An Example
The Sunday after I write this, I will preach at the oldest Anglican church in Australia, St. Philip’s York Street Anglican. Let me illustrate from that context.
There are certain practices Anglican churches consider convictional. They would say that most of these convictions are drawn from Scripture, and some of them are from traditions of the early church. From those beliefs, they know there are certain things that are essential (York Street and my church share those essentials); some are convictions from Anglicanism (which that church and my church might not share); and some are preferences (which, interestingly enough, that church and my church might very well share).
However, an Anglican church also has certain convictions about how to do those things. They can be practiced in innovative ways but must be lived out so they do not undermine the essentials or the convictions. For example, an Anglican church might choose to be on mission through evangelistic visitation, ministry-based evangelism, seeker groups, personal relationships or other means. The method is not biblically mandated, but the practice is.
A grid may help explore how the essentials are held in common, while convictions and preferences can diverge.
Anglican Ecclesiology Matrix
For most Anglican churches (though not all, and Sydney Anglican churches are different than many global Anglicans), they might have an ecclesiology matrix that looks something like the infographic on this page.
| Essential – Christian | Convictional – Anglican | Preferential (Innovations) |
| Scriptural authority | Scripture read as Old Testament, Gospel and Epistle each service | Creeds recited in worship, citing the Bible’s authority |
| Biblical leadership | Bishops, pastors, and deacons | Vestry, church council, etc. |
| Preaching and teaching | Word of God taught in every homily | Teaching built around the lectionary |
| Ordinances | Weekly Eucharist and infant baptism | Churches do baptisms four times per year |
| Mission | Apostolic mission for world evangelization | Seeker course offered regularly |
| Covenant community | Members in community with each other and under diocesan bishop | Membership class required; covenant includes serving and small group attendance |
The chart shows the essentials across denominations (and nondenominations) and convictions that make us distinct.. Beyond these core issues, there is much more freedom to innovate. So every Christian church should have the six essentials I listed. Their presence must not be innovated away.
Churches also hold certain convictions that are denomination-specific. They are convictions and should not be innovated away.
And then there are preferences, which are great for living out innovation.
Bring on the Discerning Innovations
If the early church did not innovate, we would still be meeting in synagogues on Saturday. Innovation is clearly needed, but biblical discernment must come first. Churches often wish to do ministry “out of the box.” That can be a good thing, depending on how you define “box.” If by “box,” you mean traditions (often former innovations) that have lost their meaning and effectiveness in contemporary culture, those should be innovated so the gospel can be presented more clearly. If, however, the “box” is the biblical church and its essentials, or even many of our convictions, then innovation is compromise, not contextualization.
If innovation is not constrained by biblical essentials and confessional convictions, we can innovate away what “church” really is.