship and of the bestselling Re–pitching the Tent.
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15 of 17 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Everything You Want to Know Without Being Prosletyzed,
By Atreides (Pittsburgh,Pa) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Always Open: Being an Anglican Today (Paperback)
I hate books about churches that "try too hard". This one doesn't. It's "playful", intriguing, even entertaining without insulting your intelligence. I admit some bias. As an Anglican
convert its hard to fault a book like this. Its brevity gives the reader enough to spur on one's own research including visit to a local church to see if it matches what is described in the book. The author seemsat home with many Anglican clergy and associates I have met over the years. You won't be disappointed. Atreides
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Anglican/Episcopal Church 101,
By Lady Grey "Tea Totaller" (Virginia) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Always Open: Being an Anglican Today (Paperback)
First off, I am a "cradle" Episcopalian so I am very familiar with the Anglican way. I really enjoyed reading this book. Often I laughed at the humor of the author. Frequently I took out my highlighter to underline a meaningful passage. Many times I yelled YES!! This book is an easy read and would be excellent for a book study. It did a great job discussing the Anglican approach to authority, the Bible and ethics. I believe that if more people (including clergy) really understood the founding principles of the Anglican Church there would be a whole lot less tension (verging on schism)in our church today. In the words of Queen Elizabeth I "There is only one Christ, Jesus... All else is a dispute over trifles."
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