Show CHURCH COUNCILS I IThe The 1 he first ecumenical general or universal council of the Christian church was called by the Emperor Constantine at Nice in Asia Minor in the inthe the year y r fo for the purpose purpose-of purpose purpose- c- c cof of defining the Christian faith and dealing with the alleged heresy of Arius of Alexandria and his follow follow- ers Arius contended that th t there is a difference between the Father and andSon andSon andSon Son making the latter The TIle orthodox view jew was and still is that the two are arc in all respects equal I Little is known of the proceed proceed- proceedings proceedings proceedings ings of pf the council except that they were w re marked by bitter controversies among the bishops b. b lops present present finally resulting in the adoption of the Ni- Ni Nicene cene Creed sustaining the orthodox opinion by b a decisive vote lather Other ecumenical councils were held from time to time usually for forthe forthe the purpose of dealing with heresy land and d schism ism or for further ithe cJ deciding g matters alters of faith and discipline Tw- Tw Twenty Twenty enty ty such councils councils- arc are recognized by y the Catholic recognize the au- au authority authority of only the first four the Church of o England the first seven Decisions of ecumenical councils were supposed to have been guided I Iby by the Holy Ghost and hence in in- in fallible The last general council of the Catholic church in 1870 1810 decreed the infallibility of the Pope in matters of faith and morals which decree seems to render any further councils coun coun- councils councils for such purposes unnecessary for that church I |