The often-poisonous outcomes of debates on theological anthropology have plagued the church in its various forms over the past century. Despite a wider ecumenical conversation on developing greater inter-denominational unity, intra-denominational unity has been increasingly threatened by the implications of these conflicting understandings. Not only is there disagreement on the presenting issues, but there remains disagreement on the nature of the disagreement itself.
The Anglican Communion has been front and centre of this ecclesial conflict, with differing conceptions of unity, the bounds of disagreement, collegiality, interdependence, and the nature of orthodoxy. This paper addresses how these disagreements might be defined and engaged with and analyses the role of doctrine and creeds in relation to Anglicanism and wider understandings of orthodoxy.
This paper will primarily focus on two key issues of theological anthropology that have caused deep division across Anglicanism (and between Anglicans and their ecumenical partners – and, indeed, amongst those ecumenical partners), specifically gender and sexuality. It will engage with the developing narrative on the ‘nature’ of Anglicanism and of ‘orthodox Christianity’ which has increasingly focused on such matters at both a local (Church of England) and international (Primates Meeting, Lambeth Conference) level. It will analyse how consistent this turn to the primacy of doctrine in Anglican identity is with the history of Anglicanism and its formularies, particularly in the light of the Lambeth Quadrilateral, and engage with differing perspectives on the role of dissent and disobedience (and their definition). In addition, it will provide an analysis of historical and contemporary boundary setting within ‘orthodoxy’ and provide a rationale for one possible path through the current impasse.
In addition, it will discuss the current theological work around the development of doctrine taking place in the contemporary Church of England and wider communion (e.g. in the work of IASCUFO), and relate this to the bounds of possible unity in a communion in which sociocultural factors play an often unacknowledged but ever-present role. It will address issues such as the interplay of identity, doctrine, and ecclesiology, and in particular focus on the challenge of normativity in theological debate and decision making (both the forum and the decision).
Finally, it will ask what the legacy of Nicaea, and its reception through history, might offer to discussions and disagreements of this sort, both for intra- and inter-church dialogue and debate.
This paper explores the theological conflicts surrounding Anglicanism, particularly focusing on the debates over gender and sexuality, which have caused significant division both within the Anglican Communion and in its ecumenical relations. It addresses the nature of intra-denominational disagreements, examining the implications of differing understandings of unity, orthodoxy, and doctrine. The paper analyzes the role of Anglican formularies and the Lambeth Quadrilateral in shaping contemporary theological identity and ecclesiology, particularly in light of the ongoing disputes. Additionally, it considers the work of the Church of England and the wider Communion in developing doctrine, with particular attention to sociocultural factors influencing these theological discussions. The paper also reflects on the legacy of the Council of Nicaea and its historical reception, proposing that its insights may offer a way forward in navigating these contentious issues and fostering both intra- and inter-church dialogue.