The Continuing Fiasco of the Anglican Orthodox Church, The Traditional Protestant Episcopal Church, and the Protestant Episcopal Church USA

It looks like the deception continues with the Traditional Protestant Episcopal Church.  Not only does the former denomination use the corrupt 1928 Book of Common Prayer but it also praises the 1549 Book of Common Prayer rather than the 1552 or the 1662 Book of Common Prayer.  The 1549 was not a fully reformed prayer book and does not represent Archbishop Thomas Cranmer's intended reforms.  The 1552 Book of Common Prayer is the most reformed prayer book and the 1662 prayer book is modeled after the 1552 with only a few minor concessions to the conservatives.

Click here to see the original webpage:  St Francis At The Point | Traditional Protestant Episcopal Church Fairhope Alabama

Also, it would appear that the Traditional Protestant Episcopal Church, headed by Bishop Charles Morley, has now merged with the Anglican Orthodox Church, headed by Jerry Ogles.  Both are small denominations and from reliable sources the rumors are that both tolerate high church Arminianism in their midst, which would negate their claim to be "Reformed" in any sense at all.  The Canons of Dort thoroughly rejected Arminianism as a heresy that was a move back towards Rome.

Click here to see the Wikipedia entry on the merger:  Traditional Protestant Episcopal Church

The article at Wikipedia claims that the split from the TPEC was over Calvinism.  It would appear that assessment is true since both the TPEC and the AOC claim to be "continuing churches".   Jerry Ogles, the bishop of the Anglican Orthodox Church, claims to be reformed but rejects the label of "Calvinist" because he is a dissimulator who wishes to play both sides of the fence with high church Arminians and low church Calvinists.  This is why the Tradition Protestant Episcopal Church has been welcomed with open arms in to the Anglican Orthodox Church.  It is fairly obvious that this is true since Ogles becomes easily angered when anyone dares to challenge his ambiguity on the issue of Arminianism and Calvinism.

The Traditional Protestant Episcopal Church split when the assisting bishop, Del Murray, objected to Bishop Morley's stance against Murray's more open views toward contemporary worship and the church growth movement.  Murray and his followers left and formed The Protestant Episcopal Church USA.   The PECUSA is not to be confused with The Episcopal Church (TEC), which is the mainline liberal denomination.

Stay tuned for further updates as I will be investigating the new group headed by Del Murray as time permits.  It is unclear at this time exactly where the PECUSA stands on the issue of Arminianism and Calvinism and the Tractarian heresy.  However, judging from the photos on the page the denomination is high church Arminian or Anglo-Catholic.  The Lord's Supper is called "Holy Eucharist" and there is the practice of the lifting up and adoration of the creatures of bread and wine.  See this photo from their page:

The Thirty-nine Articles of Religion forbids the lifting up and worshipping of the bread as if it were the read or true body of Christ.  (Cf. Article 28).  The fact of the matter is that Archbishop Cranmer rejected the doctrine of real presence and transubstantiation.  For Cranmer the only way to partake of the true body and blood of Christ was by a spiritual eating and drinking in the heart/mind/soul of the believer by faith.  The bread and wine remain bread and wine and are only called by the names of what they spiritually represent.  (Cf. Cranmer on Real Presence and Church Association Tract 025).  The sacraments are an object lesson to the Gospel.  The presence of Christ in the sacraments can only be possible because the Word or Holy Scriptures and the sacraments work in tandem to preach the Gospel message.  Real presence in the sacraments can only take place by the inward grace or gift of a true and lively faith.  Those who do not have faith do not partake of the body and blood of Christ but eat and drink only the empty signs. (Cf. Article 29). This view has been derogatorily referred to as "Zwinglianism" or "mere memorialism" but the fact of the matter is that the Consensus of Tigerinus reconciled the Calvinist view with the Zwinglian view and the English Reformers, including Archbishop Thomas Cranmer, were in full agreement with the consensus reached. 

From the brief examination above then it would appear that it would be ill advised for anyone to join in membership with the Anglican Orthodox Church, the Protestant Episcopal Church USA, or any other denomination claiming to be Anglican and Reformed but waffles on the issues of Arminianism, Anglo-Catholicism or the papist doctrine of real presence.

Anglicans who are Evangelical and Reformed continue to be forced to attend Presbyterian congregations and even there a broad tolerance for Arminianism prevails.  I would not personally recommend joining any congregation that teaches that Arminians are truly converted as this teaching is nothing more than semi-pelagianism and works righteousness.  The only other option for Anglicans might be the Missouri Synod of the Lutheran churches but many of the Lutheran doctrines are essentially a recapitulation to Arminianism, including a general atonement rather than particular atonement, resistible grace, etc.

Charlie J. Ray