Guarding the Flock:

The Implications of Article 23 in the 39 Articles for Unauthorized Bible Teachers

Article 23— Of Ministering in the Congregation
It is not lawful for any man to take upon him the office of publick preaching, or ministering the Sacraments in the Congregation, before he be lawfully called, and sent to execute the same. And those we ought to judge lawfully called and sent, which be chosen and called to this work by men who have publick authority given unto them in the Congregation, to call and send Ministers into the Lord's vineyard.

The Foundation of Lawful Ministry

Article 23 of the 39 Articles, historically rooted in the 1662 Book of Common Prayer, establishes that it is unlawful for any individual to take up the office of public preaching or administering sacraments without a lawful call and sending by those with proper authority. Article 23, adopted by the Anglican Church in North America (ACNA) as part of its subscription to the 39 Articles, is actively upheld in my Diocese—the Anglican Diocese of the Rocky Mountains (DRM)—where bishops require all ordained ministers to sign an oath of conformity. The oath states:

"I, ..., now to be ordained a Priest, do believe and confess Jesus Christ as Lord. He is the Way, the Truth and the Life: no one comes to the Father but by Him; I confess and uphold the Holy Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments to be God’s Word written, containing all that is necessary for salvation; I confess and uphold the orthodox Christian creeds, namely the Apostles’ Creed, the Nicene Creed and the Athanasian Creed together with the Chalcedonian Definition; I subscribe to the Thirty-Nine Articles as containing the true doctrine of the Church agreeing with God’s Word and as authoritative for Anglicans today; I uphold The Book of Common Prayer as set forth by the Church of England in 1662, together with the Ordinal attached to the same, as setting out the theological, liturgical, and ministry principles that are the standard for Anglican doctrine and worship; I affirm the Jerusalem Declaration of 2008, and the Constitution and Canons of this Diocese. Therefore, I do solemnly engage to conform to the Doctrine, Discipline and Worship of Christ as this Church has received them."

This oath reflects Article 23's intent to protect the church from unauthorized ministry through ordination and oversight, a standard the ACNA and its dioceses maintain (or ought to maintain!) echoing Luther and Calvin’s rejection of both Roman priestcraft and sectarian enthusiasm.

The Practice of Independent Self-appointed Bible Teachers

Self-appointed Bible teachers among Evangelicals is not a new phenomenon, with a longstanding practice of individuals initiating independent Bible studies outside the visible church. These individuals often lack formal ordination or any connection to a church’s oversight and discipline, operating as rogue lay enthusiasts. Driven by a passion for Scripture, they attract followers through informal gatherings, podcasts, or online platforms, claiming spiritual authority based solely on personal conviction. Within my Diocese of the Rocky Mountains, this practice challenges the commitment to the structured ministry outlined in Article 23 and the oath’s pledge to conform to church doctrine and discipline. As Michael Horton warns in his article entitled, "What About Bob? The Meaning of Ministry in the Reformed Tradition," this mirrors the critique of “self-appointed circuit-riders” who, driven by zeal rather than qualification, disrupt church order—a danger still evident in today’s evangelical circles.

Contradicting Article 23’s Intent

This self-appointed ministry directly contradicts the intent of Article 23, which seeks to ensure that public teaching and sacramental duties are conducted by those lawfully called, typically through a process involving church elders or bishops—a practice the ACNA, including my Diocese of the Rocky Mountains, follows. When Evangelicals bypass this structure, they risk introducing doctrinal inconsistencies or unguided interpretations, lacking the oversight that guards against such issues. This independence undermines the visible church’s role as a unifying and disciplining body, a principle central to DRM's adherence to the 39 Articles and the oath’s commitment. Horton’s distinction between the priesthood of all believers and the ordained ministry (e.g., Luther’s view that not all priests preach) reinforces this need for structured authority. All believers are sheep and priests under Christ's care, yet not all are called to the office of pastor or shepherd.

The Risks of Unaccountable Teaching

The absence of accountability in these rogue ministries poses significant risks. Without church oversight, these self-appointed teachers are not subject to correction or guidance, which can lead to the spread of unorthodox views or personal agendas. The article’s emphasis on a lawful call includes the idea that ministry should be exercised within the visible church so that there is oversight and discipline. Rogue lay enthusiasts, by contrast, operate in isolation, leaving their followers vulnerable to manipulation or error, a concern DRM seeks to address through ordered ministry. Within the Diocesan ordination process of DRM, a rigorous path of theological training and approval by episcopal authority ensures that candidates are properly equipped for the ministry of Word and sacrament. This process, involving discernment under the guidance of the structures of the visible church, contrasts sharply with rogue lay enthusiasts who operate in isolation, leaving their followers susceptible to manipulation or doctrinal error. This concern is one that DRM addresses through its commitment to ordered ministry, safeguarding against the charisma-driven leadership Horton critiques, which prioritizes personal appeal over qualified oversight.

A Call to Return to Order

To align with the principles of Article 23, as embraced by DRM, these independent Bible teachers should seek proper ordination and integration into the visible church. This would allow their passion for teaching to be channeled through a lawful call, ensuring they operate under the oversight and discipline of established episcopal authority (if in an Anglican context), as vowed in the oath of conformity. A structure of church-validated calling—requiring training and examination—offers a practical path, countering the impulsive zeal of self-appointed bible teachers. While the enthusiasm of lay leaders is valuable, it must be directed within the church’s framework to fulfill Article 23's intent of maintaining a unified and accountable ministry. By doing so, the church can safeguard the integrity of its confessional beliefs and foster a healthier spiritual community and unity.