Chicago-Lambeth Quadrilateral

The Lambeth Quadrilateral ( Quadrilateral is English for " square" ) refers to the four principles that were of the Lambeth Conference ( 1888) considered as the basic conditions of the Church's unity. These were:

It is also sometimes referred to as the Lambeth Quadrilateral or Chicago - Lambeth Quadrilateral Chicago as a predecessor document was adopted in Chicago in 1886 by the bishops of the Episcopal Church of the United States of America. Meanwhile, the four principles are seen as the core of Anglican self-understanding, even if their origins were a basis for ecumenical conversations. Thus, William Reed Huntington, an Episcopal priest, will discuss in an essay from 1870, foundations on which the merging of Anglican churches could be achieved with the Roman Catholic and Orthodox churches.

• 2.1 Within the Anglican Communion
• 2.2 The Quadrilateral in ecumenical dialogue

Genesis and textual variants

Decision of the U.S. bishops

The four bases that make up the Lambeth Quadrilateral, were enumerated in 1886 in a decision by the House of Bishops of the U.S. Episcopal Church. The resolution adopted there was as follows:

Resolution of the Lambeth Conference of 1888

1888 entered the third Lambeth Conference together and adopted resolution 11 This was a shortened version of the resolution, which was adopted two years earlier in Chicago by the U.S. bishops, and closer to the original formulation of Huntington. The text was as follows:

Importance of the Quadrilateral

Within the Anglican Communion

The Quadrilateral has significantly influenced the Anglican identity in the period since its adoption by the Lambeth Conference. The resolution came at a time of rapid growth of the Anglican Communion, especially in the territories of the British Empire. It provided the basis for a common theology, which was becoming increasingly important in the following period of decolonization, the colonial churches, which were significantly influenced by British culture and values ​​, developed in national churches that were more heavily influenced by their own standards.

Yet there has been considerable debate about the Quadrilateral, especially to his third and fourth points. These debates, however, were usually performed within the individual Anglican churches, often between supporters and opponents of the High Church movement, and not between the individual churches with each other. The first point that is responsive to what is referred to by Anglicans as "the sufficiency of Scripture " ( that Scripture bein think everything was needed for salvation ) is taken from language directly from Article VI of the Thirty -Nine Articles of Faith which in turn is a cornerstone of Anglican scriptural exegesis and hermeneutics is since the 16th century. Therefore, it is in the form in which it was written, widely accepted. Similarly, the second point describes the "sine qua non " of the Catholic faith since ancient times, and so it has a similar acceptance. If the second point was even considered controversial, then the controversy related to those parts of the Anglican Communion, who had tried to spread the sufficient statement of faith to include other formula. The third point is considered limited by some Anglicans as inappropriate - especially the Anglo Catholics have argued, in addition to the two Mr. sacraments and ordination, confession, marriage, confirmation, and extreme unction should be included as an essential mark of the true Church (see Anglican sacraments ). By far the most controversy, however, the fourth point has caused, as many see it as the opportunity to ask the Apostolic Succession, which forms a part of the Episcopal tradition of the Church in question.

The Quadrilateral in ecumenical dialogue

The Quadrilateral has also proven to be important in ecumenical dialogue. Originally proposed as a basis for discussion, it has often been used as a non-negotiable basis for reunification. In this context, it was for the talks between the Anglican and the Roman Catholic Church (see also: Anglican - Roman Catholic International Commission ), as well as some Lutheran national churches conducive. It has on the other hand proved to be an obstacle in the talks between the Anglican Church of Canada and the United Church of Canada, and between the Church of England and the Methodist Church of Great Britain: in both cases the discussions are stalled due to different attitudes to episcopate.