The Principle of Via Media in Anglican Theology, Liturgy, and Biblical Interpretation

The Principle of Via Media in Anglican Theology, Liturgy, and Biblical Interpretation

John Yueh-Han YIEH

Anglicanism has an infamous launch and many tumultuous in-fights, politically and theologically, but it has grown from a tiny Church of England into a global Anglican Communion and made tremendous contributions to evangelism, education, and social services worldwide. One quintessential character of Anglicanism that helps it thrive is the principle of Via Media (the middle way).

This essay has three purposes: (1) to explain how the principle of Via Media was developed in the Church of England, (2) to demonstrate how it guides the Reformers and the Catholics within the Church of England to find equilibrium in their debates over theology, liturgy and biblical interpretation, and (3) to propose how it may inspire churches today to articulate their beliefs and fulfill their missions.

The principle of Via Media was born out of necessity for the nascent Church of England to survive as a national church, in which the King serves as the head of the church who needs to keep all citizens of Reformed and Catholic persuasions together as one nation undivided.

The imprint of Via Media can be seen in the making of the Thirty-Nine Articles — the Constitution of Anglicanism — which incorporates basic beliefs from both Catholic tradition and Reformed principles and wisely avoids extreme positions on either side. Via Media can also be found in Hooker's interpretation of Incarnation, a mystery that shows the divine and the human can be combined in one Jesus Christ in communion with each other without losing subjectivity, to reveal God's love and redeem the world. Because, Hooker insisted, God has acted, and so follows effect. The same logic is used to explain why the living Christ can be present in the Eucharist bread and wine.

The principle of Via Media is also operative in the creation of the Book of Common Prayer, as testified by the changing words of the Eucharistic Prayer that reflect the shifts of Eucharistic theory from the Catholic “transubstantiation” to Zwingli’s “memory,” to Queen Elizabeth I’s “faith,” and to Calvin’s “participation or communion.” Also significant is the Oxford Movement that revived a Catholic legacy of piety, bringing beauty, order, regularity and participation into the Anglican prayer and worship.

The idea of Via Media can further be observed in the Anglican view of the Bible. To understand God's will, Anglicans believe the best approach is a “three-legged stool” of scripture, tradition, and reason. The Bible has the highest authority, but tradition and reason should not be overlooked. The Bible is the Word of God and a church book written by human authors. It contains revelation on salvation and should be interpreted in light of the early Father's “rule of faith,” with the help of reason, conscience and experience .

The Anglican principle of Via Media often turns up well-reasoned and innovative ideas, not simply compromise or mediocrity. The churches today will do well to use it as a guiding principle.