From the Secretary General of the General Synod and
Archbishops' Council
Sir, - Daniel Hill asks for an explanation of the compatibility
between Section 9 of the Clerical Subscription Act 1865 and the new
guidance agreed by the House of Bishops concerning a commitment to
act consistently with the Five Guiding Principles in its
Declaration on the Ministry of Bishops and Priests (Letters, 2
April).
The simple answer is that the new guidance does not involve a
subscription, declaration, or oath within the terms of the Act.
Such oaths etc. are mandatory and have to be taken in a prescribed
form. The new question asked of a candidate takes its place,
perfectly lawfully, among a range of questions that have to be
explored when a candidate's suitability for Holy Orders is being
assessed in the light of the criteria approved by the House of
Bishops.
It involves establishing whether a candidate, whatever his or
her theological conviction, is willing to work with and respect the
diversity within the Church which the Synod and House of Bishops
voted overwhelmingly to accept when approving the Five
Prin-ciples.
If a candidate is not prepared to assent to the Five Principles,
it becomes a matter for the relevant diocesan bishop to determine
whether or not he or she should proceed to ordination.
William Fittall
Church House,Great Smith Street,Westminster SW1P 3AZ