Church of England Foundations

When a new bishop is consecrated, the following statement is made:

The Church of England is part of the One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic Church, worshipping the one true God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. It professes the faith uniquely revealed in the Holy Scriptures and set forth in the catholic creeds, which faith the Church is called upon to proclaim afresh in each generation. Led by the Holy Spirit, it has borne witness to Christian truth in its historic formularies, the Thirty-nine Articles of Religion, The Book of Common Prayer and the Ordering of Bishops, Priests and Deacons.

The question is then asked:

In the declaration you are about to make, will you affirm your loyalty to this inheritance of faith as your inspiration and guidance under God in bringing the grace and truth of Christ to this generation and making Him known to those in your care?

The key points to which they asked to assent are:

  1. The Church of England is not a autonomous organisation, but is part of the ‘one holy, catholic and apostolic church.’ This means we have:
    1. a history going back to the apostles,
    2. a heritage of doctrine and Christian understanding,
    3. accountability to the wider, trinitarian, church of God.
  2. What we believe is:
    1. revealed in the Scriptures. This is expressed at ordination where the ordinand is given a Bible as a symbol.
    2. expressed the Apostles, Nicene and Athanasian creeds. These three creeds can all be found in the Book of Common Prayer.
  3. Specifically, the Church of England expresses truth is three foundation documents:
    1. The thirty-nine articles (found in the Book of Common Prayer and reproduced in our service books at St Botolph’s and ST Edmund’s).
    2. The Book of Common Prayer (1662). Notice that the BCP is considered doctrine, Common Worship (the main services used by the church since 2000) is not.
    3. The Ordinal. This is the form of service used for the ordination of deacons and presbyters, and the consecration of bishops.

Important matters of belief and practice in the church are codified in the Canons (church law). The Canons express clearly how the church is to be ordered and are, like any legal document, legally binding. You can find the Canons here. For our present considerations section A is of most interest.

What this provides is a framework with a huge amount of expression, and a range beliefs on secondary matters. This results in a church that is united around core truths, yet broad and open on secondary issues. This is the Church of England! And the bishops have all promised to support and defend it.

In November 2023 the house of bishops, though divided, led by both archbishops, failed in this responsibility.

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