Branch Theory in the context of Chicago-Lambeth Quadrilateral

⭐ Core Definition: Branch Theory

Branch theory is an ecclesiological proposition that the One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic Church includes various different Christian denominations whether in formal communion or not.

Anglican proponents of Anglo-Catholic churchmanship who support the theory include only the Roman Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox, Lutheran, Old Catholic, Moravian, Nestorian and Anglican churches as branches. These church bodies have retained the historic episcopate, one of the four essential things which are required for unity with Anglicans. However, other Anglicans, including those of low, broad and high churchmanship, have "followed the major continental Reformers in their doctrine of the true church, identifiable by the authentic ministry of word and sacrament, in their rejection of the jurisdiction of the pope, and in their alliance with the civil authority ('the magistrate')". The Church of England historically considered itself "Protestant and Reformed" and cooperated with the Continental Reformed Churches, participating in the Synod of Dort in 1618–1619.

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Branch Theory in the context of Oxford Movement

The Oxford Movement was a theological movement of high-church members of the Church of England which began in the 1830s and eventually developed into Anglo-Catholicism. The movement, whose original devotees were mostly associated with the University of Oxford, argued for the reinstatement of some older Christian traditions of faith and their inclusion into Anglican liturgy and theology. They thought of Anglicanism as one of three branches of the "one, holy, catholic, and apostolic" Christian Church. Many key participants subsequently converted to Roman Catholicism.

Tractarianism, the movement's philosophy, was named after a series of publications, the Tracts for the Times, written to promote the movement. Tractarians were often disparagingly referred to as "Newmanites" (before 1845) and "Puseyites", after two prominent Tractarians, John Henry Newman and Edward Bouverie Pusey. Other well-known Tractarians included John Keble, Charles Marriott, Richard Froude, Robert Wilberforce, Isaac Williams and William Palmer. All except Williams and Palmer were fellows of Oriel College, Oxford.

View the full Wikipedia page for Oxford Movement

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