Via Media not Latitudinarianism (fancy words, critical distinction)

The Anglican Church is famously the 'via media', or 'middle way', church. This idea has been taken by some with enthusiasm, and by others with disappointment, to mean that Anglicanism is fundamentally flexible and does not hold any immovable doctrine. But that would be to confuse the via media with latitudinarianism. The two are quite different. Anglicans adhere to the former, but not the latter.

Negatively, the Anglican via media means the Church is neither Roman Catholic, nor separatist Puritan. Positively, it means the Anglican Church combines an Episcopal structure with Protestant theology. Practically, therefore, the via media doesn't mean that the church is anything at all like broadly permissive latitudinarianism.

The via media is usually read to have been normalised for the Church of England under Elizabeth I. This was a time when theological uniformity, not diversity, was the goal of the national church (granted that this was driven by political necessity as much as theological conviction). Doctrinal boundaries were clearly set and while there was room for some debate on secondary matters, divergent positions on core articles of faith were not accepted. Authority structures were clear and dissent or rebellion was actively opposed. Far from being flexible, the historical Anglican via media held quite a rigid line between alternative views.

It's easy to cast this in harsh-sounding terms as I've done here, but there's also something greatly wise and mature about a non-rubbery middle way. Perhaps considering the concept from the perspective of Aristotle's philosophy is helpful. Aristotle championed a via media for virtues, seeing the error of defining polarising binary systems. For example, instead of taking the ideas of cowardice and bravery as opposites, in Aristotle's thinking, cowardice and foolhardiness are set as opposite extremes and bravery is reframed as the virtuous middle way between the two. Notice that in this system, the via media doesn't embrace the extremes, but charts a strong, clear course between them.

Although the concepts don't completely overlap, there is a parallel with the Anglican via media as originally conceived. The doctrinal errors of Rome were rejected as were the overreactions of potentially anarchic separatists. It was a wise and brave middle way, not at all the establishment of a broad and non-commital church.

It's a great heritage for modern Anglicans to give thanks for and to embrace.