Providing ministry, sacraments and oversight which we can receive with confidence

T

The Communion of the ChurchThe Church is a communion because, by the gift of theHoly Spirit, it shares in the eternal communion of theSon with the Father. It makes that communion visibleon earth.

The Church is a ‘communion of saints’, embracing allthe faithful (‘saints’ simply means ‘holy ones’) – bothpilgrims on earth and blessed in heaven.

X They share in the ‘holy things’ – above all the eucharistic gifts – by which the unity of Christ’s body is represented and brought about.

X They are the ‘holy people’ who have been made holy by those gifts.

The communion of the Holy Trinity is a communion oflove. Therefore love (caritas – charity), which ‘bindseverything together in perfect harmony’ (Col. 3.14),always has primacy in the Church.

Our communion with God and with each other inChrist finds expression through:

X confessing the faith received from the Apostles, revealed in the Scriptures and set forth in the creeds;

Providing ministry, sacraments and oversight which we can receive with confidence

T

Providing ministry, sacraments and oversight which we can receive with confidence

T

Communion and Baptism‘Truly our communion is with the Father andwith his Son Jesus Christ.’ (1 John 1.3)

‘Communion’ and ‘fellowship’ are translations ofthe same Greek word: koinonia (mutual sharingor participation).

The life of God – Father, Son and Holy Spirit – isan eternal communion of love. All who arebaptized into Christ share in this communion.

Because our common baptism provides the basisfor communion with all faithful Christians, thatcommunion can be called ‘baptismal communion’.

X the sacraments that bind us to Christ: one baptism; one Eucharist, served by one ordained ministry; and the other sacraments of the Church.

X a life of shared concern for one another in mutual forbearance and love;

X sharing of gifts, both material and spiritual;

X shared commitment to the mission entrusted byChrist to his Church;

X proclamation of the Gospel;

X solidarity with the poor and powerless;

X acceptance of the same basic ethical values to guide us in living a Christian life;

X a shared vision of humanity made and restored in Christ, which gives us hope in the perfection of all things in heaven.

Episcopal MinistryA bishop is a successor of the Apostles and a fatherin God. His is a universal ministry of unity andoversight (episkope). He unites the parishes that arecommitted to his care in communion with eachother and with the Church across the world andthrough the ages.

‘O God, you have knit together your electin one communion and fellowshipin the mystical body of your Son Christour Lord.’ Collect of All Saints’ Day

‘… we are incorporated into the mystical bodyof your Son, the blessed company of allfaithful people.’ Prayer after Communion

Project1 2.qxp_Layout 1 18/08/2015 14:20 Page 1

Providing ministry, sacraments and oversight which we can receive with confidence

T

Communion now inthe Church of England

Parishes of The Society remain part of the family oftheir diocese, under the jurisdiction of the diocesanbishop.

Although visible communion is diminished, thecommunion rooted in our common baptism remains.The Five Guiding Principles challenge us to identifythe highest degree of communion that principle andconscience allow, and to express this by sharing in thelife of the diocese, making a positive contribution tomission and growth.

Our communion with other members of the Church ofEngland must be characterized by the love (charity)that arises from our common life in Christ.

Normally, holy communion is received within acontext of full communion. For us, this meansreceiving communion in Society parishes or frombishops and priests of The Society. But there can beoccasions when it is appropriate (though none shouldfeel compelled) to receive communion from othervalidly ordained bishops and priests. This must be adecision for the person concerned, as a matter ofconscience.

Providing ministry, sacraments and oversight which we can receive with confidence

T

Full CommunionBeing in full communion with a bishop is a markof being a catholic Christian.

Parishes, clergy and people are in full communionwith their bishop when they can receive thesacramental ministry of all those whom theirbishop ordains.

Where this is not the case, there is no longer oneEucharist in which all can partake. This is whyordaining women as bishops and priests leaves usin a situation where communion is diminished.

Parishes where (for theological reasons) theministry of women as bishops and priests cannotbe received can pass a Resolution. If theirtheological conviction so requires, they will beplaced under the oversight of a bishop of TheSociety with whom they will be in fullcommunion.

The Society’s parishes enjoy full communion witheach other through the full communion of itsbishops.

We pray for the restoration of full communionthroughout the Church of England, and for thefull, visible unity of the whole Church of Christ.

Communion and Full Communion

The ordination of women as bishops in the Churchof England has prompted questions about themeaning of ‘communion’:

What is the full communion that the clergy andparishes of The Society enjoy with its bishops andwith each other?

What communion do they share with their otherbrothers and sisters, lay and ordained, in theChurch of England?

What does this mean for receiving holy communion?

This leaflet offers summary answers. For fuller explanation, see the Council of Bishops’statements on Communion, Catholicity and aCatholic Life: www.sswsh.com/statements.php

2A The Cloisters, Gordon Square, London WC1H 0AG+44 (0)20 7388 3588 Xwww.sswsh.com

Project1 2.qxp_Layout 1 18/08/2015 14:20 Page 2