Anglican covenant : theological and legal considerations for a global debate / Norman Doe.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Doe, Norman.

Contributor:

Charlton Yarnall Fund.

Yarnall Collection (University of Pennsylvania)

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Covenants--Religious aspects--Christianity.

Covenants.

Anglican Communion--Doctrines.

Anglican Communion.

Physical Description:

xii, 259 pages ; 24 cm

Place of Publication:

Norwich : Canterbury Press, [2008]

Summary:

The worldwide fellowship of the forty-four autonomous churches that make up the Anglican Communion has no formal structure other than 'bonds of mutual affection'. Until recent years, those bonds have held the Communion together effectively and the creative tension between autonomy and communion has been one of the outstanding achievements of Anglicanism. Now, largely because of issues around human sexuality, that informal network is under severe strain and for the first time in its history, the Anglican Communion is contemplating a form of constitution.

This unique and authoritative guide to the proposed Anglican Covenant presents for the first time in a single volume

a full exploration of the proposal for the adoption of a covenant by the worldwide Anglican Communion and the drafts of the covenant itself

a summary of the responses to the draft covenants from proponents and opponents alike

a thorough evaluation of the arguments for and against the covenant in the light of the classical Anglican formula of scripture, tradition and reason

a comparison of the proposal and the drafts with current global Anglican polity, and the experiences of both ecumenism and other church traditions.

This essential volume offers a comprehensive and informed guide to the basic idea of a covenant, its structure and substance and the effects of its implementation. It aims to give a voice to the many Anglicans who will be contributing to this crucial debate.

Contents:

Part 1 The Foundational Ideas of a Covenant

1 The Nature of a Covenant 13

A Covenant is a Voluntary Relationship 14

A Covenant is an Agreement 18

A Covenant is an Exchange of Promises 22

A Covenant Generates Commitments 26

2 The Employment of a Covenant 31

The Covenantal Character of Anglicanism 31

The Use of Covenants in Anglicanism 35

The Covenant in Scripture 41

The Covenant in the Sacramental Tradition 44

The Covenant in Reason and Experience 45

3 The Purposes of a Covenant 53

Unity 54

Reconciliation, Recommitment and Trust 59

Identity, Clarity and Understanding 61

Order and Stability 63

Mission and Witness 67

Part 2 The Structure and Substance of a Covenant

4 The Form of a Covenant 73

The Documentary Form of a Covenant 73

Linguistic Form: Descriptive and Prescriptive Covenants 79

The Detail of a Covenant 86

5 The Subject-Matter of a Covenant 91

Common Identity 94

Obligations of Communion 97

Relationships of Communion 100

Autonomy and its Exercise 101

Matters of Common Concern 107

6 The Content of a Covenant 112

The Windsor Draft Covenant 113

The Nassau Draft Covenant 124

The St Andrews Draft Covenant 136

Part 3 The Implementation of a Covenant

7 The Process for a Covenant 149

The Evolution of a Process 150

Vocation: A Call to Covenant 153

Collaboration: Common Discernment 156

Negotiation: The Synthesis of Discordant Views 158

Education: Spiritual Preparation and Growth 161

8 The Adoption of a Covenant 166

Each Church Enacts a Communion Law 166

The Signatories to a Covenant 175

A Solemn Signature in a Liturgical Context 179

9 The Effects of a Covenant 182

Membership of the Anglican Communion 182

Covenants are Binding: Pacta sunt servanda 187

Discipline and Breach of Covenant 191

The Changeability of a Covenant 205

A Covenant and Ecclesiality 207.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references (pages 222-237) and index.

Local Notes:

Acquired for the Penn Libraries with assistance from the Charlton Yarnall Fund.

ISBN:

1853119040

9781853119040

OCLC:

226303381