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Forward in Faith

Forward in Faith (FiF) is a movement operating in a number of provinces of the Anglican Communion. On the whole it represents a traditionalist strand of Anglo-Catholicism. Forward in Faith is particularly noted for its opposition to the ordination of women to the priesthood and episcopate and, more recently, to more liberal Anglican views of homosexuality.

History

FiF was formed in 1992 as a coalition of some previous Catholic societies in the Church of England and elsewhere opposed to the ordination of women. It also tends to take a more traditionalist line on matters of liturgy, ecclesiology, Christology and the authority of scripture. As of 2005 there are more than 800 member parishes around the world.

Organisation

The common description of Forward in Faith as an organisation made up of Anglo-Catholics can be misleading. Because of the nature of FiF and the nature of Catholic theology regarding the ordination of women there is a significant overlap of the two. The membership base of FiF, however, is not exclusively Anglo-Catholic and there are many members in the United States, England and elsewhere who would not consider themselves to be Anglo-Catholics.

In the brochure entitled "What is Forward in Faith North America", the organisation defines itself as "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