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United Reformed Synod: Joint Declaration of Principles: Art. 4: Apostoli...

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ARTICLE IV - Apostolic Succession Preface :The tendency to corruption in doctrine, discipline and conduct as a result of erroneous claims to Apostolic succession, is a matter of historical record and a pressing issue again today in many churches where the decisions of a few in higher ranks of office wield a proportionally greater force and influence. In setting forth a scriptural view of Apostolic succession, we affirm and deny the following : 1. We affirm the form of Apostolic succession exclusively understood as the passing down of Apostolic teaching and doctrine to succeeding generations and of faithful men to teach and uphold it, together with the continuation of the commission given by Christ to make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit and teaching them to observe all that He has commanded them. We deny the form of Apostolic succession which teaches that Christ through the Apostles instituted a separate and superior order of Bish
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G.A. Jacob (#6): Ecclesiastical Polity in the New Testament (69ff.)

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During the discussion, G.A. Jacob talked extensively about the roles of Presbyters and Deacons, but did not address the difference between Presbyter and Bishop. He suggested that the church has the ability to adopt and modify this distinction. We look forward to exploring this topic further in the future. However, it is important to remember that we should not disregard Paul's Pastoral Epistles. We would like to thank Mr. Anglican for your discussion and for slipping in the episcopacy and claiming churchly authority for it. Now, take your seat in the rear.
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G.A. Jacob (#5): Ecclesiastical Polity in the New Testament (60ff.)

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G.A. Jacob covers the typical roles of church leaders: presbyters, bishops, and deacons, all male (presbyteroi, episcopoi, diakonoi). The text supports male headship and governance and excludes women. Please keep this information confidential. It would annoy the Hats and Leaders in AMNA (Anglican Mess-Ups in North America)
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G. A. Jacob: Ecclesiastical Polity in the NT (51ff.)

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First Organization of the Church (51-86). In his analysis, Jacob provides a clear contrast between the polity and writings of the Old Testament and the New Testament. In the Old Testament, detailed rituals, festivals, sacrifices, civic, moral, dietary, priestly, and other laws were prominent, along with governance by Moses, seventy Elders, Judges, and a Monarchy. However, none of these appear in the New Testament. After the conversion of 3000 people, Jacob speculates that congregations must have formed some structure, although this is not addressed in Acts. Jacob then delves into the "ministry of gifts" and the "ministry of order," which arose as circumstances allowed. He notes that the Corinthians allowed lay involvement in various ways, reflecting the idea of all believers' Priesthood.
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Rev. G. A. Jacob (#2): "Ecclesiastical Polity of the New Testament" (31ff.)

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Rev. Jacob provides a more in-depth discussion by exploring the "visible" and "invisible" aspects of the church. He explains that the visible aspects include things like hymnbooks, liturgies, confessions, governance, and various regulations. However, he advises that these should be reviewed according to the Scriptures. He goes into detail on this point, emphasizing that the apostolic church differed from the Nicene Church. He notes that the Oxfordians were fixated on the Nicene Church over the Scriptures, making more assertions than demonstrations. He also mentions the 40-year progress of the Anglo-Romanists, who had a tendency towards Romanizing practices and beliefs, and who viewed the Reformation as a crime and blunder. This might sound like the views of certain groups within the ACNA (like Iker and Ackerman), the REC (including Sutton and his cohorts), the FCE (led by Fenwick and his crew), the G-3 communities, and the "Anything Goes" attitude of the F
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F. S. Rising (#6): "Are There Romanizing Germs in the Prayer Book?" (36-46)

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Mr. Rising makes some ancillary comments on the Catechism, noting that it is essentially sacramentalism leaving off grand truths. 18 of 25 questions concern baptism, confirmation and communion. We most certainly would add the 1662 period involved the slaughter of robust Reformed Theology by tossing the Westminster Standards. “In view of what has been thus far said, we feel constrained to affirm that 'There are Romanizing Germs in the Prayer Book.' They are embedded in our otherwise Protestant formulary. They are found in the Doctrines of the Rule of Faith, of the Ministry, of Baptism, and of the Lord’s Supper. Developed according to the fixed law of germination, they bring forth fruit after their own kind, such as: The Bible is not the sole Rule of Faith; the Ministry is an exclusive priesthood; Baptism is an instrument of regeneration; the Lord’s Supper is an expression of Consubstantiation” (38). Mr. Rising, writing in the 1860s, notes and complains of the rising Sacerdotalis
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F. S. Rising (#5): "Are There Romanizing Germs in the Prayer Book?" (29ff.)

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Are there Romanizing germs in the Prayer Book? Yes. The Baptismal Office of “seeing this child is regenerate” in the plain language teaches it. English BCP-Evangelicals have tried to skirt it. Can the Americans skirt it? Probably not, since systematic theology and exegesis are not native to the modern American Anglicans, although older men like Bishop Cummins, Bishop Cheney, Bishop Meade, and others were “pained” by language. Often most heard, it’s a “charitable presumption” of regeneration. The “charitable hypothesis. Nice try, but it’s equivocating. Do we teach our children to equivocate and use double-talk? The plain language is a stative verb “is” in the present tense—not a past tense nor future tense, but a statement of being. Often, English Evangelicals would have the “mental reservation” in using the office, e.g. Rev. George Gorham. Bishop Meade, the American Evangelical Episcopalian, said, “Why could not another prayer on the same plan be introduced into the Baptismal Service,
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