I believe

Our adult Sunday school class is taking a break from the Bible, the first and foremost leg of our so-called “three legged stool” of Anglican theology, Scripture, Reason and Tradition. Moving into the creeds is a look at the "third leg," Tradition. Though it’s not really a “break” from the Bible, because the “Apostles Creed” in particular is based on Scripture. Also called the Baptismal Creed or Baptismal Covenant, this is my favorite of our three creeds. 

As we recessed class last Sunday I was thinking we had talked enough about the Apostles Creed, but we didn’t actually, we overlooked half of it, so we’ll come back to it tomorrow morning. The Church seems to have used this creed, its predecessor the Old Roman Symbol, from earliest days, even from the second century, in inducting new members through the rite of baptism. It’s my favorite creed because as we say it liturgically we not only say what we believe, we covenant as to how we will live our lives specifically because of what we believe. In the Roman Catholic Church and in some dioceses and parishes of the Episcopal Church, the Baptismal Covenant is coming to be encouraged for liturgical use instead of the Nicene Creed during all Sundays of seasons that are regarded as special times for baptism. The Easter season is our prime time for that, the Baptismal Covenant instead of the Nicene Creed all Sundays of Easter. 

The Sundays of Easter are also timely and appropriate for omitting the Confession of Sin and Absolution as the rubrics allow -- not simply liturgically but specifically theologically, specifically because we believe that Good Friday and Easter accomplish our forgiveness and reconciliation with God. To ignore that liturgically and muddle on through the Confession & Absolution anyway is redundant to the Season, diminishes the power and symbolism of Easter, suggesting that we don't really believe the power of Easter, distances our worship from Calvary and the Garden, and some say even blasphemes the Cross and Resurrection. Certain of nothing, I'm not solid on that, but am willing to discuss it.

In adult Sunday school tomorrow, we’ll say the Baptismal Covenant together, then talk about it. There’ll be some back and forth, polite chit chat, hopefully even mild argument before we go on to the Nicene Creed.

TW+