B009 Observing the 1700th anniversary of the First Council of Nicaea 325 CE
Resolved, the House of Deputies concurring,
That the Episcopal Church, together with all Churches that uphold the historic faith, affirms as part of our worship the doctrine agreed on by the First Council of Nicaea in 325, holding that the Son, as articulated in the Creed published by that council, is
one Lord, Jesus Christ,
the Son of God,
begotten from the Father, only-begotten,
that is, from the substance of the Father,
God from God,
light from light,
true God from true God,
begotten not made,
of one substance with the Father,
through Whom all things came into being;
and be it further
Resolved, That the Nicene Creed, as ratified by the Council of Constantinople in 381 CE, identified in the Chicago-Lambeth Quadrilateral as “the sufficient statement of the Christian Faith,” continues to guide the work of The Episcopal Church in its ecumenical conversations and dialogue; and be it further
Resolved, That the 81st General Convention commends to the whole Church the 1,700th anniversary of the Council of Nicaea in 2025 and encourages dioceses and congregations to find suitable ways to mark this historic anniversary; and be it further
Resolved, That this General Convention calls on the Office of Ecumenical and Interreligious Relations to ensure the participation of the Episcopal Church in national and international commemorations of the anniversary of the Council.
Explanation
2025 will mark the 1,700th anniversary of the First Council of Nicaea, the first ecumenical council of the ancient and united church. The Council addressed the Arian controversy, and formulated what has come down to us as the Nicene Creed, a central affirmation of the faith of the church recited by the faithful in churches around the world.
A number of ecumenical programs and events will take place both nationally and internationally to mark this significant anniversary. The Episcopal Church should be represented in these events as fully as possible as an ecumenical partner, in ways coordinated by our Office of Ecumenical and Interreligious Affairs.