Reform (Anglican)
Encyclopedia
Reform is an Evangelical organisation within Anglicanism
, active in the Church of England
and the Church of Ireland
. Reform in England describes itself as a "network of churches and individuals within the Church of England, committed to the reform of ourselves, our congregation and our world by the gospel
".
Several large Anglican churches in England are members of Reform, such as Jesmond Parish Church
(in Newcastle upon Tyne
), St Ebbe's, Oxford
and St Helen's Bishopsgate
(located in the City of London
).
Reform was started in 1993 to oppose the ordination of women
to the priesthood (like Forward in Faith
in the Anglo-Catholic tradition) but has recently focused on advocating a conservative view of homosexuality
. Reform is keen to recognise the unique value of women's ministry within the church. Some Reform members support ordination of women to the priesthood, but not their appointment in charge of a parish or similar. Reform members are also divided over the issue of the remarriage of divorced persons and the issue is left out of the definition of marriage found in the Reform Covenant.(see Reform Covenant, posted on the Reform website)
Reform stand firmly in the more Reformed
tradition of the Church of England, but whilst they disapprove of the interpretation placed upon Anglicanism by Forward in Faith (e.g. views about the Eucharist
, the meaning of ordination
, prayers for the dead and to the saint
s) they pledged at their 2006 Conference their co-operation with that Anglo-Catholic grouping to oppose the acceptance of women bishops within the Church of England.
Anglicanism
Anglicanism is a tradition within Christianity comprising churches with historical connections to the Church of England or similar beliefs, worship and church structures. The word Anglican originates in ecclesia anglicana, a medieval Latin phrase dating to at least 1246 that means the English...
, active in the Church of England
Church of England
The Church of England is the officially established Christian church in England and the Mother Church of the worldwide Anglican Communion. The church considers itself within the tradition of Western Christianity and dates its formal establishment principally to the mission to England by St...
and the Church of Ireland
Church of Ireland
The Church of Ireland is an autonomous province of the Anglican Communion. The church operates in all parts of Ireland and is the second largest religious body on the island after the Roman Catholic Church...
. Reform in England describes itself as a "network of churches and individuals within the Church of England, committed to the reform of ourselves, our congregation and our world by the gospel
Gospel
A gospel is an account, often written, that describes the life of Jesus of Nazareth. In a more general sense the term "gospel" may refer to the good news message of the New Testament. It is primarily used in reference to the four canonical gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John...
".
Several large Anglican churches in England are members of Reform, such as Jesmond Parish Church
Jesmond Parish Church
Jesmond Parish Church is a parish church in the Church of England situated in the Jesmond suburb of Newcastle upon Tyne, England.- History :...
(in Newcastle upon Tyne
Newcastle upon Tyne
Newcastle upon Tyne is a city and metropolitan borough of Tyne and Wear, in North East England. Historically a part of Northumberland, it is situated on the north bank of the River Tyne...
), St Ebbe's, Oxford
St Ebbe's, Oxford
St Ebbe's is a Church of England parish church in central Oxford which is in the conservative evangelical tradition. It has members from many nations, many of whom are students at Oxford University...
and St Helen's Bishopsgate
St Helen's Bishopsgate
St Helen's Bishopsgate is a large conservative evangelical Anglican church, in Lime Street ward, in the City of London, close to the Lloyd's building and the 'Gherkin'.-History:...
(located in the City of London
City of London
The City of London is a small area within Greater London, England. It is the historic core of London around which the modern conurbation grew and has held city status since time immemorial. The City’s boundaries have remained almost unchanged since the Middle Ages, and it is now only a tiny part of...
).
Reform was started in 1993 to oppose the ordination of women
Ordination of women
Ordination in general religious usage is the process by which a person is consecrated . The ordination of women is a regular practice among some major religious groups, as it was of several religions of antiquity...
to the priesthood (like Forward in Faith
Forward in Faith
Forward in Faith is a movement operating in a number of provinces of the Anglican Communion. It represents a traditionalist strand of Anglo-Catholicism and is characterised by its opposition to the ordination of women to the priesthood and episcopate and, more recently, to more liberal Anglican...
in the Anglo-Catholic tradition) but has recently focused on advocating a conservative view of homosexuality
Anglican views of homosexuality
Since the 1990s, the Anglican Communion has struggled with controversy regarding homosexuality in the church. In 1998, the 13th Lambeth Conference of Anglican bishops passed a resolution stating that homosexual acts are "incompatible with Scripture". In 2002, the Diocese of New Westminster, in the...
. Reform is keen to recognise the unique value of women's ministry within the church. Some Reform members support ordination of women to the priesthood, but not their appointment in charge of a parish or similar. Reform members are also divided over the issue of the remarriage of divorced persons and the issue is left out of the definition of marriage found in the Reform Covenant.(see Reform Covenant, posted on the Reform website)
Reform stand firmly in the more Reformed
Reformed churches
The Reformed churches are a group of Protestant denominations characterized by Calvinist doctrines. They are descended from the Swiss Reformation inaugurated by Huldrych Zwingli but developed more coherently by Martin Bucer, Heinrich Bullinger and especially John Calvin...
tradition of the Church of England, but whilst they disapprove of the interpretation placed upon Anglicanism by Forward in Faith (e.g. views about the Eucharist
Eucharist
The Eucharist , also called Holy Communion, the Sacrament of the Altar, the Blessed Sacrament, the Lord's Supper, and other names, is a Christian sacrament or ordinance...
, the meaning of ordination
Ordination
In general religious use, ordination is the process by which individuals are consecrated, that is, set apart as clergy to perform various religious rites and ceremonies. The process and ceremonies of ordination itself varies by religion and denomination. One who is in preparation for, or who is...
, prayers for the dead and to the saint
Saint
A saint is a holy person. In various religions, saints are people who are believed to have exceptional holiness.In Christian usage, "saint" refers to any believer who is "in Christ", and in whom Christ dwells, whether in heaven or in earth...
s) they pledged at their 2006 Conference their co-operation with that Anglo-Catholic grouping to oppose the acceptance of women bishops within the Church of England.
External links
Churches linked to Reform
- St Helen's BishopsgateSt Helen's BishopsgateSt Helen's Bishopsgate is a large conservative evangelical Anglican church, in Lime Street ward, in the City of London, close to the Lloyd's building and the 'Gherkin'.-History:...
, London - Dundonald Church, Wimbledon
- Jesmond Parish ChurchJesmond Parish ChurchJesmond Parish Church is a parish church in the Church of England situated in the Jesmond suburb of Newcastle upon Tyne, England.- History :...
, Newcastle - St Ebbe's Church, Oxford