Frequently Asked Questions

Q. Why is it necessary to establish the Anglican Church of the Redeemer given that an Episcopal parish already exists in the Franklin area?
A. Based the decisions of the leadership of the Diocese of Massachusetts and the national Episcopal Church over the past several years, The Episcopal Church (TEC) has effectively chosen to “walk apart” from the historical Christian faith as it has been received by the vast majority of the Churches which make up the Anglican Communion. The internal conflicts within TEC and its impaired relationship with much of the rest of the Communion has been a major distraction from our call to ministry and mission. In order to remain faithful to the historic Christian faith and the authority of Holy Scripture, it is necessary to establish a new parish which is affiliated with other Anglican Christians who are committed to remaining true to the apostolic tradition that proclaims the uniqueness of Jesus Christ as the Way, the Truth and the Life and understands that the Bible contains all things necessary for salvation and is the final authority and unchangeable standard for Christian faith and life.

Q. What is “Anglican” and the Anglican Communion?
A. Churches like ours have their beginnings in The Church of England. The Anglican Communion is a part of the “one holy catholic and apostolic church” which is made up of 38 national churches around the world, all of which trace their origin to the Church of England. Anglicanism finds its distinctive identity in the English Reformation of the sixteenth century when the Church in England separated itself from the Church of Rome. Common prayer (reflected in The Book of Common Prayer) and the centrality of the Holy Eucharist are important to Anglican worship around the world.

Today the Anglican Communion family is made up of an estimated 78 million Christians who worship in styles that vary from simple to elaborate, from evangelical to catholic, charismatic to traditional. The churches of the Communion are held together by “bonds of affection and common loyalty,” and by the “Instruments of Communion” – the Archbishop of Canterbury, the Lambeth Conference of bishops, the Primates (the senior bishop of each of the 38 churches) and the Anglican Consultative Council. We follow a common pattern for worship. Priests from one Anglican province may celebrate Eucharist in another Anglican province anywhere in the world. And members of one Anglican parish may take communion (the bread and the wine) in any other.

Q. What is the Anglican Communion Network?
A. The Anglican Communion Network (ACN) is, in essence, a church within a church – it was created to be a reforming presence within TEC that seeks to remain true to the historic Christian faith and to affirm its members’ – dioceses, parishes and clergy – affiliation with others in the Anglican Communion. Some people have referred to the approach of the ACN as an “inside strategy” as opposed to other Anglicans in the U.S. who have chosen to leave TEC (for example, the Anglican Mission in America – local churches include All Saints Anglican in Attleborough and St. Paul’s in Brockton). The ACN is a united missionary movement of Anglicans in fellowship with global Anglicanism, making disciples who make disciples of Jesus Christ and planting churches that plant churches in North America and to the ends of the earth. It is committed to being an Anglican missionary movement in North America of such irresistible spiritual power in Word and Sacrament that people are drawn to a personal relationship with God in Jesus Christ and become members of the Body of Christ, His Church. It seeks to be known for its commitment to evangelical faith and catholic order.

Q. What is the present status of the Anglican Church of the Redeemer?
A. The Anglican Church of the Redeemer (ACR) was incorporated as a not-for-profit corporation on September 19, 2007 under the laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. ACR was formed by individuals who were formerly parishioners of a parish within the Episcopal Diocese of Massachusetts. Since 2003 there has been significant prayer, discussion and discernment within our group about The Episcopal Church’s (TEC) movement away from the historic Christian faith and how parishioners could best work to uphold the historic faith, proclaim the unchanging Gospel and continue to be aligned with other Anglican Christians who are like minded. The decision was made to form the Anglican Church of the Redeemer and have it operable for regular Sunday worship beginning in January 2008.

We have obtained temporary worship space in Franklin beginning in January and an active search continues for a more permanent location for worship, Sunday school and other ministries. The plan is to begin regular celebration of the Holy Eucharist at 195 Main Street in Franklin, Massachusetts on January 6th with Father John (Jack) H. Potter as our celebrant.

Q. What beliefs will be proclaimed by The Anglican Church of the Redeemer?
A. The by-laws of the Church provide that its purpose “is to know Christ and the power of His resurrection, adhering to accepted or traditional and established Christian faith within the traditions of the Global Anglican Church…as part of the One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church as mentioned in the Nicene Creed. Our doors are open to all and we believe:

1. The Bible, Old and New Testaments, to be the Word of God;
2. The Virgin Birth of Jesus, i.e., God was literally His Father and the Virgin Mary His mother, making Jesus Christ God Incarnate;
3. In the bodily resurrection of Jesus, that he was raised from the dead, met with the apostles and still lives; and
4. Jesus is “The Way, The Truth, and The Life.”

Q. Will the Anglican Church of the Redeemer be affiliated with The Episcopal Church and the Diocese of Massachusetts?
A. No.

Q. Will the ACR have oversight by an Anglican bishop?
A. ACR has oversight from the Anglican Church of Kenya.  Our local bishop is The Rt. Rev. Bill Murdoch, a bishop of the Anglican Church of Kenya and rector of All Saints’ Church in Amesbury, Mass.  Bishop Bill also is the dean of the New England Convocation of the ACN (Anglican Communion Network) and is working closely with Bishop Bob Duncan, moderator of the ACN, and the other nine Common Cause Partners in seeking a realignment of Anglicanism in North America and the potential creation of a new Anglican province.  ACR is also affiliated with the ACN as a member parish of its International Conference (parishes under the pastoral care of bishops who are not part of TEC).

The oversight by the Church of Kenya is envisioned as a “temporary” measure as the realignment continues. Currently there are at least five Kenyan parishes in Massachusetts and New Hampshire.

Q. What about the ownership of property?
A. The by-laws of ACR provide that the local parish will have “full title and ownership of all assets, personal and real property of this Church.”

Q. Will The Book of Common Prayer be used in the worship services?
A. The Book of Common Prayer, adopted by The Episcopal Church in 1979, will be used in the worship services of ACR.

Q. Who may receive communion at the Holy Eucharist?
A. In accordance with the ancient tradition of the Church, communion is available to all baptized Christians.

Q. What about confirmation – will preparation be offered?
A. Every effort will be made to provide preparation for young people and adults who wish to be confirmed. Individuals being confirmed will receive “the laying on of hands” by a bishop of a church within the Anglican Communion.

Q. How can I become a member of the Anglican Church of the Redeemer?
A. All “communicants” of the parish who are baptized in the Name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit are “members” of the parish. A “communicant” is a person whose name has been entered on the parish register, who worships in the parish on a regular basis and receives Holy Communion, provides regular and recorded financial support of ACR or otherwise devotes his or her time and talent to the mission of the parish and is faithful to the doctrine and discipline of the Anglican tradition. Voting members are communicants who are sixteen years of age or over.

Q. Will Alpha and other adult education programs be offered in the parish?
A. At this time ACR does not have an active program of Christian education and pastoral care. Beginning in January a program of Christian education for adults and children is planned and appropriate pastoral care will be provided. We are aware that, in the short term, we will have to approach these programs in new and innovative ways (suitable space in the Franklin area may not be initially available to do all that we would like to do).

Q. How can I become involved in the on-going formation of the Anglican Church of the Redeemer, participate in its ministries and provide financial support for the parish?
A. There are many tasks and projects that are necessary for the parish to get underway and begin to provide what is expected of a local church as well as reaching out in mission and evangelism to others in the local communities and beyond. Any and all involvement is welcome and needed. There will continue to be a wide variety of opportunities to serve as the church planting process continues. The reality is that there will be many tasks to be performed which are often taken for granted in an established church. The resources of every member of the parish – time, talent and treasure are needed. Financial resources will be needed for “start up” expenses, on-going parish expenses and giving to the work of the Church beyond the local parish by supporting various Christian ministries and missions. ACR is a tax-exempt organization under the Federal income tax code and contributions to the Church are deductible under the provisions of the tax code.

Last Updated February 2, 2008