Richard Hooker and the "Middle Way"

Four hundred ten years ago, one of the most influential voices in what we call the Anglican movement died.  During his prodigious life, Richard Hooker became one of the strongest advocates of the position of the Church of England and defended its "Middle Way" between "Puritanism" and "Papalism."  His most well known work, Of the Laws of Ecclesiastical Polity resulted from a series of controversial debates and has served as a touchstone for Anglican theology ever since.  Hooker demonstrated that the Anglican way was as deeply rooted in the Scriptures as it was in Tradition and affirmed continuity with the Ecclesia Anglicana (The English Church) but that it was now both catholic and reformed.  

Among other things, Hooker's thought made very clear that while things theological deal with ultimate questions and issues for humanity, it has special relevance for one's manner of life and therefore for the social mission of the Church.  


He argued there were good monarchies and bad ones, good democracies and bad ones, and good church hierarchies and bad ones, what mattered was the holiness of the people. At the same time, Hooker argued that authority was commanded by the Bible and by the traditions of the early church, but authority was something that had to be based on piety and reason rather than automatic investiture. This was because authority had to be obeyed even if it were wrong and needed to be remedied by right reason and the Holy Spirit.

This insight remains a focal point of ministry at St. Mark's.  Since I have had the privilege to be involved in this parish community, I am continually struck not only by the deep spiritual holiness that exists among its members but also the deep dedication to the social well-being of its members and the members of the community-at-large.  In many ways, it is a most healthy balance and accurate reflects a "middle way" -- clearly demonstrating how Christians can remain faithful to the life of the Spirit and not be "so heavenly minded as to be no early good!"

Thank God for Richard Hooker.  Thank God for the people of St. Mark's Church!