Anglican Communion
Synodically Governed
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- Written by: Timothy Arnold-Moore
Synod is the Parliament of the Anglican Church. The word “synod” comes from the Greek synodos (σύνοδος) – a common way or path.[1] Unlike historic synods, modern Anglican synods, a largely Australian invention, have significant lay representation affirming the priesthood of all believers, and the Westminster tradition of nobility and commoners separately represented.[2] Synods are a powerful tool for oversight, governance and promoting a shared vision for the ministry and mission of the Church. As a human governance construct, it has strengths and weaknesses reflecting our fallen humanity and need for the saving love of Jesus.
A long history but a short one
Synods have been called throughout the Church’s history. Although the specific word is not used in the New Testament, many consider the Council of Jerusalem in Acts 15 to be the first synod[3] and the archetype for all future synods. Following this example, the purpose of a synod is to resolve disputes[4] and discern together the Holy Spirit’s will for the church.[5] Meetings of mostly clergy often just bishops,[6] referred to as synods and common in the early church, continue in Roman and Eastern churches agreeing on canon,[7] worship practice, and the dates of Easter, [8] and the response to the Reformation. [9] Synods continued in the Church of England as Convocations of Canterbury and York meeting regularly until 1664. [10] Once major doctrinal positions were settled, the English church was largely governed by the monarch and Parliament[11] and clergy synods met more sporadically, often without debate, until their permanent revival in 1966.[12]
Authentic Anglicanism
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- Written by: Sydney Anglican Doctrine Commission
A REPORT OF THE SYDNEY DIOCESAN DOCTRINE COMMISSION
‘Anglicanism’ is the label attached to a form of Christian corporate life that traces its theological convictions and ecclesiastical practice to the New Testament, with an especially formative moment of clarification and development at the time of the English Reformation. Its congregations are particular instantiations of the one holy catholic and apostolic church confessed in the ecumenical creeds, yet they share distinctives that mark them out from other communions and denominations. These distinctives could be defined and described in a number of ways, of which two are most common: a phenomenological approach and a theological approach.
A phenomenological approach often begins by drawing attention to the diversity of practice that has emerged over the past 500 years, despite numerous Acts of Uniformity. It then proceeds to infer from this a distinctive ‘ethos’ of Anglicanism that claims for itself apostolicity, catholicity, comprehensiveness, and so on. The advantage of this approach lies in its attention to history and the way canon law has or has not shaped the practices of the church. In other words, it emphasises description. Its disadvantage lies in the way it sidesteps the question of what Anglican respond to the changing context of the church in its ministry and mission.
Global Anglican Update
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- Written by: Stephen Hale
This article is an attempt to capture the current situation in global Anglicanism. It needs to be borne in mind that the current situation is very fluid and between this being written and published another shift could have taken place! The writer is seeking to convey the broad picture and is not offering a commentary on the various developments. All Statements referred to here are to be found on the EFAC Global website.
THE CHURCH OF ENGLAND
The actions authorised by the General Synod (by the barest of majorities in the houses of clergy and laity) have been deemed to be illegal. As such the provision of standalone services for same sex blessings and any attempt to authorise same sex marriages are on hold. They therefore need to resolve at the next General Synod in February what to do next.
EFAC Statement of Faith and Declarations
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- Written by: Chris Appleby
EFAC Statement of Faith and Declarations
As members of the Anglican Communion within the one, holy, catholic and apostolic church, we affirm the faith, which is uniquely revealed in the holy Scriptures, set forth in the catholic creeds, and of which The Thirty-Nine Articles of Religion are a general exposition. Standing in the Reformed tradition, we lay special emphasis on the grace of God – his unmerited mercy – as expressed in the doctrines which follow:
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God as the Source of Grace
In continuity with the teaching of Holy Scripture and the Christian creeds, we worship one God in three Persons – Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. God has created all things, and us in his own image; all life, truth, holiness, and beauty come from him. His Son Jesus Christ, full God and fully man, was conceived through the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary, was crucified, died, rose and ascended to reign in glory. -
The Bible as the Revelation of Grace
We receive the canonical books of the Old and New Testament as the wholly reliable revelation and record of God’s grace, given by the Holy Spirit as the true word of God written. The Bible has been given to lead us to salvation, to be the ultimate rule for Christian faith and conduct, and the supreme authority by which the Church must ever reform itself and judge its traditions. -
The Atonement as the Work of Grace
We believe that Jesus Christ came to save lost sinners. Though sinless, he bore our sins, and their judgment, on the cross, thus accomplishing our salvation. By raising Christ bodily from the dead, God vindicated him as Lord and Saviour and proclaimed his victory. Salvation is in Christ alone. -
The Church as the Community of Grace
We hold that the Church is God’s covenant community, whose members, drawn from every nation, having been justified by grace through faith, inherit the promises made to Abraham and fulfilled in Christ. As a fellowship of the Spirit manifesting his fruit and exercising his gifts, it is called to worship God grow in grace, and bear witness to him and his Kingdom. God’s Church is one body and must ever strive to discover and experience that unity in truth and love which it has in Christ, especially through its confession of the apostolic faith and in its observance of the dominical Sacraments. -
The Sacraments as the Signs and Seals of Grace
We maintain that the Sacraments of Baptism and Holy Communion proclaim the gospel as effective and visible signs of our justification and sanctification, and as true means of God’s grace to those who repent and believe. Baptism is the sign of forgiveness of sin, the gift of the Spirit, new birth to righteousness and entry into the fellowship of the People of God. Holy Communion is the sign of the living, nourishing presence of Christ through his Spirit to his people; the memorial of his one, perfect completed and all- sufficient sacrifice for sin, from whose achievement all may benefit but in whose atoning self-offering none can share; and an occasion to offer through him our sacrifice of thanksgiving and praise. -
Ministry as the Stewardship of Grace
We share, as the people of God, in a royal priesthood common to the whole Church, and in the community of the Suffering Servant. Our mission is the proclamation of the gospel by the preaching of the word, as well as by caring for the needy, challenging evil and promoting justice and a more responsible use of the world’s resources. It is the particular vocation of bishops and presbyters, together with deacons, to build up the body of Christ in truth and love, as pastors, teachers, and servants of the servants of God. -
Christ’s Return as the Triumph of Grace
We look forward expectantly to the final manifestation of Christ’s grace and glory when he comes again to raise the dead, judge the world, vindicate his chosen and bring his Kingdom to its eternal fulfilment in the new heaven and the new earth.
Declarations
- We gladly proclaim and submit to the unique and universal Lordship of Jesus Christ, the Son of God, humanity’s only Saviour from sin, judgement and hell, who lived the life we could not live and died the death that we deserve. By his atoning death and glorious resurrection, he secured the redemption of all who come to him in repentance and faith.
- We acknowledge God’s creation of humankind as male and female and the unchangeable standard of Christian marriage between one man and one woman as the proper place for sexual intimacy and the basis of the family. We repent of our failures to maintain this standard and call for a renewed commitment to lifelong fidelity in marriage and abstinence for those who are not married.
Fundamental Declarations of the Anglican Church of Australia
- The Anglican Church of Australia, being a part of the One Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church of Christ, holds the Christian Faith as professed by the Church of Christ from primitive times and in particular as set forth in the creeds known as the Nicene Creed and the Apostles' Creed.
- This Church receives all the canonical scriptures of the Old and New Testaments as being the ultimate rule and standard of faith given by inspiration of God and containing all things necessary for salvation.
- This Church will ever obey the commands of Christ, teach His doctrine, administer His sacraments of Holy Baptism and Holy Communion, follow and uphold His discipline and preserve the three orders of bishops, priests and deacons in the sacred ministry.
A cultural change to evangelism: the election of Ric Thorpe as Archbishop of Melbourne
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- Written by: Peter Adam
I read in a book on management that minor technical changes are easy to achieve, but cultural changes are hard to achieve! And if cultural changes take a long time to achieve in a church, they take much longer to achieve in a larger and looser structure such as a diocese. But cultural changes in a diocese have a great impact on local churches.
WHAT HAPPENED?
In this election, we saw a massive cultural change to focus on evangelism!
Who did we elect? 70% of the Melbourne Anglicans who were members of Synod voted for Ric Thorpe, an effective personal evangelist, experienced in planting churches with the gospel, and reinvigorating churches with the gospel, the gospel of God’s free gift of grace and love in the Lord Jesus Christ. We voted for an Archbishop to transform the culture of the diocese and our churches from maintenance to mission, and a cultural change to prioritise evangelism!
Read more: A cultural change to evangelism: the election of Ric Thorpe as Archbishop of Melbourne