There is no recognized corpus of binding law globally applicable to all churches in the Anglican Communion. Ostensibly, each church is autonomous, free to make rules to facilitate and to order its internal life. This book, which is global in scope, makes available a comparative study of the constitutions, canons, and other forms of law of churches in the worldwide Anglican Communion. The book's analysis draws out the similarities and differences between them and, from the coincidence of actual laws and from global ecclesiastical conventions enunciated by the Lambeth Conference, it elucidates t ... More

There is no recognized corpus of binding law globally applicable to all churches in the Anglican Communion. Ostensibly, each church is autonomous, free to make rules to facilitate and to order its internal life. This book, which is global in scope, makes available a comparative study of the constitutions, canons, and other forms of law of churches in the worldwide Anglican Communion. The book's analysis draws out the similarities and differences between them and, from the coincidence of actual laws and from global ecclesiastical conventions enunciated by the Lambeth Conference, it elucidates the global principles of Anglican canon law that may apply to all churches in the Communion. The subjects examined include: government; ministry; doctrine and liturgy; rites; property; inter-church relations; and ecumenism. Thorough and practical analysis of a hitherto under-explored subject is placed squarely within its jurisprudential and theological context.