The Five Other Sacramental Rites
As taught in the Anglican / Episcopal tradition
Understanding Confirmation, Ordination, Matrimony, Reconciliation, and Unction as 'commonly called sacraments.'
The Anglican tradition occupies a unique "via media" or middle way in the landscape of Christian theology, particularly regarding the nature and number of the sacraments.
By the end of this lesson
- **Distinguish** between the two "Sacraments of the Gospel" and the five "Sacramental Rites" based on Article XXV of the Thirty-Nine Articles.
- **Identify** the specific biblical anchors for Confirmation, Holy Orders, Unction, and Matrimony within the New Testament.
- **Explain** the Anglican concept of "Sacramental Grace" as it applies to rites that do not have a dominical command of physical matter.
- **Articulate** the historical reasons why the English Reformers categorised these five rites differently from the Roman Catholic tradition.
- **Trace** the theological development of these rites through the writings of Michael Ramsey, Francis Hall, and Kenneth Stevenson.
- **Defend** the use of the "five rites" as essential components of the Church’s pastoral and liturgical life without asserting they are "generally necessary for salvation."
- **Apply** the teaching of the "Sacramental Principle" to daily Christian ethics and the vocation of the laity.
- **Compare** the Anglican "Via Media" approach to these rites with the positions of the Roman Catholic and Reformed traditions.
Scripture
The full lesson, its study guide and questions, and an AI tutor that answers from Scripture with citations are free with an account.