Anglican Orthodoxy

Anglican Orthodoxy

Summary of orthodoxy in the Church and the Forums.


The challenge of doctrinal orthodoxy

Unity — an Anglican hallmark — in recent times has been rent when during the struggle with modern Secular Paganism, camps and divisions arose within the Church, setting brother against brother, each camp with its own hermeneutic and theology, prejudices and even hatred for their Anglican brothers; and as the Faithful had decapitated each other, the heretics have grown stronger, rising to the highest levels and trumpeting their Victory as now nearly complete.

The road to recovery, as laid out by our Fathers and Divines, is in doctrinal and creedal orthodoxy — abolition of all self-will and self-pride, personal theories and private theologies, in a joyous submission to the Creeds and Formularies of the Church:

  • Apostles Creed, Nicene Creed, and Athanasian Creed,
  • Articles of Religion, 1662 Prayerbook, Church Catechism, and Homilies.

These are so marked by Apostolic brevity as to contain, for all Christians (even non-Anglicans), all undisputed Doctrine which men may rely on for their salvation.


Formulas of Subscription

1571 A.D. Subscription Act

Every person which doth or shall pretend to be a Priest or Minister of God's Holy Word and Sacraments, before the Feast of the Nativity of Christ shall declare his assent, and subscribe to all the Articles of Religion, comprised in a book imprinted Articles, etc., upon pain that every such person which shall not do as appointed, shall be ipso facto deprived, and all his ecclesiastical promotions shall be void, as if he were then naturally dead.
No person shall hereafter be admitted to any benefice with cure, except he shall have first subscribed the said Articles, with declaration of his unfeigned assent to the same.

- H. Gee & W.J. Hardy, Documents Illustrative of English Church History (1896) [adapted]

1662 A.D. Act of Uniformity

To the end that Uniformity in the public Worship of God may be speedily effected, Be it enacted that every Minister shall, before the feast of Saint Bartholomew, openly and publicly before the Congregation declare his unfeigned assent, and consent, in these words, and no other.

I,  A.B.,  Do here declare my unfeigned assent, and consent to all, and every thing contained, and prescribed in, and by the Book intituled, The Book of Common Prayer and Administration of the Sacraments, and other Rites, and Ceremonies of the Church, according to the use of the Church of England, together with the Psalter, or Psalms of David, Pointed as they are to be sung, or said in Churches; and the form, or manner of making, ordaining, and consecrating of Bishops, Priests, and Deacons.

Every person who shall neglect to do the same, shall ipso facto be deprived, and it shall be lawful to present to the same as though he were dead.

-H. Gee & W.J. Hardy, Documents Illustrative of English Church History (1896) [adapted]

Orthodoxy on Anglican Forums

Orthodoxy on Anglican Forums is defined in the above manner. Members are divided into those who solemnly profess the Faith, and those who do not. Only the members who make this profession are considered Anglicans for the purposes of this site, and an Anglican tag visually identifies them, as those who follow the example of the Divines and Apostles.

Members identified as Anglicans possess forum privileges, extra allowances, permissions, and an overall preferential standing.

Non-professing members retain basic privileges of usage, and are considered fully legitimate members. Any person whatsoever can sign up and participate in the discussions; nevertheless the propagation of Anglican orthodoxy is the only long-term intention.