Saint Brendan's is an ecumenical ministry, trusting that Christians from many theological backgrounds are interested in the call to intentional faith and spiritual discipline. Saint Brendan's itself, however, is grounded in the consensual faith of the early, undivided Church. That means we strive to uphold a faith and practice that is historical, conservative, traditional, and evangelical. As an outreach of the Missionary Diocese of All Saints, we are governed by its Canons as well as those of its larger jurisdiction, the Anglican Church in North America. However, as a local Christian work, these Canons are fleshed out with our own Statement of Faith. But first, let us explain why doctrine is so essential to authentic faith.
Doctrine is that body of teaching which the Church proclaims, defends, and passes on to each generation as its fixed and firm position of faith; not conforming to the prevailing ethics, philosophy, or false spirituality of a changing world, but anchored on the changelessness of God "with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning" (James 1:17). It’s the conviction of knowing that what God has said, He has said for all times.
When the Church is unwilling to establish the boundaries of sound doctrine, the people are open to the abuse and judgment of false teaching (2 Timothy 4:3). Paul was insistent that the only doctrine a Christian should embrace is that teaching found in Scripture and which Christ committed to His Apostles (Galatians 1:8). As the Church was faithful to transmit this Apostolic Faith to each generation, Saint Vincent of Lerins (434 AD) summed up the 'rule' of doctrine as "that faith which has been believed everywhere, always, by all"--a simple test whereby believers could distinguish authentic truth from heresy.
In this way, good doctrine fulfills the injunction of Proverbs 22:28, “Do not move an ancient boundary stone set up by your forefathers.” It also prevents God’s children from falling into error as we avoid the dangers of Isaiah 5:20, “Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness, who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter.”
Good doctrine allows the clergy to faithfully instruct God’s people and good doctrine allows God’s people to confirm the purity of what is being taught. Good doctrine helps the Church to recognize truth from falsehood and light from darkness. As Ezekiel 44:23 says of the ancient priests of Israel, “They are to teach my people the difference between the holy and the common and show them how to distinguish between the unclean and the clean.” Good doctrine leads us higher and deeper into our ancient faith, reminding us of God’s cry when He says in Jeremiah 6:16, "Stand at the crossroads and look; ask for the ancient paths, ask where the good way is, and walk in it, and you will find rest for your souls.”
A church without firm doctrine can change with the political climate, the theological training of the pastor, the insistence of influential laity, the latest Christian teaching craze, or even with the desire to not be too ‘controversial’ over current issues in the media or community. Rather, good doctrine begins with “What saith the Scripture?” (cf., Romans 4:3; Galatians 4:30) and ends with those who stand firm on the Word of God reigning with Christ for a thousand years (Revelation 20:4).
Doctrinal “position statements” stand as creeds of the church. Creed comes from the Latin word credo which simply means “I believe.” A creed serves as a standard, or rule, or plumb line against which all preaching, teaching, and practice must submit. The original creeds of the New Testament appear in such places as 1 Corinthians 15:3-4,22-24 and 1 Timothy 3:16. Within several generations of Christ, the Church was formulating its essential beliefs in the form of the Apostles’ Creed (all converts needed to profess this prior to baptism), the Nicene Creed (the standard against which all teaching was tested, and often recited at the end of a sermon to check it for heresy), and the Athanasian Creed (which formally laid out the doctrine of the nature of Christ and the relationship of the Trinity). Several early creeds also included “anathemas” (literally, curses) upon those who rejected the clear teaching of the Church as received through the Apostolic Tradition.
While creeds are still used in many churches today, other churches opt for doctrinal position statements (i.e., “Statements of Faith”) which articulate their understanding and acceptance of key doctrines essential to safeguarding their faith. These position statements often include their stand on Scripture; the revealed personalities of God (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit); the function of each member of the Trinity; the fall of man as a creature of sin; the role of Christ in the redemption of mankind; the nature, observance, and form of the sacraments (e.g., communion and baptism); the role of the Church and its expression in the local membership; the role of Satan as the enemy of God’s creation; the Last Days; the return of Christ; the final judgment of mankind; and the consummation of the Bride of Christ in heaven for eternity.
Once a statement of faith is clearly articulated and accepted, it becomes a standard for the training of new members, of drawing clarity and focus to religious education, of declaring to the local community what the church stands for and what it holds to as essential truth, and for drawing a line against the rash of false teaching that seeks to infiltrate God’s people. A statement of faith is a bulwark against the subjective whims of the age and keeps mindful Christians from being “tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive” (Ephesians 4:14).
With these things in mind, please take some time to examine our doctrinal statements below.
Doctrine is that body of teaching which the Church proclaims, defends, and passes on to each generation as its fixed and firm position of faith; not conforming to the prevailing ethics, philosophy, or false spirituality of a changing world, but anchored on the changelessness of God "with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning" (James 1:17). It’s the conviction of knowing that what God has said, He has said for all times.
When the Church is unwilling to establish the boundaries of sound doctrine, the people are open to the abuse and judgment of false teaching (2 Timothy 4:3). Paul was insistent that the only doctrine a Christian should embrace is that teaching found in Scripture and which Christ committed to His Apostles (Galatians 1:8). As the Church was faithful to transmit this Apostolic Faith to each generation, Saint Vincent of Lerins (434 AD) summed up the 'rule' of doctrine as "that faith which has been believed everywhere, always, by all"--a simple test whereby believers could distinguish authentic truth from heresy.
In this way, good doctrine fulfills the injunction of Proverbs 22:28, “Do not move an ancient boundary stone set up by your forefathers.” It also prevents God’s children from falling into error as we avoid the dangers of Isaiah 5:20, “Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness, who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter.”
Good doctrine allows the clergy to faithfully instruct God’s people and good doctrine allows God’s people to confirm the purity of what is being taught. Good doctrine helps the Church to recognize truth from falsehood and light from darkness. As Ezekiel 44:23 says of the ancient priests of Israel, “They are to teach my people the difference between the holy and the common and show them how to distinguish between the unclean and the clean.” Good doctrine leads us higher and deeper into our ancient faith, reminding us of God’s cry when He says in Jeremiah 6:16, "Stand at the crossroads and look; ask for the ancient paths, ask where the good way is, and walk in it, and you will find rest for your souls.”
A church without firm doctrine can change with the political climate, the theological training of the pastor, the insistence of influential laity, the latest Christian teaching craze, or even with the desire to not be too ‘controversial’ over current issues in the media or community. Rather, good doctrine begins with “What saith the Scripture?” (cf., Romans 4:3; Galatians 4:30) and ends with those who stand firm on the Word of God reigning with Christ for a thousand years (Revelation 20:4).
Doctrinal “position statements” stand as creeds of the church. Creed comes from the Latin word credo which simply means “I believe.” A creed serves as a standard, or rule, or plumb line against which all preaching, teaching, and practice must submit. The original creeds of the New Testament appear in such places as 1 Corinthians 15:3-4,22-24 and 1 Timothy 3:16. Within several generations of Christ, the Church was formulating its essential beliefs in the form of the Apostles’ Creed (all converts needed to profess this prior to baptism), the Nicene Creed (the standard against which all teaching was tested, and often recited at the end of a sermon to check it for heresy), and the Athanasian Creed (which formally laid out the doctrine of the nature of Christ and the relationship of the Trinity). Several early creeds also included “anathemas” (literally, curses) upon those who rejected the clear teaching of the Church as received through the Apostolic Tradition.
While creeds are still used in many churches today, other churches opt for doctrinal position statements (i.e., “Statements of Faith”) which articulate their understanding and acceptance of key doctrines essential to safeguarding their faith. These position statements often include their stand on Scripture; the revealed personalities of God (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit); the function of each member of the Trinity; the fall of man as a creature of sin; the role of Christ in the redemption of mankind; the nature, observance, and form of the sacraments (e.g., communion and baptism); the role of the Church and its expression in the local membership; the role of Satan as the enemy of God’s creation; the Last Days; the return of Christ; the final judgment of mankind; and the consummation of the Bride of Christ in heaven for eternity.
Once a statement of faith is clearly articulated and accepted, it becomes a standard for the training of new members, of drawing clarity and focus to religious education, of declaring to the local community what the church stands for and what it holds to as essential truth, and for drawing a line against the rash of false teaching that seeks to infiltrate God’s people. A statement of faith is a bulwark against the subjective whims of the age and keeps mindful Christians from being “tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive” (Ephesians 4:14).
With these things in mind, please take some time to examine our doctrinal statements below.