From the sixteenth century to the present, Anglicans have had a penchant for labels. They have frequently tossed about labels such as reformed, catholic, protestant, evangelical, high church, low church, broad church, etc. These labels often have different meanings for different people. Sometimes the labels have a historical reference, sometimes a doctrinal meaning, and sometimes a liturgical or ceremonial context.
One Anglican label has been "orthodox." Like other labels, this one also means different things to different Anglicans. For some, it refers to a general respect for Scriptural standards of faith and conduct. For some, it means loyalty to the ancient ecumenical creeds. And for some, it means affirming the teachings of the Seven Ecumenical Councils of the ancient Church. There are understandable reasons for such varied uses of the term "orthodox," but anyone who uses the label should seek clarity about what he means. After long reflection, I have some observations about what the label "orthodox" means in an Anglican context. The following five points summarize my understanding of orthodox Anglicanism:
- acceptance of Holy Scripture and truly catholic traditions of faith and morals,
- affirmation of the ancient Creeds, especially the original Nicene (Nicene-Constantinopolitan) Creed,
- regular use of traditional liturgies, sacraments, and prayers rooted in the ancient Church,
- respect the Seven Ecumenical Councils of the ancient Church,
- and historic male orders of ministry (bishop, priest, deacon) received through unbroken succession.
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