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An Historical Perspective on Doctrine and Discipline in the Church of England

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  31 July 2008

Geoffrey Rowell
Affiliation:
Bishop of Gibraltar in Europe
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Doctrinal discipline is a necessary concomitant of ministerial accountability and ecclesial integrity. When there is division in the Church the consequence of that division is expressed in articles or confessions of faith which, in the words of the Declaration of Assent, indicate how that Church ‘bears witness’ to the Christian Gospel and the faith once delivered to the saints.

Type
Articles
Copyright
Copyright © Ecclesiastical Law Society 2005

References

1 The substance of this article reproduces in an appropriately amended form the historical and theological background material prepared by Bishop Rowell for the House of Bishops Working Group on Clergy Discipline (Theology and Liturgy) and which was incorporated in its report Clergy Discipline (Doctrine) (GS 1554).Google Scholar

2 Cf Mirgeler, Albert, Mutations of Western Christianity (Burns & Oates, 1964).Google Scholar

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4 Church of England (Worship and Doctrine) Measure 1974, s 5(1); Doe, N, The Legal Framework of the Church of England (Clarendon Press, Oxford, 1996). p 256. Yet it has been noted that same Measure contains a circular arguments in that Once a Measure with doctrinal refrence has been passed by the General Synod and Parliment and received the Royal Assent that determines that such doctrine is in accordance with Scripture and tradition and the historic formularies according to the Canons of the Church of England, and cannot further be tested. (Cf the cases brought by the Revd Paul Williamson on precisely this issue in relation to the question of the ordination of women to the priesthood).CrossRefGoogle Scholar

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8 13 Eliz 1, c 12, also known as the Ordination of Ministers Act 1571 and the Act confirming the Thirty-nine Articles 1571.Google Scholar

9 Constitutions and Canons Ecclesiastical 1604 (ed Bullard, J V, 1934), Canon V. p 6.Google Scholar

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19 Cf McCart, Thomas K., The Matter and Manner of Praise: the controversial evolution of hymnody in the Church of England 1760–1820 (Scarecrow Press, 1998).Google Scholar

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