Canon No. 7, 1973

A canon to prescribe the form of the declaration to be made by clergymen, 1973

Whereas the Commission on Doctrine at the request of General Synod has considered the form of declaration and assent to the doctrine and formularies of the Church of England in Australia to be made by clergymen,

And whereas the Commission has recommended the form of declaration and assent specified in the Schedule hereto as suitable for use in the Church of England in Australia,

Now therefore the General Synod prescribes as follows:

1. When a clergyman is required to make a declaration and assent to the doctrine and formularies of the Church of England in Australia, the form of the declaration and assent shall be that contained in the Schedule hereto.

2. This canon affects the order and good government of the Church within a diocese and shall not come into force in any diocese unless and until the diocese by ordinance adopts it.

3. This canon may be cited as "Form of Declaration and Assent Canon, 1973".

Schedule

The Church of England in Australia, being an Apostolic Church, receives and retains the Catholic Faith, which is grounded in Holy Scripture and expressed in the Creeds, and within its own history, in the Thirty-nine Articles, in the Book of Common Prayer and in the Ordering of Bishops, Priests and Deacons. Accordingly, I A.B., do solemnly make the following declaration:-

I firmly and sincerely believe the Catholic Faith and I give my assent to the doctrine of the Church of England in Australia as expressed in the Thirty-nine Articles of Religion, the Book of Common Prayer and the Ordering of Bishops, Priests and Deacons; I believe that doctrine to be agreeable to the Word of God: and in public prayer and administration of the sacraments I will use the form in the said book prescribed, and none other, except as far as shall be ordered by lawful authority.