AnglicanWiki:Style Guide

# AnglicanWiki: Style Guide

This Style Guide establishes consistent standards for articles, citations, tone, formatting, and editorial practice across **AnglicanWiki**, ensuring clarity, accuracy, and confessional integrity rooted in the classical Anglican tradition.

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1. 1. 1. **Purpose of AnglicanWiki**

AnglicanWiki exists to:

• Preserve and present the history, doctrine, and practice of classical, orthodox Anglicanism.
• Provide reliable, well-sourced articles for clergy, scholars, and lay readers.
• Uphold the theological identity of the English Reformation, the Prayer Book tradition, and the historic episcopate.
• Avoid revisionist or progressive reinterpretations of Anglican doctrine.

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1. 1. 2. **Article Standards**

1. 1. 1. 2.1 Tone

• Encyclopedic, clear, and formal.
• Avoid conversational, rhetorical, or polemical language.
• Present disagreements factually without inflammatory wording.
• Use past-tense for historical narration; present-tense for doctrine and official teaching.

1. 1. 1. 2.2 Point of View

Articles should reflect:

• The classic Anglican consensus (Hooker, Cranmer, Jewel, 1662 BCP, 39 Articles).
• The perspective of orthodox Anglican bodies (e.g., REC, ACNA, Continuing Churches).
• Respect for non-Anglican traditions while maintaining Anglican distinctiveness.

1. 1. 1. 2.3 Inclusion Criteria

Pages may cover:

• Major figures in Anglican history.
• Theological topics, doctrines, and liturgical practices.
• Parishes, dioceses, bishops, and notable institutions.
• Historical controversies when relevant.

Pages **should not** cover:

• Modern revisionist innovations (unless described historically and critically).
• Activist topics with no direct Anglican theological or historical relevance.
• Living public figures whose contributions are not widely recognized.

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1. 1. 3. **Biographical Entries**

1. 1. 1. 3.1 Required Sections

• **Lead paragraph**: Who they are and why they matter.
• **Early Life**
• **Education & Formation**
• **Ministry or Career**
• **Theological Contribution**
• **Legacy**
• **Sources / Further Reading**

1. 1. 1. 3.2 Neutrality

• Describe debates without attacking individuals.
• For controversial figures, provide succinct summaries anchored in sources.

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1. 1. 4. **Doctrinal Articles**

Doctrinal pages must:

• Quote or reference the 39 Articles, 1662 BCP, Homilies, and classical Anglican writers.
• Explain doctrine as historically held, not as reinterpreted by modern progressive bodies.
• Use Scripture and classical sources as primary anchors.

Avoid:

• Systematic theology drawn from outside the Anglican tradition without context.
• Claiming a doctrine is "Anglican" if held only by modern revisionists.

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1. 1. 5. **Citation Rules**

1. 1. 1. 5.1 Types of Sources

Preferred sources:

• Primary Anglican texts (Prayer Books, ordinal, Articles, Homilies)
• Works by classical Anglican theologians
• Peer‑reviewed historical or theological scholarship
• Official church documents

Avoid:

• Personal blogs
• Uncited claims
• Sources promoting revisionist theology

1. 1. 1. 5.2 Format

• Use simple inline citations.
• Provide bibliographies at page bottom.
• Hyperlink primary sources when available.

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1. 1. 6. **Formatting Standards**

1. 1. 1. 6.1 Headings

Use standard MediaWiki headers:

• `== Heading 1 ==`
• `=== Heading 2 ===`
• `==== Heading 3 ====`

1. 1. 1. 6.2 Images

• Use images sparingly.
• Only use copyright-free or properly licensed images.
• Include concise captions.

1. 1. 1. 6.3 Infoboxes

• Use infoboxes for bishops, dioceses, parishes, and major historical figures.
• Keep content concise and factual.

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1. 1. 7. **Categories**

Every article must include at least one category. Examples:

• ``
• ``
• ``
• ``

Avoid overly narrow or redundant categories.

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1. 1. 8. **Editorial Policies**

1. 1. 1. 8.1 Respectful Anglican Orthodoxy

While AnglicanWiki welcomes topics across the Anglican world, its editorial posture is:

• Orthodox
• Classical
• Prayer Book–centered
• Confessionally consistent with historic Anglican doctrine

1. 1. 1. 8.2 Avoiding Partisanship

Articles may describe disagreements (e.g., women’s ordination, liturgical revision) but must:

• Avoid mocking tone
• Avoid partisan Anglican internet slang
• State historical facts and ecclesial positions clearly

1. 1. 1. 8.3 No Attack Pages

No article may target an individual or group for ridicule.

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1. 1. 9. **Templates & Conventions**

• Use existing templates whenever possible.
• Use MediaWiki markup consistently.
• Keep articles readable for both scholars and visitors.

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1. 1. 10. **Future Development**

This Style Guide will expand to include:

• Templates for commonly used article types
• Detailed citation formatting
• A glossary of Anglican terms
• Recommendations for uploading media and graphics

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• • "Do all things decently and in order." — 1 Corinthians 14:40**