Reflecting on My Anglican Heritage
Today was a bit of a blast from the past. I was blessed to be able to have tea with Jim Powell, who was the minister of St. James Anglican Church, the church I grew up in, over thirty years ago. It was a joy to be able to catch up and to hear the things that are going on in each of lives.
When I was in junior high back then, I had no idea that I too would one day become a minister. Another thing that we have in common is that Jim is a retired army chaplain, and I am just releasing from my ministry as an army chaplain. This was another area of my life that I hadn’t anticipated.
Talking with Jim makes me think about my Anglican heritage. While I’m happy to be a Baptist pastor, I do value my time growing up in the Anglican church. In my office at Queen Street Baptist Church, I proudly have my little Book of Common Prayer on my desk. Those were some very important times as I learned Bible stories and was even given opportunities to serve.
Some people see the different denominations of Christianity as a weakness. I disagree. I think the different denominations within Christianity bring a richness that is needed. As much as I love the Baptists, it is nice to visit an Anglican or Pentecostal church for something different.
I’m thankful for my Anglican heritage and it continues to help inform my faith journey.
