Part of the series on Anglicanism
Anglican Communion
Background
Christianity English Reformation Apostolic Succession Catholicism Episcopal polity The term Anglican (from Medieval Latin ecclesia anglicana, meaning the English Church) is used to describe how the people, institutions and churches as well as the liturgical traditions and theological concepts developed by the state established Church of England, the Anglican Communion. ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (647x800, 46 KB) Thomas Cranmer (1489-1556) im 57 Lebensjahr von Gerlach Flicke Öl auf Leinwand 1564 in National Portrit Gallery, London Der Erzbischof von Canterbury hält die Episteln des Paulus in der Hand. ... The Anglican Communion uses the compass rose as its symbol, signifying its worldwide reach and decentralized nature. ... Christianity is a monotheistic[1] religion centered on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth as presented in the New Testament. ... King Henry VIII of England The English Reformation refers to the series of events in sixteenth century England by which the church in England broke away from the authority of the Pope and consequently the entire Catholic church; it formed part of the wider Protestant Reformation, a religious and political... In Christianity, the doctrine of Apostolic Succession (or the belief that the Church is apostolic) maintains that the Christian Church today is the spiritual successor to the original body of believers in Christ composed of the Apostles. ... As a Christian ecclesiastical term, Catholic - from the Greek adjective , meaning general or universal[1] - is described in the Oxford English Dictionary as follows: ~Church, (originally) whole body of Christians; ~, belonging to or in accord with (a) this, (b) the church before separation into Greek or Eastern and Latin or... It has been suggested that episcopal be merged into this article or section. ...
People
Thomas Cranmer Thomas Cromwell Henry VIII Hugh Latimer Richard Hooker Elizabeth I Thomas Cranmer (July 2, 1489 – March 21, 1556) was the Archbishop of Canterbury during the reigns of the English kings Henry VIII and Edward VI. He is credited with writing and compiling the first two Books of Common Prayer which established the basic structure of Anglican liturgy for centuries and... Thomas Cromwell: detail from a portrait by Hans Holbein, 1532-3 Thomas Cromwell, 1st Earl of Essex ( 1485 - July 28, 1540) was an English statesman, one of the most important political figures of the reign of Henry VIII of England. ... For other meanings see Henry VIII (disambiguation). ... Hugh Latimer (d. ... Richard Hooker (March 1554 - November 3, 1600) was an influential Anglican theologian. ... Elizabeth I redirects here. ...
Instruments of Unity
Archbishop of Canterbury Lambeth Conferences Anglican Consultative Council Primates' Meeting The Archbishop of Canterbury is the spiritual leader and senior clergyman of the Church of England, recognized by convention as the head of the worldwide Anglican Communion. ... This article needs to be cleaned up to conform to a higher standard of quality. ... The Anglican Consultative Council is one of the four Instruments of Unity of the Anglican Communion. ... The Anglican Communion Primates Meetings are regular meetings of the senior archbishops and bishops of the Anglican Communion. ...
Liturgy and Worship
Book of Common Prayer High Church · Low Church Broad Church Oxford Movement Thirty-Nine Articles Book of Homilies Doctrine Ministry Sacraments Saints in Anglicanism For the novel by Joan Didion, see A Book of Common Prayer. ... High Church relates to ecclesiology and liturgy in Christian theology and practice. ... Low church is a term of distinction in the Church of England or other Anglican churches, initially designed to be pejorative. ... Broad church is a term referring to latitudinarian churches in the Church of England. ... The Oxford Movement was a loose affiliation of High Church Anglicans, most of them members of the University of Oxford, who sought to demonstrate that the Church of England was a direct descendant of the Christian church established by the Apostles. ... The Thirty-Nine Articles are the defining statements of Anglican doctrine. ... During the Reformation in England, Thomas Cranmer and others saw the need for local congregations to be taught Reformed theology and practice. ... Look up doctrine in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... There are very few or no other articles that link to this one. ... Like other churches in the Catholic tradition, the Anglican Communion recognises seven sacraments. ... The provinces of the Anglican Communion commemorate many of the same saints as those in the Roman Catholic calendar, often on the same days, but also commemorate various famous (often post-Reformation and/or English) Christians who have not been canonized. ... This box: view • talk • edit

The Branch Theory is a theological concept of the Anglican Communion and particularly those Anglicans who ascribe to Anglo-Catholic theology. The theory holds that the Roman Catholic Church, the Eastern Orthodox Church and the Anglican Communion are three branches of the One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic Church. The Anglican Communion uses the compass rose as its symbol, signifying its worldwide reach and decentralized nature. ... The term Anglican describes those people and churches following the religious traditions of the Church of England, especially following the Reformation. ... ... The Roman Catholic Church or Catholic Church (see terminology below) is the Christian Church in full communion with the Bishop of Rome, currently Pope Benedict XVI. It traces its origins to the original Christian community founded by Jesus Christ and led by the Twelve Apostles, in particular Saint Peter. ... The Eastern Orthodox Church is a Christian body that views itself: as the historical continuation of the original Christian community established by Jesus Christ and the Twelve Apostles. ... The phrase One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church appears in the Nicene Creed () and, in part, in the Apostles Creed (the holy catholic church, sanctam ecclesiam catholicam). ...

Definition

The Oxford Dictionary of the Christian Church defines the branch theory as:

…the theory that, though the Church may have fallen into schism within itself and its several provinces or groups of provinces be out of communion with each other, each may yet be a branch of the one Church of Christ, provided that it continues to hold the faith of the original undivided Church and to maintain the Apostolic Succession of its bishops. Such, it is contended by many Anglican theologians, is the condition of the Church at the present time, there being now three main branches… In Christianity, the doctrine of Apostolic Succession (or the belief that the Church is apostolic) maintains that the Christian Church today is the spiritual successor to the original body of believers in Christ composed of the Apostles. ...

Proponents

William Palmer (1803–1885), an Oxford theologian, was the principal originator of the Branch Theory. His two-volume Treatise on the Church of Christ (1838) formulated the notion. The theory was then popularized during the Oxford Movement particularly through the work of the Tractarians. The principal writer and force behind the tractarians was John Henry Newman who authored the crucial Tract 90 only later to publicly renounce the Branch Theory as indefensible, and become a Roman Catholic convert. Newman was named a Cardinal by Pope Leo XIII. Other priminant tractarians were Richard Hurrell Froude, Gerard Manley Hopkins, and Henry Edward Manning; the latter two also went on to become Roman Catholic converts. Hopkins became a Jesuit priest and renowned literary figure; and Manning, like Newman, was named a Cardinal, and became a major figure in the re-establishment of the Roman Catholic Church in England. There are several people named William Palmer: William Palmer (1824-1855), doctor and multiple murderer William Jackson Palmer (1836-1909), American Industrialist, Union General during the American Civil War, founder Denver & Rio Grande Railroad, and City of Colorado Springs, Colorado. ... 1803 was a common year starting on Saturday (see link for calendar). ... 1885 (MDCCCLXXXV) is a common year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Saturday of the 12-day slower Julian calendar). ... This article does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... | Jöns Jakob Berzelius, discoverer of protein 1838 was a common year starting on Monday (see link for calendar). ... The Oxford Movement was a loose affiliation of High Church Anglicans, most of them members of the University of Oxford, who sought to demonstrate that the Church of England was a direct descendant of the Christian church established by the Apostles. ... For the 20th century Oxford Movement or Group see Moral Rearmament The Oxford Movement was a loose affiliation of High Church Anglicans who sought to demonstrate that the Church of England was a direct descendant of the Christian church established by the Apostles. ... J H Newman age 23 when he preached his first sermon. ... Tract 90 is the most famous and the most controversial of the Tracts for the Times (from which the term Tractarian is derived), produced by the first generation of the Anglo-Catholic Oxford Movement. ... Pope Leo XIII (March 2, 1810 – July 20, 1903), born Vincenzo Gioacchino Raffaele Luigi Pecci, was Pope of the Roman Catholic Church, having succeeded Pope Pius IX (1846–78) on February 20, 1878 and reigning until his death in 1903. ... Richard Hurrell Froude (25 March 1803-28 February 1836) was an Anglican priest and an early leader of the Oxford Movement. ... The Best ideal is the true/ And other truth is none. ... 1882 caricature from Punch Henry Edward Cardinal Manning (July 15, 1808 - January 14, 1892) was an English Roman Catholic Archbishop and Cardinal. ... The Society of Jesus (Latin: Societas Iesu), commonly known as the Jesuits, is a Roman Catholic religious order. ... The Roman Catholic Church or Catholic Church (see terminology below) is the Christian Church in full communion with the Bishop of Rome, currently Pope Benedict XVI. It traces its origins to the original Christian community founded by Jesus Christ and led by the Twelve Apostles, in particular Saint Peter. ... Motto: (French for God and my right) Anthem: God Save the King/Queen Capital London (de facto) Largest city London Official language(s) English (de facto) Unification    - by Athelstan AD 927  Area    - Total 130,395 km² (1st in UK)   50,346 sq mi  Population    - 2006 est. ...

Official criticisms of other churches

The Branch Theory has not gained wide acceptance among most other churches which represent the vast majority of world-wide Christianity. Indeed, it has not been accepted by the two other Churches with which Anglicanism considers itself a peer. Christianity is a monotheistic[1] religion centered on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth as presented in the New Testament. ...

Roman Catholic Church

The Roman Catholic Church does in practice accept the two fundamental premises of the Branch Theory, namely that maintaining the teachings of the ancient Christian Church and the apostolic succession are sufficient for valid orders of another Church despite being in a state of schism.

The Church does not give credence to the "Branch Theory" as such in that it does not recognize Anglican orders. It considers the succession of the Anglican episcopacy flawed by a lack of intent to ordain to the episcopate when 16th century alterations of the ordination rite of bishops reflected the Protestant and particularly the Calvinist thinking of the Church of England at the time. The Church's position on Anglican orders was published in 1896 by Pope Leo XIII in the document, Apostolicae Curae. The Catholic position on Anglican orders was re-affirmed by Cardinal Ratzinger (now Pope Benedict XVI) in a 1998 instruction attached to Ad Tuendam Fidem by Pope John Paul II. The instruction indicated that Apostolicae Curae was an example of the ordinary magisterium of the Church to which Catholics owe obsequium religiosum. (15th century - 16th century - 17th century - more centuries) As a means of recording the passage of time, the 16th century was that century which lasted from 1501 to 1600. ... Protestantism is a general grouping of denominations within Christianity. ... In an unadorned church, the 17th century congregation stands to hear the sermon. ... Year 1896 (MDCCCXCVI) was a leap year starting on Wednesday (link will display calendar). ... Pope Leo XIII (March 2, 1810 – July 20, 1903), born Vincenzo Gioacchino Raffaele Luigi Pecci, was Pope of the Roman Catholic Church, having succeeded Pope Pius IX (1846–78) on February 20, 1878 and reigning until his death in 1903. ... Apostolicae Curae is the title of a papal bull issued in 1896 by Pope Leo XIII, declaring all Anglican holy orders null and void. ... This article is becoming very long. ... 1998 (MCMXCVIII) was a common year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar, and was designated the International Year of the Ocean [1]. // Coated in ice, power and telephone lines sag and often break, resulting in power outages. ... There are very few or no other articles that link to this one. ... Coat of Arms of Pope John Paul II. The Letter M is for Mary, the mother of Jesus, to whom he held strong devotion Pope John Paul II (Latin: , Italian: Giovanni Paolo II) born   [] (May 18, 1920, Wadowice, Poland – April 2, 2005, Vatican City) reigned as Pope of the Catholic... Magistratus ordinarii (ordinary magistrates) and Magistrarus extraordinarii (extraordinary magistrates) were two categories of officials who held political, military, and, in some cases, religious power in the Roman Republic. ... Obsequium religiosum is a Latin phrase meaning religious submission or religious assent, particularly in the theology of the Catholic Church. ...

The Catholic Church does, however, continue to recognize the validity of orders in a number of other Churches which are in schism from it, provided that they maintain apostolic succession and faithfully teach the faith of the ancient church. Pope John Paul II often referred to the Orthodox Church and the Catholic Church as the "two lungs" of the one Christian body. The Church recognises fully the orders of the Orthodox Churches and a number of other Churches which resulted from later schisms including the Old Catholic Church, the Polish National Catholic Church among others. Coat of Arms of Pope John Paul II. The Letter M is for Mary, the mother of Jesus, to whom he held strong devotion Pope John Paul II (Latin: , Italian: Giovanni Paolo II) born   [] (May 18, 1920, Wadowice, Poland – April 2, 2005, Vatican City) reigned as Pope of the Catholic... The Old Catholic Church is a community of Christian churches. ... The Polish National Catholic Church (PNCC) is a former member of the Old Catholic Union of Utrecht and for much of that period was the only member church of the Union of Utrecht based outside Western or Central Europe (although it was not so when the Philippine Independent Church, also...

The Catholic Church's opinion on the validity of Anglican and Orthodox orders have expressed for centuries in its practices regarding the conversion of Anglican and Orthodox priests to the Catholic Church. Former priests of the Anglican Communion churches must be re-ordained by a Catholic bishop in order to serve in the Catholic Church; however, Orthodox priests are received into the Church as validly ordained and are not required to be ordained again in order to serve.

Eastern Orthodox Church

With the exception of a few brief recognitions of Anglican orders based upon lack of familiarity with Anglican theology in the early 20th century by several Orthodox bishops in a time of pastoral crisis, the Orthodox churches do not in practice recognize Anglican orders as valid. While the Orthodox Churches are fully independent of one another, making the expression of a single theological position more difficult to discern or express, there is general agreement on Anglican orders in practice. Orthodox bishops generally require the re-ordination of an ex-Anglican priest before he can serve as an Orthodox priest. This is generally not required of a Roman Catholic priest converting to Orthodoxy. (19th century - 20th century - 21st century - more centuries) Decades: 1900s 1910s 1920s 1930s 1940s 1950s 1960s 1970s 1980s 1990s As a means of recording the passage of time, the 20th century was that century which lasted from 1901–2000 in the sense of the Gregorian calendar (1900–1999...

Other Protestant churches

With the exception of a few Lutheran bodies, the great majority of Protestant Churches do not consider themselves apostolic in the sense of a technical and literal apostolic succession and so do not accept the fundamental premises of the Branch Theory which, in fact, excludes them. The Lutheran movement is a group of denominations of Protestant Christianity by the original definition. ... Protestantism is a general grouping of denominations within Christianity. ... In Christianity, the doctrine of Apostolic Succession (or the belief that the Church is apostolic) maintains that the Christian Church today is the spiritual successor to the original body of believers in Christ composed of the Apostles. ...

The neutrality and factual accuracy of this section are disputed. Please see the relevant discussion on the talk page.

Image File history File links Circle-question-red. ... Image File history File links Unbalanced_scales. ...

Modern developments

Several twentieth and twenty-first century developments have caused a weakening of the Branch Theory as an important theological concept among Anglicans.

Intercommunion with non-Apostolic Churches

As the Branch Theory holds that valid sacraments rely upon valid ordination in the direct line of apostolic succession several other concepts logically follow: Intercommunion or open communion should not be possible with other Christian Churches which do not have valid orders. Open communion is a regular practice among Anglican Communion Churches. Officially recognized intercommunion and even full communion relationships with Churches lacking valid orders have been initiated by member churches of the Anglican Communion, particularly the Episcopal Church in the United States of America. The ECUSA has entered into full communion with a Lutheran body which had not maintained apostolic succession, although the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America has agreed to have an Episcopalian bishop present at all of its bishop ordinations. A sacrament is a Christian rite that mediates divine grace. ... In Christianity, the doctrine of Apostolic Succession (or the belief that the Church is apostolic) maintains that the Christian Church today is the spiritual successor to the original body of believers in Christ composed of the Apostles. ... In a narrow sense, intercommunion is the same thing as open communion: the practice of serving communion to all Christians rather than only to those of ones own denomination. ... The examples and perspective in this article or section may not represent a worldwide view. ... The Episcopal Church or the Protestant Episcopal Church in the United States of America is the American Church of the Anglican Communion. ... The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America or ELCA is a mainline Protestant denomination headquarted in Chicago, Illinois. ...

See also

• Anglican Roman Catholic International Commission is a modern initiative to make progress towards mutual recognition of orders and sacraments.
• Vincent of Lérins

This article needs to be cleaned up to conform to a higher standard of quality. ... Saint Vincent of Lerins (in Latin, Vincentius) was a Gallic author of early Christian writings. ...

References