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LATIN-AMERICAN ANGLICAN FAITH
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We believe in One God, the Father, the Almighty Creator of Heaven and Earth and of all that is seen and unseen; and in one Lord, Jesus Christ the only Son of God, eternally begotten of the Father: God from God, Light from Light, True God from True God. Begotten not made one in being with the Father, through Him all things were made. For us and for our salvation, He came down from heaven and, by the Power of the Holy Spirit He was born of the Virgin Mary, and became man. For our sake He was crucified under Pontius Pilate, he suffered, died and was buried. On the third day He rose again, in fulfillment of the scriptures. He ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He shall come again in Glory to judge the living and the dead and His Kingdom there shall be no end. We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord and the Giver of Life, who proceeds from the Father. With the Father and the Son He is worshipped and glorified; He has spoken through the prophets. We believe in One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic Church, we acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins, and we look for the resurrection of the dead and the life of the world to come.
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-IAL declares its belief in the ancient Symbol of Faith known as the Nicene Creed, sine "filioque" also accepts the other ancient statements of faith known as the Apostles' and Athanasian Creeds as equally valid and useful. -IAL declares its belief in the Revelation of God and God's Son, Jesus Christ, found in the Canonical Scriptures (i.e. the Bible). This Revelation is inerrant in matters of faith and morals. -IAL declares its belief in the Seven Sacraments of Baptism, Confirmation, Reconciliation, Eucharist, Matrimony, Holy Orders, and Anointing of the Sick as signs of the Lord Jesus' continuing Presence and action in His Church and channels of Actual and Sanctifying Grace. -IAL declares in the Real Presence of the Eucharist. -IAL declares its belief in the normative decrees of the Seven Ecumenical Councils of the undivided Church: the Council of Nicea in 325 AD, Constantinople in 381 AD, Ephesus in 431 AD, Chalcedon 451 AD, Constantinople II in 553 AD, Constantinople III in 680-81 AD, and ending with Nicea II in 787 AD in the Council of the Jerusalem has found in the Acts of the Apostles. -IAL declares its belief in the Sacred Traditions of the One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic Church. -IAL in accord with Sacred Tradition, declares its belief that the bishops of the Church are each Successors to the Apostles and hold the teaching authority granted to the Apostles by Jesus Christ. This authority is not vested in any single bishop regardless of office or position but is equally and jointly held by all bishops. -IAL declares its belief that Matters of the Faith may be defined for the Church only in the presence of a moral consensus of all bishops and that, to be considered normative for the Church, a teaching proposed by the bishops in a matter of the Faith must also be Received by a moral consensus of the People of God (sensum fidei). -IAL declares its belief that Apostolic Succession, vested in the bishops, and passed on by them in the Sacrament of Holy Orders, is necessary for the licit and efficacious celebration of the Sacraments.
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A BIBLICAL EXEGESIS ON THE BISHOPS AND PRIESTS
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The predominant term used for the spiritual leaders in the church is Presbyter (presbuteros). The other term which is used for the spiritual leader is the Office of the 'Bishop' (episkopos) which occurs 4 times in this capacity. These three designations are used interchangeably in the New Testament for the same ecclesiastical office (cf. Acts 20:28; 1 Pet. 5:1, 2). Bishops are representatives and ambassadors of Jesus Christ for the church (cf. 2 Cor. 5:18-21). In addition, they are stewards, for they have been entrusted with the welfare of the church (Tit. 1:7). Their primary responsibility is to care for (epimeleomai) the members of the spiritual body of Christ (1 Tim. 3:5) in word and sacrament, for which they will have to render an account (Jas. 3:1; Heb. 13:17). They have the complete priesthood within them. In the Second Century, the Church divided the office of the priesthood and bishop to help minister to the needs of the people.
Bishops have two main duties or functions in the exercise of their care for the church. First, they are to oversee the membership. Saint Peter exhorts the elders to "exercise oversight" (episkopeo) over the flock of God (1 Pet. 5:2). That is, Bishops are to superintend the affairs and activities of the church. They are the guardians of Christ for His heritage. They are to protect the whole membership from false doctrine and heresy (Acts 20:28). Bishops are to exercise this management in an attitude of readiness, eagerness, and humility, without "lording it over those allotted to [their] charge, but proving to be examples to the flock" (1 Pet. 5:3).
The second duty or function of Biships is to shepherd the membership. Saint Paul exhorts the Ephesian Bishops "to shepherd [poimaino] the church of God which He purchased with His own blood" (Acts 20:28). That is, Bishops are to attend or minister to the (spiritual and sacramental) needs of the body of Christ. This duty can be compared to that of a sheepherder who tends a flock of sheep. The sheepherder guides the sheep to water and pasture; he shelters and guards them; grooms and shears them. Jesus Christ likens His people to a flock of sheep (John 10:7-16). As sheep, believers require guidance and nourishment. Christ Himself is the chief Shepherd (1 Pet. 2:25) Who "shall guide [His own] to springs of the water of life" (Rev. 7:17). Bishops, who are the undershepherds of the chief Shepherd, have a similar responsibility.
This figurative tending or shepherding of the sheep is literally and primarily seen in the teaching and instruction of spiritual truth. Bishops tend to the spiritual needs of the flock of Christ by preaching and ministering the Word of God and his sacraments. Sanit Mark records, "And when He [Jesus] went ashore, He saw a great multitude, and He felt compassion for them because they were like sheep without a shepherd; and He began to teach them many things" (Mk. 6:34). Accordingly, Christ has provided "pastors [poimne] and teachers [didaskalos]" for His spiritual sheep (Eph. 4:11). Christ has not provided pastors in addition to teachers, but pastors who are teachers. In Ephesians 4:11, Saint Paul is speaking of only one office. Thus Saint Paul instructs Timothy that Bishops must be "able to teach" (1 Tim. 2:2). All Bishops must have the ability or gift to teach.
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