my only reply is “why bother”? You have established your own doctrine. The Saints, the Councils, the high minded theologians and doctors that have established and perpetuated the Faith from the very beginning mean nothing to you. So why bother? Shelve away communion. Shutter baptism. The Prayer Book? Who says you need a Prayer Book? Not Jesus. I would be disingenuous if I said I understand your position because I don’t. But I do respect your efforts to worship God in the manner that you see fit. That is a divine right. But, as I mentioned earlier, individuals like us are Anglicans strictly in terms of geography, not theology. Perhaps one day, you will have a different perspective. Mine will never change.
I'm not Anglican from geography. My ancestors hailed from eastern Europe. The reverent worship, the traditional hymns, and regular communion resonate with me. But I'm not beholden to Anglicanism as such. Christ is my Savior and my Constant; in Him I trust, but not in any denomination. Nor do I consider any one denomination to have arrived at such perfection that it possesses all the right answers to every question of faith, doctrine, and religious practice. I think my Roman Catholic past has taught me to be skeptical of claims made from tradition when I can't find credible support in Scripture. I've been in this parish for 5 or 6 years now and in the beginning I thought that time would clarify whether some of the doubts I had were unfounded. It turns out that the exposure to Anglican theology & doctrine (in church, in documents read, and on this forum) have not helped to resolve most of those doubts. It's still a great place to worship and belong IMO, but as I eat the hay I sometimes have to spit out a few sticks. I think I'll start a new thread to ask for some answers. Maybe I've overlooked something. I never stop learning, that's for sure.
I appreciate your responses and now have a better understanding for our ongoing conversations. Indeed, I would never question your faith. But remember, whether you like it or not, you do have a dogma, complete with creeds. How well founded it is, is the test. I strongly suggest you continue your quest in the orthodox, Anglo-Catholic discipline. You will continue to be exposed the beauty and richness of that tradition and will have some more of your questions answered (because you are not the first to struggle and our fathers (the Saints, the Councils, the high minded theologians and doctors) - those who were in and of the Church, before its subsequent divisions - wrestled with the task of in response to those initial questions). Many of your points from above, if not all, are covered by their scholarship that has covered the last 2000 years. I will pray for your journey and I hope you will do for mine. Overlooked something? Rex, that is the story of my life! "O worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness; let the whole earth stand in awe of him."