The Anglican
Communion, of which the Episcopal Church in the United States is an autonomous
national church, is committed to sound academic research and scholarship. As
such, we embrace the creative tensions between members who prefer that the
Church remain unchanged and those who, as the result of thorough study, propose
revisions. On the one hand, if we were unchangeable, we would eliminate ongoing
clarifications, new information, and inspired insights derived from our ongoing
corporate experience. On the other hand, if we were to uphold every new
well-conceived proposal, we would lack stability and leap from one view to
another.
Upholding the
centrality of Scripture and honoring tradition, the Anglican Way is to reason
carefully, proceed cautiously and prayerfully, and agree to differ - within
doctrinal and moral boundaries. Our fundamental unity is experienced in our
common Baptism and corporate acts of worship, particularly the Holy
Eucharist. We believe that this model of unity has profound implications
for Christian Unity in general.
Among today's
controversial issues within and beyond the Anglican Communion are: the
doctrinal and moral boundaries of the Faith; the ministry and person of Jesus
Christ; whether certain biblical passages are to be understood literally or
metaphorically; whether certain teachings (such as the Trinity) need
reformulation; the authority and roles of ordained and lay people; ethical
issues in medicine, sexuality, and the workplace; and, the stewardship of our
financial and environmental resources.
www.anglicancommunion.org