Article XXXII: Of the marriage of priests

This post is part of a Lenten series on the 39 Articles.

Article XXXII: Of the marriage of priests
Bishops, Priests, and Deacons are not commanded by God’s laws either to vow the estate of single life or to abstain from marriage. Therefore it is lawful also for them, as for all other Christian men, to marry at their own discretion, as they shall judge the same to serve better to godliness.

Here’s another article that’s quite straightforward. It is obviously a response to the Roman Catholic teachings concerning clerical celibacy. The topic of clerical marriage is less interesting to me than the question about church discipline and when it can be changed. In its beginning, the church permitted clergy to marry. And then, for well-rehearsed reasons primarily related to property, the church changed its tune. Morality was surely an issue too, but that didn’t exactly go away once authorities declared that clergy were celibate. But I digress.

In clerical celibacy we have a classic example of church discipline. The scriptures are not clear on the issue, though a decent case could be made either in favor or against clerical celibacy. The church’s tradition has changed. That is, the church can change its discipline, and has done so. The mechanism for these changes could be an ecumenical council or a ruling by a hierarch (usually the Pope or Patriarch) or perhaps a synod. Of course, local practice will have always paved the way for change.

One begins to wonder what other areas of church discipline might be in need of change. It also seems that the difference between doctrine and discipline might be in the eye of the beholder at times. Perhaps there are things that we imagine we can change, but which should be off limits. And maybe there are areas of our life together that ought to be changed, but which some would argue cannot be changed. It’s a pity, in our increasingly fractured world, that the universal church cannot gather for consultation. (We Anglicans can’t even manage it ourselves, sadly.)

Today’s article ends with this goal-oriented phrase: “…as they shall judge the same to serve better to godliness”. If we thought that way more often, the church might be in better shape.

Here are some questions for pondering or meditation:

• Are clergy able to serve more effectively as married (or partnered) persons? Are there down sides to married (or partnered) clergy?
• Should better service be important in making decisions about church discipline?
• Are the conversations about partnered clergy today similar to those the church must have had in the 16th century around married clergy?
• How would we know when we should modify church discipline? What is the difference between doctrine and discipline?

Let your continual mercy, O Lord, cleanse and defend your Church; and, because it cannot continue in safety without your help, protect and govern it always by your goodness; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

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