The Legacy Of Nicaea & The Future Of Anglicanism

At the heart of Anglicanism is its devotion to what C.S. Lewis called “mere Christianity.” Lewis was not advocating for doctrinal minimalism when he used that phrase but a commitment to orthodoxy as defined by the creeds of the church fathers. In the twenty-first century, however, that conviction is not easy to stand by when the waves of modernism have been so fierce. Modern theology is marked by a radical redefinition of God, even a departure from the creeds of Christianity, and it has penetrated every corner of Christendom. Anglicanism is no exception. Dr. Matthew Barrett is convinced that if there is any tradition equipped to bring about a renewal of mere Christianity it is Anglicanism. The year 2025 marks the seventeen hundredth anniversary of the council of Nicaea. In this John Rodgers lecture, Dr. Barrett will put forward a vision for the future, one in which Anglicanism radiates as a leading light, exemplifying what creedal fidelity looks like in a secular age. Some might ask, “What hath Nicaea to do with Ambridge?” to which Dr. Barrett will reply, “Everything!” In a day when many do not know what it means to be Anglican, here is a lecture that gives a clear answer.