7. Mrs Elaine Langshaw asked -

For the purposes of the Diocesan Mission, Initial Goal of Mission which of the following churches are Bible based?

(a) the Roman Catholic Church,

(b) the Eastern Orthodox Churches,

(c) the Coptic Christian Orthodox Church,

(d) the Salvation Army,

(e) the Uniting Church of Australia,

(f) the Seventh Day Adventist Church,

(g) the Pentecostal Churches,

(h) the Hillsong Church?

To which the President replied -

Originally, I used the word Bible-believing, but I have changed it to Bible-based as in this question. Virtually all Christian churches and denominations can be characterised as "Bible-believing" in one sense or another. The challenge is to distinguish the role the Bible is given in the structure of authority. You will remember in my Presidential Address I said -

"By 'Bible-based' I have in mind in particular the churches which owe their theological structure to the Reformation, and who thus see their fundamental authority in the great 'scripture alone' of the Reformation. They give scripture the priority over the traditions of the church and the findings of human experience whether rationalistic or spiritualising. From the scriptures they preach a gospel that is shaped by salvation through Christ alone, by faith alone, through grace alone, to the glory of God alone. This is the Reformation understanding of the gospel. As I indicated last year, in inviting collaboration with classical Christian orthodoxy, I believe that this gospel itself is at stake in some of the disputes we have with our fellow Christians, and we cannot, even for the sake of mission, allow inclusion to become confusion. 'Bible-based' is not an invitation to theological and pastoral irresponsibility."

The question invites us to examine the structure of authority taught within each of the denominations it mentions. In terms of my definition of "Bible-based" we would be seeking to include those denominations like our own which confess the doctrine of the sole and sufficient authority of scripture and justification by faith alone, ie what I call "the Reformation understanding of the gospel". Much as we may admire aspects of the Roman Catholic or Orthodox churches, this would distinguish us from them. As to whether other Protestant denominations fall into the same category, this would depend upon a closer examination of the basis of their association. Of course it is also true that most denominations represent a mixture of actual commitment to their confession, and this would need to be taken into account at a local level.