Principle 52: Legitimate theological diversity and Principle 53: Doctrinal discipline

Saturday, July 26, 2008 • 4:26 pm

Transcribed from "The Principles of Canon Law Common to the Churches of the Anglican Communion" by Fr. Matt Kennedy


Principle 52: Legitimate theological diversity

1. Ministers are called to work together and remain in fellowship so that visible communion is maintained even if theological or other disagreements occur

2. The right to deny the authenticity of the ministry of anyone duly authorized by a church belongs only to the competent ecclesiastical authority as designated by law.

3. A minister enjoys such rights of conscientious objection with impunity as are permitted by law.

Principle 53: Doctrinal discipline

1. The church has authority in controversies of faith.

2. At ordination and consecration, candidates must subscribe, assent, or otherwise affirm publicly their belief in or loyalty to the doctrine of their church.

3. Ordained ministers may be required to subscribe to the doctrine of their church on admission to an office or other appointment.

4. Lay ministers or lay officers may be required to subscribe to the doctrine of their church to the extent prescribed by law.

5. The width of permissible theological opinion in a church is determined (a) legislatively, by its central assembly; (b) executively, by its bishops, individually or collectively; and (c) judicially, by its courts and tribunals.

6. The bishop has a special responsibility to guard and uphold sound and wholesome doctrine.

7. Ministers must not teach, preach, publish, or profess doctrine or belief incompatible with that of their own church.

8. A person who engages in unlawful doctrinal dissent may be subject to disciplinary process in church courts or tribunals in the manner and to the extent provided by law.

9. The courts and tribunals of a church do not declare true doctrine or create new doctrine but only state what the law is with regard to doctrine.

10. The interpretation of the standards and formularies of, and all questions of faith and doctrine arising in, a church shall be determined within that church save to the extent that its law permits reference for the purpose of consultation or determination of such matters toa body external to that church.