The concept of equality from the point of view of the "Branch Theory" of the Oxford Movement

Abstract (English)

By the beginning of the 19th century, there were several movements within the Church of England that differed in their interpretations of certain dogmatic and religious positions. At the same time, the High Church sought to preserve Catholic traditions in Anglicanism, counteracting the extremes of Protestantism and bringing the Church of England closer to the tradition and practice of the Universal Church before its separation.

In the 19th century, a movement arose within the Church of England, commonly referred to as the Oxford Movement, which offered an interesting perspective on the issue of equality among churches. One of the notable "innovations" of the Oxford Movement was the "Branch Theory," according to which the three Apostolic Churches—Catholic, Orthodox, and Anglican—are like branches of the same tree. Despite external differences, they invisibly preserve the unity of the Catholic Church. Therefore, following this "Branch Theory," representatives of the Oxford Movement considered it their duty to restore an "equal" union between the Church of England and its "sisters in Christ," namely Roman Catholics and Orthodox Christians.

Over time, The Branch Theory began to gain a broader interpretation. It has survived to the present day and allows us to look at the issue of equality from an interesting perspective in the context of religious identity.