PARISH PRINCIPLES

Prayer Book Unity

In accordance with the teaching of Scripture, the holy Traditions of the ancient and undivided Church, and the historic Prayer Book witness, this parish upholds the principle of the inter-relatedness of doctrine and worship, with the consequent understanding that if there is to be one common and uniting set of beliefs then there must also be one common and uniting worship lex orandi, lex credendi (that which we pray is also what we believe). We hold that the historic Book of Common Prayer (1549-1928), as clearly stated in the Preface to the first English Prayer Book, expresses this constituting Anglican principle, and that a return to Prayer Book obedience is the only practicable means of restoring unity to a broken communion.

Christian Sexual Standards

In accordance with the teaching of Scripture, the holy Traditions of the ancient and undivided Church, and the historic Prayer Book witness, this parish acknowledges sexuality to be one of the most powerful forces for good or evil in the lives of human beings, and that therefore the sexual relationship is intended by God to be confined to the safeguards of the covenant of marriage between a man and a woman. We celebrate the marital union between a man and a woman and accordingly maintain that sexual activity outside of that union, homosexual or heterosexual, is contrary to Biblical teaching and is intrinsically sinful. This parish adheres to the standard of chastity among its unmarried members and opposes any doctrine which would have the effect of endorsing liaisons not in accordance with historic Biblical standards.

Divorce

In accordance with the teaching of Scripture, the holy Traditions of the ancient and undivided Church, and the historic Prayer Book witness, this parish upholds marriage as intended by God to be a lifelong relationship, and is so obligated to teach its youth, those preparing for matrimony, and those whose marriages seem imperiled. Nevertheless, this parish also recognizes that the most sincere vows, whether those of ordination, monastic vocation, or marriage, will sometimes fail. In the ancient understanding of Eastern Orthodox Christianity, it may not be physical death alone that overtakes a marriage, but "spiritual death" as well. When a marriage has died, the Church must carefully and charitably weigh the eligibility of a divorced person to enter into a new covenant of marriage, not relying upon the casuistry of Annulment, but rather asking if a greater good might be realized out of the sin of divorce. Accordingly, and until a broader policy in this regard is imposed by affiliation, this parish will not conduct a marriage in which one or more applicant has been previously divorced unless 1) at least one party is a parish member or an immediate blood relative thereof, 2) the divorced applicant(s) can present evidence that a civil decree has been issued and that its obligations have been fully met, and 3) there is both spiritual and psychological indication that the future relationship will be a holy and permanent one.

Termination of Life

In accordance with the Scriptural witness, this parish holds that the life itself is God's possession, that the theology implicit in the Creation Narrative of Genesis delegates responsibility for life to human beings as a sacred trust under the aegis of the 6th Commandment, and that therefore life must not be willfully terminated save under the most urgent circumstances and for the most compelling reasons.

Ordination of Women

In accordance with the teaching of Scripture, the holy Traditions of the ancient and undivided Church, and the historic Prayer Book witness, this parish upholds the principle that it is God's will that the specifically apostolic ministry of blessing, consecrating, and absolving is intended to be exercised by whole, male, baptized persons who have been called to and trained for this holy vocation.

Denominational and Inter-Religious Relations

The Church of the Holy Communion Cathedral believes that unity among Christian believers should be actively pursued in the spirit of the Lord's high priestly prayer,"... that they all may be one," and that opportunities of cooperative ministry should be sought wherever possible. Nevertheless, this parish maintains loyalty to its Anglican heritage and therefore holds as a basis for integral union the fundamentals set forth in the Chicago-Lambeth Quadrilateral (1886). We further believe that while relations with non- or quasi-religious bodies should be marked by respect, there can no compromise with the Lord's assertion: "I am the way, the truth, and the life."