Affirmation of St. Louis
All churches and members of the AFDV community adhere to the Affirmation of St. Louis.
Issued by the Fellowship of Concerned Churchmen September 17, 1977
IN THE NAME OF THE FATHER AND OF THE SON AND OF THE HOLY GHOST.
AMEN.
THE CONTINUATION OF ANGLICANISM. We affirm that the Church of our
fathers, sustained by the most Holy Trinity, lives yet, and that
we, being moved by the Holy Spirit to walk only in that way, are
determined to continue in the Catholic Faith, Apostolic Order, Orthodox
Worship and Evangelical Witness of the traditional Anglican Church,
doing all things necessary for the continuance of the same. We are
upheld and strengthened in this determination by the knowledge that
many provinces and dioceses of the Anglican Communion have continued
steadfast in the same Faith, Order, Worship and Witness, and that
they continue to confine ordination to the priesthood and the episcopate
to males. We rejoice in these facts and we affirm our solidarity
with these provinces and dioceses.
THE DISSOLUTION OF ANGLICAN AND EPISCOPAL CHURCH STRUCTURE. We
affirm that the Anglican Church of Canada and the Protestant Episcopal
Church in the United States of America, by their unlawful attempts
to alter Faith, Order and Morality (especially in their General
Synod of 1975 and General Convention of 1976), have departed from
Christ's One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church.
THE NEED TO CONTINUE ORDER IN THE CHURCH. We affirm that all former
ecclesiastical governments, being fundamentally impaired by the
schismatic acts of lawless Councils, are of no effect among us,
and that we must now reorder such godly discipline as will strengthen
us in the continuation of our common life and witness.
THE INVALIDITY OF SCHISMATIC AUTHORITY. We affirm that the claim
of any such schismatic person or body to act against any Church
member, clerical or lay, for his witness to the whole Faith is with
no authority of Christ's true Church, and any such inhibition, deposition
or discipline is without effect and is absolutely null and void.
THE NEED FOR PRINCIPLES AND A CONSTITUTION. We affirm that fundamental
principles (doctrinal, moral, and constitutional) are necessary
for the present, and that a Constitution (redressing the defects
and abuses of our former governments) should be adopted, whereby
the Church may be soundly continued.
THE CONTINUATION OF COMMUNION WITH CANTERBURY. We affirm our continued
relations of communion with the See of Canterbury and all faithful
parts of the Anglican Communion.
WHEREFORE, with a firm trust in Divine Providence, and before Almighty
God and all the company of heaven, we solemnly affirm, covenant
and declare that we, lawful and faithful members of the Anglican
and Episcopal Churches, shall now and hereafter continue and be
the unified continuing Anglican Church in North America, in true
and valid succession thereto.
FUNDAMENTAL PRINCIPLES In order to carry out these declarations,
we set forth these fundamental Principles for our continued life
and witness.
PREFACE: In the firm conviction that "we shall be saved through
the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ," and that "there is
no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved,"
and acknowledging our duty to proclaim Christ's saving Truth to
all peoples, nations and tongues, we declare our intention to hold
fast the One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Faith of God. We acknowledge
that rule of faith laid down by St. Vincent of Lerins: "Let
us hold that which has been believed everywhere, always and by all,
for that is truly and properly Catholic."
I. PRINCIPLES OF DOCTRINE
I. THE NATURE OF THE CHURCH We gather as people called by God to
be faithful and obedient to Him. As the Royal Priestly People of
God, the Church is called to be, in fact, the manifestation of Christ
in and to the world. True religion is revealed to man by God. We
cannot decide what is truth, but rather (in obedience) ought to
receive, accept, cherish, defend and teach what God has given us.
The Church is created by God, and is beyond the ultimate control
of man. The Church is the Body of Christ at work in the world. She
is the society of the baptized called out from the world: In it,
but not of it. As Christ's faithful Bride, she is different from
the world and must not be influenced by it.
2. THE ESSENTIALS OF TRUTH AND ORDER We repudiate all deviation
or departure from the Faith, in whole or in part, and bear witness
to these essential principles of evangelical Truth and apostolic
Order:
HOLY SCRIPTURE. The Holy Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments
as the authentic record of God's revelation of Himself, His saving
activity, and moral demands--a revelation valid for all men and
all time.
THE CREEDS. The Nicene Creed as the authoritative summary of the
chief articles of the Christian Faith, together with the Apostles'
Creed, and that known as the Creed of St. Athanasius to be "thoroughly
received and believed" in the sense they have had always in
the Catholic Church.
TRADITION. The received Tradition of the Church and its teachings
as set forth by "the ancient catholic bishops and doctors,"
and especially as defined by the Seven Ecumenical Councils of the
undivided Church, to the exclusion of all errors, ancient and modern.
SACRAMENTS. The Sacraments of Baptism, Confirmation, the Holy Eucharist,
Holy Matrimony, Holy Orders, Penance and Unction of the Sick, as
objective and effective signs of the continued presence and saving
activity of Christ our Lord among His people and as His covenanted
means for conveying His grace. In particular, we affirm the necessity
of Baptism and the Holy Eucharist (where they may be had)--Baptism
as incorporating us into Christ (with its completion in Confirmation
as the "seal of the Holy Spirit"), and the Eucharist as
the sacrifice which unites us to the all-sufficient Sacrifice of
Christ on the Cross and the Sacrament in which He feeds us with
His Body and Blood.
HOLY ORDERS. The Holy Orders of bishops, priests and deacons as
the perpetuation of Christ's gift of apostolic ministry to His Church,
asserting the necessity of a bishop of apostolic succession (or
a priest ordained by such) as the celebrant of the Eucharist - these
Orders consisting exclusively of men in accordance with Christ's
Will and institution (as evidenced by the Scriptures), and the universal
practice of the Catholic Church.
DEACONESSES. The ancient office and ministry of Deaconesses as
a lay vocation for women, affirming the need for proper encouragement
of that office.
DUTY OF BISHOPS. Bishops as Apostles, Prophets, Evangelists, Shepherds
and Teachers, as well as their duty (together with other clergy
and the laity) to guard and defend the purity and integrity of the
Church's Faith and Moral Teaching.
THE USE OF OTHER FORMULAE. In affirming these principles, we recognize
that all Anglican statements of faith and liturgical formulae must
be interpreted in accordance with them.
INCOMPETENCE OF CHURCH BODIES TO ALTER TRUTH. We disclaim any right
or competence to suppress, alter or amend any of the ancient Ecumenical
Creeds and definitions of Faith, to set aside or depart from Holy
Scripture, or to alter or deviate from the essential prerequisites
of any Sacrament.
UNITY WITH OTHER BELIEVERS. We declare our firm intention to seek
and achieve full sacramental communion and visible unity with other
Christians who "worship the Trinity in Unity, and Unity in
Trinity," and who hold the Catholic and Apostolic Faith in
accordance with the foregoing principles.
II. PRINCIPLES OF MORALITY The conscience, as the inherent knowledge
of right and wrong, cannot stand alone as a sovereign arbiter of
morals. Every Christian is obligated to form his conscience by the
Divine Moral Law and the Mind of Christ as revealed in Holy Scriptures,
and by the teachings and Tradition of the Church. We hold that when
the Christian conscience is thus properly informed and ruled, it
must affirm the following moral principles:
INDIVIDUAL RESPONSIBILITY. All people, individually and collectively,
are responsible to their Creator for their acts, motives, thoughts
and words, since "we must all appear before the judgment seat
of Christ..."
SANCTITY OF HUMAN LIFE. Every human being, from the time of his
conception, is a creature* of God, made in His image and likeness,
an infinitely precious soul; and that the unjustifiable or inexcusable
taking of life is always sinful.
MAN'S DUTY TO GOD. All people are bound by the dictates of the
Natural Law and by the revealed Will of God, insofar as they can
discern them.
FAMILY LIFE. The God-given sacramental bond in marriage between
one man and one woman is God's loving provision for procreation
and family life, and sexual activity is to be practiced only within
the bonds of Holy Matrimony.
MAN AS SINNER. We recognize that man, as inheritor of original
sin, is "very far gone from original righteousness," and
as a rebel against God's authority is liable to His righteous judgment.
MAN AND GOD'S GRACE. We recognize, too, that God loves His children
and particularly has shown it forth in the redemptive work of our
Lord Jesus Christ, and that man cannot be saved by any effort of
his own, but by the Grace of God, through repentance and acceptance
of God's forgiveness.
CHRISTIAN'S DUTY TO BE MORAL. We believe, therefore, it is the
duty of the Church and her members to bear witness to Christian
Morality, to follow it in their lives, and to reject the false standards
of the world.
III. CONSTITUTIONAL PRINCIPLES In the constitutional revision which
must be undertaken, we recommend, for the consideration of continuing
Anglicans, the following:
RETAIN THE BEST OF BOTH PROVINCES. That the traditional and tested
features of the Canadian and American ecclesiastical systems be
retained and used in the administration of the continuing Church.
SELECTION OF BISHOPS. That a non-political means for selection
of bishops be devised, adopted and used.
TRIPARTITE SYNOD. That the Church be generally governed by a Holy
Synod of three branches (episcopal, clerical and lay), under the
presidency of the Primate of the Church.
SCRIPTURAL STANDARDS FOR THE MINISTRY. That the apostolic and
scriptural standards for the sacred Ministry be used for all orders
of Ministers.
CONCURRENCE OF ALL ORDERS FOR DECISIONS. That the Constitution
acknowledge the necessity of the concurrence of all branches of
the Synod for decisions in all matters, and that extraordinary majorities
be required for the favorable consideration of all matters of importance.
RE-ESTABLISHMENT OF DISCIPLINE. That the Church re-establish an
effective permanent system of ecclesiastical courts for the defense
of the Faith and the maintenance of discipline over all her members.
CONSTITUTIONAL ASSEMBLY TO BE CALLED. That our bishops shall call
a Constitutional Assembly of lay and clerical representatives of
dioceses and parishes to convene at the earliest appropriate time
to draft a Constitution and Canons by which we may be unified and
governed, with special reference to this Affirmation, and with due
consideration to ancient Custom and the General Canon Law, and to
the former law of our provinces.
INTERIM ACTION. In the meantime, trusting in the everlasting strength
of God to carry us through all our trials, we commend all questions
for decision to the proper authorities in each case: Episcopal,
diocesan, and parochial, encouraging all the faithful to support
our witness as subscribers to this Affirmation, and inviting all
so doing to share our fellowship and the work of the Church.
IV. PRINCIPLES OF WORSHIP
PRAYER BOOK THE STANDARD OF WORSHIP. In the continuing Anglican
Church, the Book of Common Prayer is (and remains) one work in two
editions: The Canadian Book of 1962 and the American Book of 1928.
Each is fully and equally authoritative. No other standard for worship
exists.
CERTAIN VARIANCES PERMITTED. For liturgical use, only the Book
of Common Prayer and service books conforming to and incorporating
it shall be used.
V. PRINCIPLES OF ACTION
INTERCOMMUNION WITH OTHER APOSTOLIC BODIES. The continuing Anglicans
remain in full communion with the See of Canterbury and with all
other faithful parts of the Anglican Communion, and should actively
seek similar relations with all other Apostolic and Catholic Churches,
provided that agreement in the essentials of Faith and Order first
be reached.
NON-INVOLVEMENT WITH NON-APOSTOLIC BODIES. We recognize that the
World Council of Churches, and many national and other Councils
adhering to the World Council, are non-Apostolic, humanist and secular
in purpose and practice, and that under such circumstances, we cannot
be members of any of them. We also recognize that the Consultation
on Church Union (COCU) and all other such schemes, being non-Apostolic
and non-Catholic in their present concept and form, are unacceptable
to us, and that we cannot be associated with any of them.
NEED FOR SOUND THEOLOGICAL TRAINING. Re-establishment of spiritual,
orthodox and scholarly theological education under episcopal supervision
is imperative, and should be encouraged and promoted by all in authority;
and learned and godly bishops, other clergy and lay people should
undertake and carry on that work without delay.
FINANCIAL AFFAIRS. The right of congregations to control of their
temporalities should be firmly and constitutionally recognized and
protected.
ADMINISTRATIVE MATTERS. Administration should, we believe, be limited
to the most simple and necessary acts, so that emphasis may be centered
on worship, pastoral care, spiritual and moral soundness, personal
good works, and missionary outreach, in response to God's love for
us.
THE CHURCH AS WITNESS TO TRUTH. We recognize also that, as keepers
of God's will and truth for man, we can and ought to witness to
that will and truth against all manifest evils, remembering that
we are as servants in the world, but God's servants first.
PENSIONS AND INSURANCE. We recognize our immediate responsibility
to provide for the establishment of sound pension and insurance
programs for the protection of the stipendiary clergy and other
Church workers.
LEGAL DEFENSE. We recognize the immediate need to coordinate legal
resources, financial and professional, for the defense of congregations
imperiled by their stand for the Faith, and commend this need most
earnestly to the diocesan and parochial authorities.
CONTINUATION, NOT INNOVATION. In this gathering witness of Anglicans
and Episcopalians, we continue to be what we are. We do nothing
new. We form no new body, but continue as Anglicans and Episcopalians.
NOW, THEREFORE, deeply aware of our duty to all who love and believe
the Faith of our Fathers, of our duty to God, who alone shall judge
what we do, we make this Affirmation. Before God, we claim our Anglican/Episcopal
inheritance, and proclaim the same to the whole Church, through
Jesus Christ our Lord, to whom, with the Father and the Holy Ghost,
be all honor and glory, world without end. Amen.
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