Anglicanism

I.) General description
II.) Power structure
III.) Theology
IV.) Ethics
V.) Demographics

I.) General Description 

The Anglican Church was formed in 1534 AD in England under King Henry the eighth.
In Anglicanism the British monarch is the Head of the Church (as opposed to the Pope in Catholicism.)

At the time of the formation of the Church of England the Reformation which began Protestantism was only 17 years old yet it had already significantly impacted Europe.


II.) Structure 

In terms of structure Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth is the Head (left).



Also is significant power is the Archbishop of Canterbury (on the right).

Underneath the Monarch and Archbishops in authority are:

Bishops who head dioceses (large parts of land covering numerous churches.)

Priests preside over individual churches.

Deacons assist the Priest in church duties and care of its members.

Bishops, Priests and Deacons are considered part of the Clergy.

III.) Theology

The Anglican affirms the following:
-The Apostles Creed
-The Nicene Creed
-The Athanasian Creed
-39 Articles of Religion

It defers from other churches considered Protestant in that:
-It says the Monarch is the Church not Christ.


IV.) Ethics

Abortion: The Church of England is strongly against abortion but permits it in specific circumstances.

Divorce: Re-marriage after divorce is permitted under certain specific circumstances.

Marriage: The Church of England opposes the "marrying" of any two people of the same sex within Church. However the Canadian Anglican Church and the Episcopal Church of America (both part of the Anglican Communion) have defined marriage as including same-sex couples despite Scriptural teaching and  Anglican tradition.


V.) Demographics 

The Communion of the Church of England is most prevalent in four countries:
England, Canada, America and Australia.

In the United Kingdom about 20% identify as an Anglican.

In Canada 4.9% identified as Anglican in 2011.

In American less than 10% identify as Anglican.

In Australia 17.1% identified as being an Anglican.

Anglicanism has a considerable presence among Indigenous Canadians and among Sub-Saharan Africans--in South African 3.8% were Anglicans in 2001.