"The Historic Christian Tradition"

1. Saint Matthew's Churches draws from the wealth and beauty of the entire history of the Church. We especially identify with the Anglican spiritual tradition. We relate to Anglicanism as developing from the very beginning of the Christian faith in the British Isles enduring to the present age. Therefore, in our usage, Anglicanism is inclusive of its Celtic origins, Patristic roots, the Medieval Church, the Protestant Reformation, the Wesleyan Evangelical Revival, the Oxford Movement and the modern Charismatic movement. We measure Anglican history not only from Thomas Cranmer forward, but also from the Reformation backward. Anglicanism in this usage is shaped by its connection and relationship to history.
   
   
2. The elements of Anglicanism are:
   
   
   1. The priority and authority of Holy Scripture as the source of our knowledge of God.
   2. The doctrinal guidance of the Catholic Creeds; Apostle's, Nicene, and Athanasian.
   3. The truth that salvation is, in the final analysis, the gift of God by grace alone.
   4. The use of the liturgy, which is faithful to Scripture and embodies the experience of the church in worship over the centuries.
   5. The historic episcopate, or order of bishops, as a sign of the unity of the one Church of God. The English (Anglican) reformers insisted on the retention of the historic order of Bishops.
   6. The threefold ministry of bishop, presbyter (priest) and deacon as that ministry which has lead the Church to adopt since primitive times.
   7. The two Gospel sacraments of Holy Baptism and Holy Communion ordained by Christ for regular use in the Church.
   8. The unity of the ministry of the Word and Sacrament in the service of Holy Communion.
   9. The need for regular teaching and preaching from the Holy Scriptures.
   10. The recognition that the visible unity of the Church on earth is God's will.
   11. The need for regularly reviewed Canon Law, to respond to the unfolding needs of the people and the Church.
   12. The priesthood of the whole Church as a worshipping and praying society.
   13. The recognition of the continuing ministry of the Holy Spirit and the impartation of gifts and ministries in our time. A commitment to fulfill the Great Commission to winning the world to Jesus Christ into the Third Millennium.
   
   
3. Saint Matthew's Churches approach to liturgy is not to be based on legislative but normative practice as defined by the Scripture, the Book of Common Prayer and the historic practice of the Church.



4. We anticipate liturgical practice to be expressed in three broad categories: low or Evangelical Church, broad Church and high or Anglo-Catholic Church. The practice of a local congregation is recognized and determined by its relationship to its bishop.