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Branch Theory is a theological concept within Anglicanism, holding that the Roman Catholic Church, the Eastern Orthodox Church and the Anglican Communion are three branches of the One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic Church.
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Theory itself
The Oxford Dictionary of the Christian Church defines the branch theory as:
…the theory that, though the Church may have fallen into schism within itself and its several provinces or groups of provinces be out of communion with each other, each may yet be a branch of the one Church of Christ, provided that it continues to hold the faith of the original undivided Church and to maintain the Apostolic Succession of its bishops. Such, it is contended by many Anglican theologians, is the condition of the Church at the present time, there being now three main branches…
Attitudes
Anglican Communion
William Palmer (1803–1885), an Oxford theologian, was the principal originator of the Branch Theory. His two-volume Treatise on the Church of Christ (1838) formulated the notion. The theory was then popularized during the Oxford Movement particularly through the work of the Tractarians.
Roman Catholic Church
The Roman Catholic Church does in practice accept the two fundamental premises of the Branch Theory, namely that maintaining the teachings of the ancient Christian Church and the apostolic succession are sufficient for valid orders of another Church despite being in a state of schism. However, it does not recognize any validity in the Anglican sacraments or ordinations.
Orthodox Churches
In the Orthodox understanding, Catholics and Anglicans alike, in subscribing to teachings that Orthodoxy sees as being contrary to the Faith (among others, the Filioque), and in remaining outside of the communion of the Orthodox Church, place themselves outside of the Church. The Orthodox Church therefore rejects the Branch Theory as being incompatible with the nature of the Church and therefore an ecclesiological heresy. This is attested to by this statement put forth by the 1983 Holy Synod of Bishops of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia:
Those who attack the Church of Christ by teaching that Christ's Church is divided into so-called "branches" which differ in doctrine and way of life, or that the Church does not exist visibly, but will be formed in the future when all "branches" or sects or denominations, and even religions will be united into one body; and who do not distinguish the priesthood and mysteries of the Church from those of the heretics, but say that the baptism and eucharist of heretics is effectual for salvation; therefore, to those who knowingly have communion with these aforementioned heretics or who advocate, disseminate, or defend their new heresy of Ecumenism under the pretext of brotherly love or the supposed unification of separated Christians, Anathema![1]
With regard to the second criterion of being a branch of the church according to the Branch Theory, namely, Apostolic Succession, Orthodox sacramental theology is such that the Sacraments, being means of God's grace within the Church, cannot be said to exist outside it. Therefore, Roman Catholic and Anglican sacraments, including ordinations, are not considered by the Orthodox to be true Sacraments.
Protestant churches
With the exception of a few Lutheran bodies, the great majority of Protestant Churches do not consider themselves apostolic in the sense of a technical and literal apostolic succession and so do not accept the fundamental premises of the Branch Theory which, in fact, excludes them.
See also
- Anglican Roman Catholic International Commission is a modern initiative to make progress towards mutual recognition of orders and sacraments.
- Vincent of Lérins
