What We Believe
We uphold the traditional Anglican conviction that the Bible reveals all things necessary for salvation (Article 6 of 39 Articles of Religion, Church of England). We also believe that our lives are shaped in a response of faith-filled good works (Article 7 of the 39 Articles of Faith) which is, in turn, informed by our understanding of Article 6. Therefore, we form our lives based on the entire revelation of scripture. We are committed to maintain the historic and orthodox understanding that the Bible is given to us by the inspiration of God and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction and for instruction in righteousness (2 Tim3:16). God speaks to us about all things through the Bible and informs us on matters pertaining to the holy life: of the sanctity of all life (both beginning and end of life), the environment and ecology, social welfare, the right ordering of relationships and sexuality, racial and gender equality, matters of injustice and oppression. We understand that all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God and are powerless to affect that change ourselves. Thus we need saving from our condition and we need to be made new completely. This saving comes from the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Our response requires a dying to our old self (Lk 9:23, Gal 2:20) and our corrupt nature (Gal 5:17-19) and putting on Christ (Rom 13:14, Gal 3:27) thus we are no longer our own, but we belong to Christ (Gal 5:24-26, Eph 2:13-25).
Spiritual Formation: The life lived in Christ is a response of thankfulness and and act of worship. The way of the disciple is shown to us through Holy Scripture and long standing tradition of the word, the sacraments and prayer. We believe that Scripture is a mirror that shows us what we are called to be (James 1:23-25). We encounter the transforming power of the Holy Spirit who breathes through scripture and becomes the catalyst that transforms us into the likeness of Christ (Col 3:16, 2 Cor3:17, Rom 12:1-2). We are called to be transformed into Christ’s likeness and not to cast a god in our image that justifies our own sense of identity. The disciple of Christ therefore must not fall into the temptation of re-interpreting scripture to carve for ourselves a more comfortable cross. The Bible and our own senses testifies that we are in a deeply broken world and therefore are deeply broken ourselves with deeply broken desires and responses (Rom 8:19-22) Therefore need the guidance of an unchanging scripture to inform us how to live to form us spiritually.
To us in the Community of St Mark we believe the Word of God, as revealed in scripture, is unchanging and it is by correct Biblical teaching and interpretation that we see people released into freedom from their fears, anxieties, shame, greed, moral decay. For it is for freedom that Christ has set us free (Gal 5:1). We gain our understanding of what Jesus has done, and can do for us, through what is revealed in scripture and made real to us by His Holy Spirit. We encounter grace, mercy, and love found in Jesus Christ as we see him revealed in the Scriptures. As a community, we seek to call all people to encounter Jesus Christ in the transforming Word of God, and to be a voice to recall churches to this when biblical revisionism has undermined the uniqueness of the Gospel.
The ACM Covenant
The purpose of the ACM is to promote the saving grace of Jesus Christ through effective disciple-making and Kingdom-enlarging communities; and to protect the theological conviction of its affiliates and members.
We uphold the creedal beliefs of the Anglican Church, and affirm:
- The Lordship of Jesus Christ over the Church and the world;
- The supreme authority of the Bible as God’s living word to all;
- The Holy Spirit’s gifting of all Christian women and men to their varied ministries;
- The centrality of evangelism, personal conversion, and discipleship for the mission of the Church;
- The Lambeth Conference 1998 Resolution I:10 (click for full text).
Founding Members having signed 25 October 2018 are:
- Mr Bill Capamagian, Tauranga
- Rev Matt Watts, Christchurch
- Rev Joanne Lathan, Christchurch
- Rev Sister Lorraine Lloyd, Auckland
- Capt Peter Lloyd, Auckland
- Rev Dr Dale Williamson, Tauranga
- Rev Paul Williamson, Tauranga
The Anglican Community of St Mark (ACM) Constitution
Purpose
1. The Anglican Community of Saint Mark (The Community) is a Christian
Community within the meaning of Canon XXXVIII of the Anglican Church in Aotearoa, New Zealand, and Polynesia (The Province); The Purpose of The Community is to promote the saving grace of Jesus Christ through effective disciple-making and Kingdom-enlarging communities; AND to protect the theological conviction of its affiliates and members.
Belief and Theological Conviction
- The Doctrine of The Community is expressed in: The Formularies, and the Constitution / Te Pouhere of the Anglican Church of The Province of Aotearoa, New Zealand, and Polynesia (ACANZP) 1992, AND the Christian Community Covenant,
- Noting and agreeing that, “The Church has received and articulated an understanding of intimate human relationships which it expresses through her doctrine of marriage between a man and a woman, and is life-long and monogamous. We uphold this traditional doctrine of marriage” (61st General Synod 2014 Motion 30).
- The Community recognises the Te Tiriti o Waitangi and is committed to the partnership between the Tikanga created by Te Pouhere.
- Affiliation or membership of The Community requires assent to The Anglican Community of Saint Mark Covenant (Appendix I).
Objects
6. The Objects of The Community are to:
a) promote the saving grace of Jesus Christ through effective disciple-making and Kingdom-enlarging communities;
b) advocate for orthodoxy within ACANZP.
AND to provide its affiliates and members with:
c) protection of their Anglican theological conviction;
d) episcopal support and advocacy;
e) clerical and lay leadership;
f) a pathway to Holy Orders for individual members.
Affiliation and membership
- A ministry unit may affiliate with The Community by the resolution of a duly constituted congregational meeting; providing that the decision is passed with a two-thirds majority and is confirmed in writing over the signatures of the Churchwardens and the Vicar/P-in-C.
- Ministry units may disaffiliate using the procedure required to disaffiliate in Canon XXXVIII.
- Individuals may join The Community by either written or online application, including their affirmation of The Anglican Community of Saint Mark Covenant. Clergy applications shall be approved by the Standing Committee of the Convocation. Individual resignation from The Community shall be in writing.
- No person may be appointed as Dean; Vicar or Co-Vicar of a Local Ministry and Mission Unit / Minita-a-Rohe; Chaplain / Taiparani; Warden /Kaihautu; Missioner; Deacon / Priest- in-Charge; Local Priest / Deacon / Minita-a-Iwi of that Ministry Unit unless he or she is a member, or otherwise subscribes to the beliefs and discipline of The Community by signed assent to The Anglican Community of Saint Mark Covenant, except that where the appointment is for an interim period any clergy person may be appointed by agreement with the Ministry Unit.
The Protector
- The Protector of The Community shall be a Bishop in active Episcopal ministry in this Church chosen by the Convocation of The Community.
- The Protector will support and advocate for the affiliates and members of The Community, including the appointment of clergy, and shall act as the spiritual leader of The Community.
- In matters of discipline involving the Diocesan Bishop the Protector shall act as advocate and supporter.
- The Protector shall serve as the arbiter within The Community in matters which the members of The Community cannot resolve using normal processes.
- In matters of Discipline of clergy and license holders internal to The Community the Protector will use the procedures of Title D of the Canons of the Church.
The Convocation and Representation
- An annual Convocation of The Community shall be held consisting of equal clerical and lay representation from each affiliated ministry unit and provide for the representation of individual members.
- The formal business of the Convocation shall be conducted initially according to the Standing Orders of the Diocese of Nelson as of 2017.
- The annual Convocation shall elect a Standing Committee consisting of four clerical and four lay members, together with any bishops of The Community. The term of appointment shall be for two years, with one half of the clergy and lay membership retiring each year, but being eligible for re-election.
- The annual Convocation of The Community may establish an annual budget and set an annual contribution for each member ministry unit.
- The Convocation of The Community may liaise with the Protector to nominate a candidate for the office of Assistant Bishop to the Protector for the purposes of The Community.
- This Constitution may be amended by the Convocation of The Community by a two-thirds majority, but only if notice of the proposed amendment has been sent to affiliated ministry units and members not less than 60 days before the meeting of the Convocation and the reactions received are fully reported to the Convocation.
Dissolution
Any property or assets owned by The Community upon its dissolution shall be given, sold or distributed to any similar Anglican organisation upholding the theological conviction of The Community.