Footnoting Confessions: Faith And Academic Integrity

Confessions of faith are formal statements of doctrinal belief intended for public avowal by an individual, a group, a congregation, a synod, or a church. They are similar to creeds but are usually more extensive and are especially associated with the churches of the Protestant Reformation. The first confessional documents of the Reformation were the drafts preceding the Augsburg Confession of 1530, which was followed by other Reformation churches, including the Presbyterian Westminster Confession (1648). When referencing a confession of faith in an academic paper, such as the Westminster Confession of Faith (WCF), it is important to follow the standard citation procedures and conventions for footnotes/endnotes and bibliographies.

The Chicago Manual of Style (CMS) is the standard reference for footnote formatting

The Chicago Manual of Style (CMS) is widely recognised as the standard reference for footnote formatting. The CMS, currently in its 17th edition, offers two types of referencing styles:

• Notes and Bibliography: This style uses numbered footnotes or endnotes, with each note corresponding to a raised (superscript) number in the text. The notes and bibliography system is more flexible and can accommodate a wide range of sources, including unusual ones that don't fit into the author-date system. This style is commonly used in the humanities, such as literature, history, and the arts.
• Author-Date: This style involves briefly citing sources in the text, typically using parentheses, by providing the author's last name and the year of publication. It is preferred by many in the sciences and social sciences as it emphasises the date of the source.

When it comes to formatting footnotes, the CMS provides specific guidelines. Here are some key points to consider:

• Full Notes and Short Notes: There are two types of footnotes in Chicago style: full notes and short notes. Full notes contain all the publication details of the source and are used for the first citation of each source. Short notes, used for subsequent citations of the same source, include only the author's last name, a shortened title (if longer than four words), and the page number.
• Placement of Footnotes: Footnotes should be placed at the bottom of the page that contains the referenced information. The reference number is placed as a superscript at the end of the clause or sentence it refers to, after any punctuation except a dash.
• Content of Footnotes: Footnotes contain the citation number followed by a period and then the citation details, including the author's name, title of the text, and any relevant publication information in parentheses. Page numbers or ranges should be included when quoting or referring to a specific part of the source.
• Combining Multiple Citations: When citing multiple sources in one sentence, combine the citations into one footnote, separating them with semicolons.
• Sources with Multiple Authors: For footnotes, list up to three authors. If there are more than three, use "et al." after the first author's name.
• Footnote Examples: The information included in full notes varies depending on the source type. For books, italicise the title and include publication details. For book chapters, enclose the chapter title in quotation marks and italicise the book title. For journal articles, enclose the article title in quotation marks and italicise the journal name, including volume and issue numbers.

The CMS provides comprehensive guidelines for various source types, ensuring consistent and accurate referencing. It is always recommended to refer to the latest edition of the CMS for detailed instructions on footnote formatting.

The Westminster Confession of Faith is cited as (WCF 22.3) or WCF 22.3

The Westminster Confession of Faith is a Reformed confession of faith, produced by the Presbyterian Church, that outlines the system of doctrine that the church adheres to. It is a formal statement of doctrinal belief, intended for public avowal by the church, and is similar to a creed, although usually more extensive.

> "A lawful oath is a part of religious worship, wherein, upon just occasion, the person swearing solemnly calleth God to witness what he asserteth or promiseth, and to judge him according to the truth or falsehood of what he sweareth."

This particular section of the Confession deals with the topic of lawful oaths, which are considered a part of religious worship. It emphasizes the solemn nature of oaths and the involvement of God as a witness and judge.

The citation format (WCF 22.3) is used to provide a clear and standardized way to reference specific sections of the Westminster Confession of Faith. It allows for easy identification of the content being discussed and helps readers locate the relevant portion of the document. This citation style is commonly used in Reformed and Presbyterian circles when engaging with or discussing the Westminster Confession of Faith.

The Larger Catechism is cited as (WLC 87)

The Larger Catechism is a document that outlines the Christian faith and its doctrines. It is a part of the Westminster Standards, a collection of documents that serve as a confession of faith for many Reformed churches. The Larger Catechism is usually cited as (WLC 87), with WLC standing for Westminster Larger Catechism, and 87 being the question number that the citation is referring to. This citation style is used to provide an easy way to reference and locate specific sections of the document.

The Larger Catechism consists of 196 questions and answers that cover a wide range of theological topics. It begins by asking about the chief and highest end of man, to which the answer is, "Man's chief and highest end is to glorify God, and fully to enjoy him forever." The catechism then goes on to address various other topics such as the existence of God, the nature of the Scriptures, sin, salvation, and the role of the church. Each question is followed by a corresponding answer that provides a detailed explanation and is supported by relevant Bible verses.

The Larger Catechism is an important resource for many Reformed churches and individuals who adhere to Reformed theology. It provides a comprehensive summary of Christian doctrine and serves as a guide for understanding the Bible and applying it to one's life. By citing specific question numbers, individuals can easily reference and discuss the teachings outlined in the catechism.

The Shorter Catechism is cited as (WSC 33)

The Westminster Shorter Catechism (WSC) is a summary of doctrine, traditionally used in Christian religious teaching from New Testament times to the present. Catechisms are doctrinal manuals often in the form of questions followed by answers to be memorised. The WSC was written in the 1640s by English and Scottish divines.

Question 33 of the WSC asks, "What is justification?" The answer is:

> Justification is an act of God’s free grace in which he pardons all our sins and accepts us as righteous in his sight for the sake of the righteousness of Christ alone, which is credited to us and received by faith alone.

The answer is supported by the following Scripture references: Rom. 3:24; Rom. 4:6–8; 2 Cor. 5:19; 2 Cor. 5:21; Rom. 4:6, 11; Rom. 5:19; Gal. 2:16; Phil. 3:9.

The WSC is often cited using a shorthand format, with the initials WSC followed by a number denoting the question being referenced. For example, WSC 33 refers to Question 33 of the WSC.

The Book of Concord is cited as (BC 1580)

The Book of Concord, often referred to as the Lutheran Confessions, is a collection of ten credal documents that form the doctrinal standard of the Lutheran Church. It was published in German on June 25, 1580, in Dresden, Germany, and later in an authoritative Latin edition in 1584 in Leipzig. The Book of Concord is cited as (BC 1580) to reflect the year of its original publication.

The Book of Concord was compiled by a group of theologians led by Jakob Andreae and Martin Chemnitz and contains writings from the early years of the Lutheran Reformation (1529-1577). The book includes the "Three Ecumenical Creeds": the Apostles' Creed, the Nicene Creed, and the Athanasian Creed, which are placed at the beginning to show the alignment of Lutheran teaching with ancient Christian doctrine.

The other documents in The Book of Concord include the Augsburg Confession, the Apology of the Augsburg Confession, the Small and Large Catechisms of Martin Luther, the Smalcald Articles, the Treatise on the Power and Primacy of the Pope, and the Formula of Concord. These writings defend and elaborate on the Lutheran doctrine and were intended to unify the growing Lutheran movement.

The Book of Concord is specifically referenced as "The Book of Concord of 1580" in the articles of incorporation of the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod (LCMS) and the constitution of the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod (WELS), among other Lutheran congregational constitutions in the United States. Despite this, a complete English translation of the original German text has never been published, and the authorized Latin version of 1584 is often used for reference.

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