Authors of 'Covenant for Church of England' Dismiss Criticisms

Criticisms of the recently released Covenant for the Church of England (CCE) have been dismissed by two of its authors this week, according to Anglican Mainstream.

Canon Dr Chris Sugden, who leads the Anglican Mainstream movement, along with Rev Paul Perkin, vicar of St Mark's Church in Battersea, London, together issued a response on behalf of the Steering Group of the CCE.

Specifically, the authors point out that the CCE did not intend to be a work of systematic theology, and it also did not claim to "define what Anglicanism is".

In a response they clarified the purpose of the CCE: "It simply sets out the shared foundational commitments of Anglicans. Its theological basis is the scriptures and the Anglican formularies which classically have been a sufficient confession of faith for members of the Church of England.

"CCE's purpose is to provide an analysis of the breakdown of fellowship with some leaders in the Church of England and the principles for seeking remedies to this critical situation."

Canon Sugden and Rev Perkin rebuked claims that the naming of the document as a "covenant" was wrong or separatist.

In a release on the Anglican Mainstream website they wrote: "The covenant contains a strong and unambiguous commitment to the Church of England as she now is, based on the scriptures and the historic formularies. Its object is to enable those who are so committed to exercise their vocation, lay and ordained, through the mission and ministry of the Church of England."

The release also was used to state that the authors did not feel in any way that the Covenant would damage the Windsor process.