When I first became a believer in the early ‘90’s, I heard the term “evangelical” and tried to find out what it meant. I found it a very nebulous word that meant many things to many people. It’s definition has morphed again and again in my mind; when used as an adjective it’s heavily modified by the noun it attempts to modify as well as by the person applying the term, i.e., “Evangelical Christian”, “Evangelical Free Church” and “Evangelical Lutheran Church in America” have widely different meanings. When a news personality says “Evangelical” it means something quite different than when an “Evangelical” Christian says “Evangelical”, which means something quite different than when most of us here in BHT say “Evanglelical”.

I don’t like the word, it’s definitions and connotations are too emotion-laden. I don’t like the word “faith” either, I’ve come to prefer “trust”.

Phillip, you seem to prefer “Anglican” over “Episcopal”, any reasons why?

Jim, is it syncretism when various strains within “Christiandom” blend together? I think of syncretism as the adoption of the beliefs and practices of systems outside of Christianity.