Rev. Sammy Chege began his sermon by addressing the fundamental question of Anglican identity, clarifying that first and foremost, Anglicans are Christians. He used the powerful imagery of the body of Christ and a great tree to describe Christianity: one tree, deeply rooted in Christ, with various branches (denominations) that each express their unique character while drawing life from the same source.
The core of his message focused on “Why Anglicanism?”—outlining the distinct gifts and calling of the Anglican tradition within the universal Christian faith.
Key Points on the Anglican Way:
1. The Gift of Balance: Rev. Chege emphasized that a key characteristic of Anglicanism is its commitment to avoiding extremes. This balance is famously captured in the “Anglican Quadrilateral,” which holds together four essential elements:
- The Bible as the foundation of God’s revelation.
- The Sacraments (especially Baptism and Holy Communion) as outward signs of God’s grace.
- Tradition as the wisdom and continuity of the historic church.
- Reason as God-given intellect for engaging with our faith thoughtfully.
2. The Gift of Connection: Anglicanism serves as a “bridge church,” connecting a wide audience of Christians across historical and theological divides. It holds elements that are both:
Catholic: Maintaining the historic creeds, sacraments, and apostolic succession.
Reformed: Upholding the authority of Scripture and the principles of the Reformation.
This unique position offers both dignity in worship and tradition, and the freedom to authentically express our needs and faith in a personal way.
3. The Call to Unity (from Ephesians 4): Rev. Chege grounded this Anglican identity in the apostolic call for unity found in Ephesians. He stressed that our distinctives are not for division but for enriching the whole body. The “one baptism, one God and Father of all” (Eph. 4:4-6) is the ultimate foundation of our faith that transcends any denominational label. Our calling, therefore, is to “live a life worthy of the calling you have received… bearing with one another in love” (Eph. 4:1-2).
Conclusion:
The sermon concluded by reminding the congregation that their primary identity is “in Christ.” Being Anglican is simply the particular branch on which God has placed them to live out that universal Christian faith. It is a tradition that offers a balanced, thoughtful, and connected path to worship God in spirit and in truth, all while upholding the supreme unity we have as one body through one Lord, one faith, and one baptism.