Forward in Faith

Forward in Faith
Name	Forward in Faith
Formation	1992
Founder	John Broadhurst
Type	Religious organisation
Headquarters	London
Region served	United Kingdom
Leader title	Chair
Parent organisation	Church of England

Forward in Faith is a traditionalist Anglo-Catholic advocacy group within the Church of England founded in 1992 that campaigns on matters of ordination, sacramental theology, and ecclesial discipline. It was established in response to developments within Anglican Communion debates and has engaged with institutions such as the House of Bishops, General Synod, and international bodies including the Anglican Consultative Council and Primates' Meeting. The organisation has attracted clergy and laity from dioceses across England, Wales, and Scotland, and has intersected with movements such as the Roman Catholic Church, Traditionalist Catholicism, and Continuing Anglican movement networks.

History

Forward in Faith emerged amid controversies following the 1992 decision by the General Synod and the wider Anglican Communion regarding ministry and ordination, notably debates paralleling the ordination of women undertaken in dioceses like Salisbury and Chester. Founders including John Broadhurst organized alongside figures with connections to Society of the Holy Cross, Society for the Maintenance of the Faith, and Oxford Movement heirs. The group's history intersects with responses to legislative actions by the Church Commissioners, rulings of the Ecclesiastical Courts, and synodal measures debated at Lambeth Conference gatherings. Over time Forward in Faith engaged with proposals for episcopal provisions, alternative episcopal oversight, and the pastoral arrangements later debated in General Synod sessions and implemented through measures involving the Archbishop of Canterbury and the Archbishop of York.

Beliefs and Theological Positions

Forward in Faith articulates positions grounded in classical Anglo-Catholicism and sacramental theology informed by the legacy of the Oxford Movement and figures like John Henry Newman and Edward Pusey. It upholds a traditionalist understanding of holy orders and opposes changes to ministerial practice such as the ordination of women to the priesthood and episcopate, aligning with theological resources drawn from Apostolicae Curae discussions and debates with Roman Curia perspectives. The organisation emphasizes eucharistic theology, apostolic succession as articulated by proponents in Tractarianism, and canonical interpretations debated in contexts involving the Legal Advisory Commission of the General Synod and judgments referencing Canterbury Cathedral precedents. Its theological stances have prompted engagement with conservative constituencies including Global Anglican Future Conference participants and dialogue with bishops sympathetic to traditionalist positions.

Organisation and Structure

Forward in Faith operates through a national office, diocesan branches, and affiliated societies such as the Society of Mary and Church Union traditions; leadership historically includes clergy and lay chairs drawn from dioceses like London, Canterbury, and Manchester. The group interacts with ecclesiastical bodies including the House of Laity, House of Clergy, and House of Bishops via lobbying at sessions of the General Synod and through relations with diocesan bishops and suffragans. Governance has involved trustees, a national council, and committees that coordinate legal, liturgical, and pastoral responses to measures adopted by the Church of England and debated at international gatherings such as the Lambeth Conference and the Anglican Consultative Council.

Activities and Campaigns

Forward in Faith has campaigned on measures before the General Synod, lobbied members of the House of Commons and engaged with parliamentary processes affecting Church of England legislation, and organized conferences in venues including Westminster Abbey-adjacent halls and diocesan centres. It publishes position papers, pastoral guidance, and liturgical resources distributed among parishes in dioceses like Oxford, Durham, and Exeter, and convenes synods, public meetings, and ecumenical dialogues with representatives from the Roman Catholic Church, Orthodox Church, and Anglican realignment bodies such as Anglican Mission in England and Reformed Episcopal Church. Campaigns have focused on securing episcopal provisions, influencing clergy deployment, and preserving parish patrimony through advocacy involving the Church Commissioners and diocesan chancellors.

Controversies and Criticism

Forward in Faith has been criticized by proponents of women’s ordination, including advocates from Women and the Church and liberal Anglo-Catholic groups, as well as by bishops who support inclusive ministry such as former Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams and others who framed the debates at Lambeth Conference sessions. Critics argue that its positions contribute to fragmentation within the Anglican Communion and impede ecumenical progress with bodies such as the Roman Catholic Church and Methodist Church in Britain. High-profile disputes have arisen over parish pastoral reorganization, legal challenges involving diocesan chancellors, and public disagreements with diocesan bishops in sees like Guildford and Southwark.

Influence and Legacy

Forward in Faith has influenced the shape of provisionary schemes within the Church of England, contributed to the development of episcopal oversight arrangements, and shaped discourse at international gatherings including the Anglican Consultative Council and Primates' Meeting. Its legacy can be traced in ongoing dialogues with Roman Catholic Ordinariate initiatives, interactions with continuing bodies such as the Society of St Wilfrid and St Hilda, and its role in mobilizing traditionalist clergy and laity in dioceses across the United Kingdom. The organisation’s activities have left a mark on liturgical practice debates, clerical formation discussions at institutions like Westcott House, Cambridge and Ripon College Cuddesdon, and the institutional life of the Church of England into the 21st century.

Category:Anglican organizations Category:Christian movements