Because the Anglican tradition has its roots in the ancient Church but also experienced the Reformation, we have the whole of the Christian heritage available to us. There is an inherent integrity in a heritage which acknowledges wisdom from all ages of the Church for growth in Christ. This approach, together with our liturgies, prayers and devotions, allows us to integrate the rhythms of the life of the Church with the rhythms and occasions of our lives. To this end, the EMC predominantly uses the The Book of Common Prayer (1928) as the basis for our worship. The Prayer Book is a document which is best described as being orthodox in its expressions of the Christian faith, utilizing liturgies which have been a part of catholic worship for centuries.
Our liturgy and tradition are not an end in themselves, but rather set the course for a responsible way to live in the present. As one theologian has said, we do not “use history to escape from history”; rather, we exist for the “day to day” present world by giving our communities a consistent liturgical life and offering a holistic approach to living a complete life in Christ.
