the Revised Standard Version gained the distinction of being officially authorized for use by all major Christian churches: Protestant, Anglican, Roman Catholic, and Eastern Orthodox.
This seems to imply that the Anglican Church is somehow distinct from the three major strands of Christianity. While it's somewhat flattering to be raised to this level, I'm not sure it's really correct. Certainly, with regards to the Bible, the Anglican Church is about as Protestant as you get. Article VI of the Thirty-Nine Articles says
Holy Scripture containeth all things necessary to salvation: so that whatsoever is not read therein, nor may be proved thereby, is not to be required of any man [sic], that it should be believed as an article of Faith, or be thought requisite or necessary to salvation.
But it's not just in the Articles. The first homily is 'A Fruitful Exhortation to the Reading and Knowledge of Holy Scripture'. It opens this way
Unto a to Christian man [sic], there can be nothing either more necessary or profitable, than the knowledge of Holy Scripture; forasmuch as in it is contained God's true word, setting forth his glory, and also man's [sic] duty. And there is no truth nor doctrine, necessary for our justification and everlasting salvation, but that is, or may be, drawn out of that fountain and well of truth. Therefore as many as be desirous to enter into the right and perfect way unto God, must apply their minds to know Holy Scripture; without the which, they can neither sufficiently know God and his will, neither their office and duty.
There are other places in the Anglican documents where exactly the same sentiments can be found too.
Therefore, despite what may be heard from time to time in parts of the Anglican world, Anglicans do and should hold firm to the primacy of Scripture in all matters of doctrine and ethics. This doesn't mean that reason, experience and tradition can't hold valid secondary positions, but just that none can ever trump the Bible. It also doesn't mean that there can't be legitimate debate over the truest interpretation of the Scriptures or of a portion of them. But as soon as a question is decided on the basis of just what we think, how we feel or what we've previously done or thought instead of what Scripture says, we're not only failing to be orthodox Christians, but we're also failing to be true Anglicans.
The really great news is that despite the sometime dated forms, there are actually heaps of Anglican churches and agencies that are fantastically and thoughtfully Bible-based in what they teach and do. Sticking well with the thoughtful, positive tradition of our branch of the Protestant family.
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