Forward in Faith

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Forward in Faith is a movement operating in several provinces of the Anglican Communion. It represents the traditionalist strand of Anglo-Catholicism. Forward in Faith is particularly noted for its opposition to the ordination of women, and more recently, to more liberal Anglican views of homosexuality.

It was formed in 1992 as a coalition of previously existing organisations formed to work for those opposed to the ordination of women to the priesthood in the Church of England. It also takes a traditionalist line on matters of liturgy, ecclesiology, Christology and the authority of scripture. As of 2005 there were more then 800 member parishes around the world.

The common description of Forward in Faith as an organization made up of Anglo-Catholic believers is misleading. Because of the nature of FiF and because of the nature of Anglo-Catholic theology regarding ordination of women there is indeed a significant overlap in the two, however, the membership base of FiF is not exclusively Anglo Catholic nor is it based along churchmanship lines. Indeed there are many members of FiF in the US, in England and around the world who would not consider themselves part of the Anglo Catholic wing of the Church.

In its brochure entitled "What is forward in Faith North America," the organization defines itself as follows "a fellowship of Bishops, Clergy, Laity, Parishes and Religious Orders, who embrace the Gospel of Jesus Christ, who uphold the Evangelical Faith and Catholic Order which is the inheritance of the Anglican Way, and who work, pray and give for the reform and renewal of the Church with "no compromise of truth and no limitation of love" FiF/NA members include faithful Anglicans both within and outside ECUSA." For more information on FiF see [1]

FiF is an organization whose members identify themselves as faithful Anglicans willing to stand for the Historic, Biblical Faith of Christ and His Church. Among those are both Anglo Catholics and Evangelicals.

Forward in Faith seek alternative Episcopal oversight, and the creation of a ‘free province’ where women are not ordained to the priesthood, enabling them to function freely within the Anglican Communion.