The Accidental Anglican: The Surprising Appeal of the Liturgical Church by Todd D. Hunter

The Accidental Anglican: The Surprising Appeal of the Liturgical Church Reviews

• 
  Andrew Himes

  In his new book, Todd Hunter, recounts the unexpected trail that took him from the Jesus People movement of the 1970s through the Vineyard community of churches to his recent appointment as an Anglican Bishop charged with the mission of planting two hundred new Episcopalian churches in the western United States in the next 20 years. Is that a wild and crazy ambition, or what?
  
  My own notions of high church Episcopalianism were set by my family's outlook. I grew up as the product of several generations of Southern fundamentalists, and we were more than a little suspicious of what we regarded as the "rigamarole" of Episcopalianism--not too far distant from the heresy of Catholicism. We figured that any prayer that had to be read--e.g., from the Book of Common Prayer--could not possibly be a sincere or genuine prayer, from the heart. We were suspicious of choir robes and ministerial garb of any kind. We never used the word "liturgy" to describe anything that we were doing, and I was pretty sure that any "liturgical" church was full of people who were going to hell because they were more focused on form than substance.
  
  So it is fascinating to me to read Todd Hunter's stated mission of creating "Churches for the Sake of Others." By that phrase, he means something fundamental about how he approaches his Christian faith. Hunter says faith is all about serving others, listening to others, loving others. It's a funny form of self-denial, which, says Hunter, rebounds to do unexpectedly good things for the person who follows that path. By setting out to serve and listen to others, you find fulfillment and happiness for yourself.
  
  Far from being deadly and formalistic, Hunter says, liturgy is vital to how he understands and practices his faith. It provides him a structure for his practice of Christian love and faith; it gives him a consistent and trustworthy community of fellow practitioners; and it leads to respect and reverence--an increased love of God and neighbor. I will be interested to hear more of where Todd Hunter's calling takes him.
• 
  Adam Ross

  I got this book on a whim because I have read Hunter's other book (Christianity Beyond Belief) and hated it. That might seem like an odd reason to get another of the guy's books, but this one wouldn't let me go. The question in my mind was, "How does the former president of the Vineyard go Anglican?" I like Anglicans, and so the question pressed me into a corner. The essential answer is that he did really just sort of wind up in the Anglican church through a series of strange steps. He didn't go because of the liturgy, or the teaching. He went because he's a church planter, and the ACNA is wanting to plant a bunch of churches.
  
  The good news is that Hunter is reading some folks with a bit more depth to them now that he's an Anglican. The bad (or annoying) news is that his prose is still stilted and flat, and that he is still a fan of the Wesley brothers and Dallis Willard, and he is still using The Message for his Scripture "translation." I don't know what on earth the ACNA, the conservative Anglican split-off communion, is doing giving Todd Hunter Holy Orders as a Bishop without casting his use of the Message into the deepest pit of hell, but life is a mystery.
• 
  Shawn Paterson

  Narrative felt choppy and shallow, as if he wrote it all in an hour. At times felt more like simply an autobiography with lots of thank you's to influential Anglicans than anything else. Was hoping for more insight into Anglicanism. I bet Hunter is an awesome guy, just didn't get much from this book.
• 
  Steve Comstock

  I'm a person who made the journey from broad evangelicalism to the Anglican faith. I was hoping to find meditations on the complex factors that draw one from consumer-Christianity to the kind of ancient-future faith that Anglicanism has to offer, but this felt less than that. Honestly, a lot of the time it just felt like I was reading the author's extended resume.
  
  
• 
  Kim

  I was simply unimpressed with this book.
  1) The story is told as a step-by-step book, except out of order and you aren’t sure what time of the author’s story you just jumped to. Years are rarely mentioned.
  2) The editing is poor.
  3) A lot of the book was about other people, the books they wrote, what church they oversee, and how Todd knew them. Two whole (short) chapters are basically each a man’s biography.
  4) I didn’t learn anything about Anglicanism until part 2, and even then learned very little in two of the chapters.
  5) SO OFTEN, the author begins talking about something and then doesn’t say what it is. One of these times was in a later chapter when the author talks about the 6 points of Charles Wesleyan Anglicanism (what???) when he lists a point, gives a bunch of names of some dudes and their titles and churches, gives a vague definition that doesn’t seem special to Anglicanism, says there are some good ways he has seen the church do this, and then doesn’t expound, just goes on to the next point. I’m just like, “What? How do they do this? What IS this thing you say is an essential part of Wesleyan-Anglicanism?
  
  The second or third chapters of part 2 might be all that is worth glancing at in this book.
  
  Thanks, that’s all I have to say about this book.
• 
  Kevin Greenlee

  I have some bias in reading this book. Todd is my pastor and my bishop, and I love and admire him in both roles, so am inclined to appreciate what he brings to the table. Still, his other books, while very good, have not stood out to me. This one, however, as an account of Todd's journey into the Anglican communion stands above the rest. Todd's story is a unique and beautiful one, going from Cavalry Chapel roots, through the Vineyard and the emerging church, Todd has accumulated a lot of church experience. What I love most of all is his willingness to sing the praises of where he came from, even has he has moved beyond it. There is no bitterness here. Truly, Todd is representative of the "sweet reasonableness" he praises Anglicanism for.
  
• 
  Katie

  I expected this book to be part biography, part argument for liturgical service, and it was a bit of both, but not enough of either to satisfy my curiosity. In the end, Bishop Hunter basically said that a) He'd made the switch from free-spirited Evangelical to Liturgical and that b)He was happy with the switch.
  
  I want to know more, which in a way is a good thing, but I feel like he had a lot more interesting things to say. A book about three times as long could have been really fascinating, and while I did enjoy this read, he doesn't say enough for me to recommend it.
• 
  David Svihel

  While the story of how a former Vineyard pastor came to be an Anglican Bishop is intriguing, this book is written in a rather sloppy and simplistic manner, which caused me to be underwhelmed. That being said, it is a quick little read about a man's spiritual journey that can be easily read in an afternoon. If your looking for something out of the ordinary or are curious about the Anglican tradition get it from the library and give it a shot.
• 
  Chrisse Reynolds

  At least it was short? He probably has a really interesting story, and some great things to say, but his books is so all over the place and hard to follow. He makes a lot of assumptions that the reader already knows a good chunk of his background (which I didn’t), a lot about what it means to be Anglican (which I’m just learning), and about what his previous churches were like (again, I don’t). Overall, it’s just very disjointed.
• 
  Andy Hickman

  THE ACCIDENTAL ANGLICAN by Todd Hunter
  
  Church is like Mark Twain’s description of the Mississippi River.
  
  Anglicanism is resolutely Christ-centred, focusing always on his death and resurrection.
  
  “Sit up, be alert, participate.” Liturgy is the work or participation of the people. Anglicanism offers an “ancient-future”experience.
  
  Eucharist is like a kiss. It's more than just a kiss. Eucharist is like this. It conveys the love and purpose of God for his people. Consecrated and consumed bread are never just the cells of wheat and grapes touching our lips. … In the Eucharist we, though steeped in the concrete reality of space and time, connect with a reality that transcends grain and grape.
  
  The gospel of the kingdom of God informs our ecclesiology - gives meaning and shape to the Church. Mission is not so much an activity of the Church, but an attribute of God. The Church is a seed, it cannot grow sitting in its packaging. The seed must be placed in the ground of the kingdom, lose its life there, and then flourish and grow as a product and agent of the kingdom.
  
  The spirit of Anglicanism - sweet reasonableness – in the spirit of serving others, because Anglicans love their church.
  
  The Anglican “treasure chest” – imagine a young artist finding grandpa's chest of paint, brushes, water colours, pastel pencils and sticks of charcoal; and not being able to wait to use them!
  
  The hearers of Ezra responded as he read the old, forgotten story of God (Nehemiah 8).
  
  “Liturgical tools” are ancient rhythms, book of prayer (lex orandi, lex credenti - the law of prayer is the law of belief), the ministry of the Word (lectionary), Creed, prayer of confession and absolution, the peace, Eucharist, ordained ministry.
  
  Anglican comprehensiveness involves three main streams:
  • Anglo Catholic- history and order,
  • Evangelicals -present saving grace,
  • Broad church - learn from each other
  
• 
  Ryan Geer

  Well, this book was not really what I was expecting... Chapters 4 and 5, where the author talks about his interactions with Packer and Stott are really pretty good. The final couple chapters were ok as well. But the rest of the book was just not what I thought it would be. It seems as if the author's journey into the Anglican church was much more one of circumstances directing than a realization that this tradition best embodied what Scripture teaches that the church should be. It's not a bad read and I did appreciate his heart. But if you're looking to understand "why the Anglican church?" then maybe this isn't quite the right book.
  Having grown up in my early life in an extremely INDEPENDENT church, the thing I take away (and have been learning over the last couple decades) is the reminder that God's kingdom is not limited to a particular faith tradition but includes all those who are putting their hope in Christ alone.
• 
  James (JD) Dittes

  This year I became an "accidental Anglican," moving to a city where the local community was the closest group of Christians I could find to my beliefs and my language. Wanting to learn more, I picked up Hunter's book.
  
  My biggest complaint is that the book is self-referential. I had never heard of Hunter before, and 3/4ths of the book is about his journey into Anglicanism and the influences who brought him there. The book works best when it is pointing to well-known and well-read Anglicans like NT Wright and John Stott.
  
  I came to Anglicanism from Methodism. I didn't recognize the denominations in which Hunter has served. No doubt he is an effective leader for the churches he planted. The book, however, left me disappointed, looking for a better resource on the strengths of the demonimation.
• 
  Ricky Balas

  The book is divided into two parts, so I will rate it in two parts. Part I--2 stars. Part II--4 stars.
  Other reviewers have summed this work up rather well and I agree with many of them. The writing is choppy and right when you think Hunter is about to add something substantial, he abruptly ends the section/chapter. At times there is this stream of consciousness thing happening where it seems he is almost just transcribing a phone conversation he had. The first part, while he certainly did pick out some great figures of the Anglican tradition, almost felt a little forced (like writing in someone's high school yearbook). The second part, however, is equally inspiring and hopeful. My recommendation--start about half way through the book.
• 
  Clayton Hashley

  As a piece of literature, there wasn’t much here. I skipped most of the first half of the book since it seemed he was just thanking inspiring leaders and outlining his personal path to Anglicanism which wasn’t particularly compelling. However, his description of why he likes Anglicanism was somewhat helpful - in particular his description of each part of the liturgical service and how it is resonates with him.
• 
  Kenneth

  This is a modest book, in tone and ambition. This is a friendly account of a Bishop’s move from various evangelical churches to the Anglican Church. He tells a self-deprecating story. For anyone curious about the move many are making toward liturgical churches, this is helpful and not demanding.
• 
  Sharlin

  Probably 2.5 stars. There were points when I felt like I was gleaning the kind of info I was hoping for about an evangelical becoming Anglican, but it often felt like a lot of name dropping and talk about things that I didn’t have any context for, so it fell a bit flat.
• 
  Kenneth

  Helpful little book about an evangelical leaders move to the Anglican church. First half is a biographical experience and the second half a nice summary of key Anglican "gifts".
• 
  Richard Burley

  Todd tells and engaging tale of his journey from evangelical Christianity to Anglicanism. A fascinating tell that it’s also so usually advice.
• 
  Beth

  2 stars for literary flow (metaphors may tend to feel a bit awkward, although I did appreciate the narrative honesty and humor!); 3 stars for resonance with my life right now.
  
  Brief, autobiographical journey of Bishop Todd Hunter, as he journeys from the Jesus Movement to Calvary Chapel, Vineyard Churches, and Alpha USA to the Anglican mission.
  
  .:quotes:.
  
  "That is, the kingdom of God creates the church. Thus the church is derivative and secondary. Therefore the kingdom--the rule and reign, or the expression or action--of God is our highest priority." p. 91
  
  "...This agenda is not born of the desire to be free of ecclesiastical authority. I am not looking for freedom from the church. I am looking to be bound to the kingdom of God. It's best not to try to think from the institutional forms of the church outward, but from the gospel of the kingdom and the mission field backward. I like what Matthew 5:48 says: 'You're kingdom subjects. Now live like it. Live out your God-created identity. Live generously and graciously toward others, the way God lives toward you.'" p. 91
  
  "Make your measurements kingdom-based--make your celebrations missional." p. 93
  
  "...will [name of church] embody kingdom values? Or will we fall prey to the common trap of having notional versus real values? There is only one faultless way for any church to know this: examine how we spend our time, money and energy; check our calendar (time and energy) and test our budget and checkbook (money). These will be our prophets, like having Isaiah and Amos at our leadership meetings. They will lead us where the church is supposed to be: at the intersection of real life making known life in the kingdom." p. 93
  
  "Over history the best Anglican leadership, exemplified by Kolini and Rucyahana, has had a certain quality to it that makes it exceptional, including these characteristics: (1) an unassuming nature, (2) a humble sense of one's place in the wider and historical world, (3) the courage to do the right thing, (4) the humility to stay in loving dialogue with others who are difficult or disagreeable, (5) a willingness to hold onto the truth at hand with an epistemological humility that knows there may be more truth (but not transgressing orthodoxy)." p. 106
  
• 
  Stephanie

  As someone who has been increasingly drawn from the hand-raising, contemporary music Baptist culture of her birth to the silent rhythms of Anglican liturgy, I was attracted to this book. However, if you're looking for an analysis and compilation of why people are flocking back to liturgy, this is not that book. While I appreciate Todd Hunter's honesty with his spiritual journey, the book seemed to lack depth. It felt very surface-level, as if he had written it as an essay in a day. Hunter frequently repeats phrases to try to explain his meaning, but my only reaction was "Yes, you keep saying that, but what does that mean?" It felt as though the author was skirting around what he truly meant to say.
  
  I give this book 3 stars because I did find helpful the invitation to consider the mosaic of my own spiritual life (Hunter uses mosaic imagery throughout the book). Would I have found it less useful if I were not already attending an Anglican church? I can't say, because I believe that a bit of self-reflection and self-awareness is crucial to personal growth. So I would say go ahead and give this book a read, but know that it is not an all-inclusive answer key to the question "Why liturgy?"
• 
  Kenneth

  This book was written about 5 years ago and gives the author's outline of his journey into the Anglican Church, eventually becoming a bishop, after serving many years as a pastor in the Vineyard Fellowship. The book is not a theological handbook, a polemic against anything, and does not attempt to persuade you into anything. Rather it is him saying in effect, this is what led me to where I am today in my spiritual journey. As one who is fascinated by reading such stories (especially - full disclosure - by one who is the bishop of the Anglican diocese to which my own local parish is part of), it's inspiring to read about the people and books who influenced them (humanly speaking of course, always acknowledging the leading of God the Holy Spirit in our lives).
• 
  Julia Powers

  Like the author of this book, I come from an evangelical background and have stumbled upon the Anglican tradition. So, I was fascinated by the idea of the "Accidental Anglican." But, the book's content didn't live up to my expectations. It was a fairly interesting, occasionally humorous chronicle of the author's personal story -- but for the most part that personal story didn't teach me anything new about the "appeal of the liturgical church."
  
  If you really want to learn about the "appeal of the liturgical church," you might skip to the last two chapters of this book -- "The Spirit of Anglicanism: A Sweet Reasonableness" and "The Anglican Treasure Chest."
  
• 
  Wesley

  This wasn't a particularly challenging or ground-breaking book. I didn't learn a lot of new things about Anglicanism or theology. I don't think that Hunter's point and overall, I thought it was worth a read. It was nice to hear his heart for ministry and people. As someone who is in seminary and studies religion, it's easy to get so focused on some the nuanced theological debates that keep us divided from the other denominations of the Church. Overall, I would recommend it, especially to an Evangelical Protestant who is considering converting to Anglicanism or one of the other catholic denominations.
• 
  Coryke

  This is a very light book describing one man's journey from the evangelical world to the Episcopal Church. His journey was not a journey away from his past, but towards what he perceived to be God's leading in a new direction.
  
  You can tell that everything is still fairly fresh and exciting for Hunter as he was writing this book. Yet, Hunter does not paint the Anglican tradition as the only denomination of substance. His warm, kind, and thoughtful description of his new tradition is more about how he fit in his new faith tradition.
  
  It is a nice, quick read.
• 
  Adam Balshan

  2.5 stars [Ecclesiology]
  W: 2.5, U: 2.25, T: 2.75.
  
  A decent memoir/intro to Anglican trappings. There wasn't *quite* the boatload of omne ignotum I was expecting from a work like this. And in Part II he attempts to extol Anglicanism, but scarcely demonstrates how it is peculiar from other forms of Christianity; his prose is often too vague even when he is on-point.
  
  It is worth a single read to Christians interested in ecclesiology, especially for its introductions to Packer, Stott, and Wright.