The history · 1988 · Lambeth Conference

The pastoral rule changes, in writing

A century later the same communion keeps monogamy as its stated ideal but changes its pastoral rule. A man in an existing polygynous marriage may be baptized and confirmed with his believing wives and children under three conditions, and he is not to be made to put any wife away because of the deprivation she would suffer.

Read the document

  • “This Conference upholds monogamy as God's plan, and as the ideal relationship of love between husband and wife; nevertheless recommends that a polygamist who responds to the Gospel and wishes to join the Anglican Church may be baptized and confirmed with his believing wives and children on the following conditions: (1) that the polygamist shall promise not to marry again as long as any of his wives at the time of his conversion are alive; (2) that the receiving of such a polygamist has the consent of the local Anglican community; (3) that such a polygamist shall not be compelled to put away any of his wives, on account of the social deprivation they would suffer.”

    Lambeth Conference of 1988 · Resolution 26 (Church and Polygamy)

    Resolution 26 in full, as recorded in the conference's acts. The resolution both upholds monogamy as the ideal and sets the three conditions under which existing polygynous households are received.

Put it in context

Between 1888 and 1988, the biblical text and the communion's stated ideal remained the same. What changed was the pastoral rule for people already living in plural households.

The later resolution explicitly considers what abandonment would do to the wives and children. Without reversing its doctrine, the church decides that preserving the existing household is more faithful than requiring a wife to be put away.

What is disputed

Whether the change is best described as pastoral, sacramental, or doctrinal is disputed, and the resolution itself upholds monogamy as the ideal while changing what the church does about existing households. The two facts belong together.

How I read this record

This is my conclusion from the source, not part of the quotation.

Anglican practice toward existing polygynous households changed within a century by recorded vote: excluded from baptism in 1888, then received in 1988 under stated conditions with the wives' standing expressly protected. The later resolution does not reverse the doctrine of monogamy. It changes the pastoral rule while naming the deprivation that forced wives would suffer.

Open the sources

Back to the full history