This church tended to be quite conservative in doctrine and worship practices, but, gradually, changes were made.
The Roman Inquisition, an agency established in 1542 to combat heresy, was more successful in controlling doctrine and practice than similar bodies in those countries where Protestant princes had more power than the Roman Catholic Church.
Because of variations in both doctrine and practice, however, the Eucharist, which was intended as both a symbol of and a means of fostering unity within the church, has been a source of disunity and even contention.
In history, it has been the most important factor in defining the meaning of the other sources and thus in formulating the doctrine and practice of the Muslim community.
The Disciples of Christ, a Free church that originated in the United States, makes the New Testament the sole authority of doctrine and practice in the church, requiring no creedal subscription at all; a distinctive feature of their worship is their weekly celebration of Communion.
We must accept that Church doctrine and practice are in continual flux and have been so from the beginning.
Still, to say that doctrine and practice change in sometimes radical ways is not say that they are without root or foundation.
A week later, the Parliament passed three acts in one day: the first abolished the jurisdiction of the Pope in Scotland, the second condemned all doctrine and practice contrary to the reformed faith, and the third forbade the celebration of Mass in Scotland.
Anglicans, called Episcopalians in the United States, are working mightily to forge a worldwide church that is led by clergy and laity, united by doctrine and practice, but that in the future will allow for some local variation.
They seek to base doctrine and practice on the Bible alone.
