Declaration of Principles (Page 3)

Declaration of Principles
of the Reformed Episcopal Church

Adopted, December 2d, 1873

The Reformed Episcopal Church, holding "the faith once delivered unto the saints," declares its belief in the Holy Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments as the Word of God, and the sole Rule of Faith and Practice; in the Creed "commonly called the Apostles' Creed;" in the Divine institution of the Sacraments of Baptism and the Lord's Supper; and in the doctrines of grace substantially as they are set forth in the Thirty–nine Articles of Religion.

This Church recognizes and adheres to Episcopacy, not as of Divine right, but as a very ancient and desirable form of Church polity.

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This Church, retaining a Liturgy which shall not be imperative or repressive of freedom in prayer, accepts The Book of Common Prayer, as it was revised, proposed, and recommended for use by the General Convention of the Protestant Episcopal Church, A. D. 1785, reserving full liberty to alter, abridge, enlarge, and amend the same, as may seem most conductive to the edification of the people, "provided that the substance of the faith be kept entire."

This Church condemns and rejects the following erroneous and strange doctrines as contrary to God's Word;

First, That the Church of Christ exists only in one order or form of ecclesiastical polity:

Second, That Christian Ministers are "priests" in another sense than that in which all believers are "a royal priesthood:"

Third, That the Lord's Table is an altar on which the oblation of the Body and Blood of Christ is offered anew to the Father:

Fourth, That the Presence of Christ in the Lord's Supper is a presence in the elements of the Bread and Wine:

Fifth, That Regeneration is inseparably connected with Baptism.

(Note: The Declaration of Principles stand alone as a witness to the faith of the Founders of the REC, without any need for commentary or explanation, especially any contrary to the plain language of the formulary, such as been said " Particular terms such as priest, altar . . .are not actually forbidden" when the Declaration plainly says "This Church condemns and rejects" them as "erroneous and strange doctrines contrary to God's Word"!

(See also the Declaration Denial here.)

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