During Christ’s earthly ministry, the leaders of the temple asked Jesus, “By what authority are you doing these things?” (Mark 11:28). This question conveys a very human sentiment, as 2000 years later Christians continue to grapple with questions of belief and practice (that is, doctrine). Who or what has the authority to make claims around belief and practice? What is the strength of those claims? How malleable are they (or not)? 

Between 2007-2010, the Commission on Faith and Witness grappled with several questions relating to doctrine: 

• What is dogma or doctrine in your tradition? 

• What are doctrinal statements? 

• Who can make doctrinal statements? 

• What is the relation between doctrine and revelation? 

As the conversations progressed, three additional questions were considered: 

• How does your tradition view the first seven ecumenical councils? 

• How does your tradition understand the reliability of scripture? 

• What are those shared convictions without which the Church’s mission would be seriously impaired, or even become impossible? 

Resulting from these conversations, an anthology of Working Papers on Doctrine (2010) was published in the journal Ecumenism. Each contribution provides a different denominational perspective. 

This resource may be used: 

• By individuals and small groups seeking to better understand perspectives on doctrine from their own tradition or other traditions; 

• By churches seeking to engage in collaborative efforts or partnerships with churches whose understanding of doctrine may be different from their own; 

• By leaders of Christian education, baptismal preparation, or confirmation classes. 

Please note that this resource was published in 2010 and some of the language used may be dated.