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What is orthodoxy? In recent controversies in the Church of England and in the wider Anglican Communion, those who insist that the Church's traditional teachings about marriage and celibacy cannot be altered are increasingly described as 'orthodox', a claim that has been disputed on the ground that orthodoxy is defined by the great creeds and confessions of the Church, none of which mentions the subject.This Briefing argues that orthodoxy extends well beyond what the creeds and confessions state. It is rooted in the mind of Christ, which is revealed to us in Holy Scripture and encompasses every aspect of life, including our doctrine and practice of matrimony. Orthodoxy is expressed not only in creeds but also in the forms of our worship, not least in the rich tradition of hymnody that has stood the test of time. Christians of every tradition resonate with orthodoxy because it bears witness to the presence of the Holy Spirit in our hearts, as he illuminates and applies the Word of God to our lives.Using the words of the well-known hymn The Church's One Foundation, Gerald Bray demonstrates what orthodoxy is and why it matters both to individual believers and to the Church as a whole. In every generation we are challenged by new heresies and divisions that seek to lead us astray. Orthodoxy is the unchanging teaching of Christ given to us in the Bible as the resource we need to combat them. It unites us with the saints of the past, the present and the future in the spiritual warfare that engages God's people as we make our way to the heavenly kingdom promised to all true followers of Jesus.

'The Anglican Communion has emerged out of faithfulness to God's Word. It is built on the sacrifices and gifts of countless people. We believe it has a future under God but also that it needs, once again, to be reformed, renewed and equipped for its calling in today's world.'Such is the conclusion drawn by this study, published to coincide with the second GAFCON (Global Anglican Future Conference) in Nairobi, as it draws over a thousand representatives from every corner of the globe. The Anglican Communion is at a watershed in its development, and Bishop Michael offers an overview of its history and the issues it has faced, before drawing out the principles which should characterise its future. Bishop Michael Nazir-Ali was formerly bishop of Rochester, bishop of Raiwind in Pakistan, and General Secretary of CMS. Dr. Nazir-Ali's recent publications include Latimer Briefing 13: 'Justification by Faith: Orientating the Church's teaching and practice to Christ', 'The Unique and Universal Christ', and 'Triple Jeopardy for the West' which examines the very hot topics of aggressive secularism, radical Islam, and multiculturalism. He is currently the President of the Oxford Centre for Training, Research, Advocacy, and Dialogue.

What God says in Hebrews 13 should be of interest to every Christian - whether leader or led. To the leader it asks, 'Have I got my priorities and style right?' To the led it asks, 'Allowing for human failings, have I got essentially faithful Biblical leadership?' It also asks a too infrequently voiced question: 'What are my responsibilities to my leaders, not just what are theirs to me?'. The book of Hebrews is so relevant to us. It describes Christians who through the pressure of "the world, the flesh and the devil" are dangerously drifting away from their spiritual moorings in Christ. They need to wake up, listen to God's Word, and understand the superiority (to any other inferior alternative) of Christ and all that He offers. In the light of Christ's sufferings for us as our representative and substitute on the cross, and his understanding therefore of the pressures we face, and his strength to help us overcome, we are called to endure suffering and not grow weary or fainthearted. In Hebrews 13 the writer is summing up his argument and drawing conclusions. Good leaders are important in a church in danger of drifting. They need to get their priorities right and be as a result taken seriously. They have a very important part to play in the health and well-being of the church. Bishop Wallace Benn is recently retired Bishop of Lewes, England; he is President of the Church of England Evangelical Council and founding Chairman of the Bible by the Beach Convention. He is a keen Bible teacher, much in demand as a speaker, and his research interests include the work of the 17th Century Bishop Ussher. He is married to Lindsay, and has two children and one grandchild. When time permits, he enjoys watching motor racing and rugby.