Confession Obsession?: Core Doctrine and the Anxieties of Anglican Theology

This essay focuses on theological reasons for being suspicious of recent proposals within the Anglican Communion for resolving the conflict over homosexuality, including the suggestion that the Communion introduce novel doctrinal specificity, or more rigid forms of Communion authority. substantial weaknesses of these initiatives are explored particularly through an analysis of the recently introduced concept of doctrine. paper argues that Anglicanism's approach to the authority of Scripture, the power of the Holy Spirit, and the nature of doctrinal confession serve as important speed bumps to place in the path of the present momentum toward ecclesial innovation. Although there are considerable practical and ethical questions to raise about the present crisis within the Anglican tradition, this essay focuses on theological reasons for caution, as many of the current proposed solutions to the crisis represent substantial and problematic modifications to Anglican theology and ecclesiology. uproar within the Anglican Communion over the question of sexual orientation is threatening to alter the very nature of Anglicanism. Many theologians and church leaders have responded to the contemporary crisis by calling for a novel emphasis on doctrinal confession within the churches of the Communion. One symptom of this concern is the emergence of the concept of core doctrine, which some recent church authorities have resorted to in order to respond to the current dispute. Since the heresy trial of Bishop Righter in 1996, the term has been invoked by the Windsor Report issued by the Lambeth Commission in October of 2004, and subsequendy by the St. Michael Report of the Anglican Church of Canada in 2005. Although this desire for greater doctrinal clarity is understandable, such recent innovations are plagued by considerable theological problems. Careful analysis of the limitations of the concept of core doctrine and consideration of proposals for more centralized ecclesial authority within the Communion demonstrate that further theological reflection is required before such proposals are adopted formally by churches of the Communion. Although there are considerable practical and ethical questions to raise about the present crisis within the Anglican tradition,1 this essay focuses on theological reasons for being cautious about the introduction of core doctrine and Communion-wide forms of canon law. Throughout this discussion, I question whether the current obsession with securing more rigid forms of church authority is consistent with the Anglican tradition, particularly its emphases on the authority of Scripture, the power of the Holy Spirit, and the nature of doctrinal confession. Symptoms of Doctrinal Confusion Although the issue of homosexuality serves as the occasion and focus of the current crisis within the Anglican Communion, behind the front lines of the confrontation lurks a tension that has long plagued the Anglican tradition: the question of what is essential to the Christian faith as it is proclaimed and witnessed to by Anglicans. For many, the problem confronting the tradition today is the same one lamented by Stephen Sykes almost thirty years ago: The integrity of the communion is in question, because it appears to be offering the propositions of the Christian gospel as topics for debate and discussion, rather than to be witnessing to the mighty acts of God in Christ.2 Whatever the merits of this accusation, the Anglican Communion is being confronted by deep internal tensions; and it remains to be seen whether the tradition possesses the theological resources, along with the courage and wisdom, to confront the problem effectively. Anglicanism (if one can even use the term3) has always represented a constellation of diverse theological and ecciesial positions, held together by complex interweaving bonds of language, empire, culture, history, and other shared allegiances. …

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