1. NAME
Evangelical Fellowship in the Anglican Communion in Australia (hereinafter referred to as EFAC (Aust))
2. AIMS
The aims of the Fellowship, as stated below, rest on the conviction that a strong biblical witness is essential for the life and health of the Anglican Church, within the wider context of seeking first God’s kingdom and the building up of his people. These aims are:
- to promote the supreme authority of Scripture in matters of both faith and conduct throughout the Anglican Church at every level of its life and witness.
- to share with members of the Anglican Church a commitment to biblical obedience particularly in the areas of Christian discipleship, servant leadership, church renewal, and mission in the world.
- to foster fellowship and unity among evangelical Anglicans throughout Australia.
- to function as a resource group to develop and encourage biblically faithful leadership in all spheres of life.
- to provide a forum:
- for taking counsel on important issues, in order, where possible to develop policies in matters of common concern, and
- for articulating gospel distinctives in the area of faith, order, life and mission by consultations and publications. to coordinate and
- encourage the work of EFAC in provinces or dioceses of the Anglican Church of Australia.
3. BASIS OF FAITH
As members of the Anglican Communion within one, holy, catholic and apostolic church, we affirm the faith which is uniquely revealed in the holy Scriptures, set forth in the catholic creeds, and witnessed to in the historic Anglican formularies. We lay special emphasis on the grace of God – his unmerited mercy – as expressed in the doctrines which follow:
- God as the source of Grace. In continuity with the teaching of Holy Scripture and the Christian creeds, we worship one God in three Persons – Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. God has created all things and us in his own image; all life, truth, holiness, and beauty come from him. His Son Jesus Christ, fully God and fully human, was conceived through the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin, Mary, was crucified, died, rose, and ascended to reign in glory.
- The Bible as the Revelation of Grace. We receive the canonical books of the Old and New Testaments as the wholly reliable revelation and record of God’s grace, given by the Holy Spirit as the true word of God written. The Bible has been given to lead us to salvation, to be the ultimate rule for Christian faith and conduct, and the supreme authority by which the Church must ever reform itself and judge its traditions.
- The Atonement as the work of Grace. We believe that Jesus Christ came to save lost sinners. Though sinless, he bore our sins and their judgement, on the cross, thus accomplishing our salvation. By raising Christ bodily from the dead, God vindicated him as Lord and Saviour and proclaimed his victory. Salvation is in Christ alone.
- The Church as the Community of Grace. We hold that the Church is God’s covenant community, whose members, drawn from every nation, having been justified by grace through faith, inherit the promises made to Abraham and fulfilled in Christ. As a fellowship of the Spirit manifesting his fruit and exercising his gifts, it is called to worship God, grow in grace, and bear witness to him and his kingdom. God’s Church is one body and must ever strive to discover and experience that unity in truth and love which it has in Christ, especially through its confession of the apostolic faith and in its observance of the dominical Sacraments.
- The Sacraments as the Signs and Seals of Grace. We maintain that the Sacraments of Baptism and Holy Communion proclaim the gospel as effective and visible signs of our justification and sanctification, and as the means of God’s grace to those who repent and believe. Baptism is the sign of forgiveness of sin, the gift of the Spirit, new birth to righteousness and entry into the fellowship of the People of God. Holy Communion is the sign of the living, nourishing presence of Christ through his Spirit to his people; the memorial of his one, perfect completed and all-sufficient sacrifice for sin, from whose achievement all may benefit but in whose atoning self-offering none can share; and an occasion, to offer through him our sacrifice of thanksgiving and praise.
- Ministry as the Stewardship of Grace. We share, as the People of God, in a royal priesthood common to the whole Church, and in the community of the Suffering Servant. Our mission is the proclamation of the gospel by the preaching of the word as well as by caring for the needy, challenging evil and promoting justice and a more responsible use of the world’s resources. It is the particular vocation of bishops and presbyters, together with deacons, to build up the body of Christ in truth and love, as pastors, teachers, and servants of the servants of God.
- Christ’s Return as the Triumph of Grace. We look forward expectantly to the final manifestation of Christ’s grace and glory when he comes again to raise the dead, judge the world, vindicate his chosen and bring his Kingdom to its eternal fulfillment in the new heaven and the new earth.
4. BRANCHES
Ten members of EFAC may form a branch either in a province or a diocese of the Anglican Church of Australia. Members resident in a diocese or dioceses where there is no branch may choose to be affiliated with a branch in another diocese in their province or the provincial branch (if any).
5. BRANCHES’ CONSTITUTIONS
Branches shall write their own constitutions provided that no change is made in the Basis of Faith
6. MEMBERSHIP OF THE FEDERAL COMMITTEE
- There shall be a committee made up of:
- President
- Up to four Vice-Presidents
- Regional Secretary for EFAC Australia, New Zealand and South Pacific
- A member appointed by each branch
- A branch with more than 25 financial members may appoint a further member for each additional 25 members, and when a branch has more than 100 financial members a further member for each additional 50 members
- Branches may appoint alternate members to the committee and shall have the power to fill vacancies arising from time to time.
- Members of the committee shall be appointed from meeting to meeting.
- The committee shall appoint a chairperson from amongst its membership.
- The committee shall be competent to elect from its membership at its first meeting each year an executive committee and office bearers and any ex-officio members
7. MEETINGS OF THE FEDERAL COMMITTEE
The EFAC Australia Committee shall aim to meet annually.