Mere Anglicanism

The Conference

Mere Anglicanism is a theological conference for clergy and laypeople held annually or semi-annually in January in historic Charleston, SC, and sponsored by the Anglican Diocese of South Carolina. We are an organization of Anglican Christians seeking to engage the culture with the Gospel of Jesus Christ by discipling, training, and educating lay and clergy leaders for the renewal of biblical and orthodox Anglicanism.

Known for bringing world-class speakers to address key topics in a conference that includes beautiful worship and exceptional hospitality, Mere Anglicanism over the past decade has held sold-out conferences on such topics as:

  • Science, Faith and Apologetics: An Answer for the Hope That Is Within Us, featuring John Lennox, Alvin Plantinga, Denis Alexander, and Peter Kreeft

  • Salt and Light: The Christian Response to Secularism, featuring N.T. Wright, Alister McGrath, Michael Nazir-Ali, and Os Guinness

  • The Cross and the Crescent: The Gospel and the Challenge of Islam, featuring William Lane Craig, Archbishop Mouneer Amis, Nabeel Quoreshi, and Fouad Masri

  • Telling a More Beautiful Story: Lessons from C.S. Lewis on Reaching a Fractured World, featuring Alister McGrath, Michael Ward, Philip Ryken, and Amy Orr-Ewing

  • Speaking the Truth in Love: The Church and the Challenge of the New Morality, featuring Sam Allberry, John Dickson, Rebecca McLaughlin, and Vaughan Roberts

Anglican commentators attending past conferences have noted the “stellar line-up of speakers,” the “absolutely top-drawer hospitality and organization,” “spectacular and rafter-raising worship,” and "Anglicanism at its top-level best!”

Our Vision:

Reforming & Renewing

Mere Anglicanism’s vision is for a reformed, renewed orthodox Anglicanism within North America. We recognize that to achieve a restored and faithful Anglicanism, many battles must be fought, many lessons learned. Seminaries must be re-made with faithful, godly deans and teachers. Orthodox Anglicans must be re-connected with one another and learn to work together strategically and tactically. Dioceses and parishes must develop the right conditions for re-growing believing, discipled Christians—including choosing the leadership of orthodox bishops and priests. Even our publications and media—magazines, websites, journals, curricula, devotional guides, and more—must communicate truth with clarity, beauty, and a passionate Gospel commitment.

Central to all of these efforts are educated, authentically discipled, active Anglicans—both lay and clergy—who are prepared and formed for leadership. And that is Mere Anglicanism’s purpose.

Mere Anglicanism is an event-oriented organization that provides the tools and resources to disciple, train, and educate lay and clergy leaders. We bring in thinkers and teachers who help people become informed, equipped leaders and who “take theology home with them.”

Mere Anglicanism does not take a particular stance on what tactics Anglicans should use to reform and restore Anglicanism. For this reason, we do not take a position on whether Anglicans must remain within certain church bodies—or must leave certain church bodies. All of us recognize, however, that whether inside or outside, we must develop discipled, educated laypeople and clergy who are prepared to play their part in the renewal of Anglicanism. We are about deep, intentional Christian formation in the Anglican expression.