A religious revolution in the 1960's, born out of the Old Catholic Church, created a spiritual resurgance that moved towards the Autocephalous Movement of Churches of the Apostolic Succession. We are the generation after, a new group of Catholics who have actively sought a spiritual experience based on pure and truthful Christian love but within a structured framework - but a structure which is not associated with the 'establishment.'
We come from Roman Catholic, Church of England, Episcopalian, Lutheran, Evangelical, Eastern Orthodox, Methodist, Liberal Baptist, Celtic-Christian and Franciscan backgrounds. The dilemma that faces Christians like us has caused centuries of compromise. We do not agree with papal infallibility or the pomp and ceremony associated with Roman worship (bells and smells) but neither do we hold with 'extreme' doctrinal reform. There are thousands like us who have been forced over the centuries to compromise their theology, faith and beliefs as they find themselves having to accept what they don't hold with in terms of religious dogma in order to gain access to what they do. We can no longer accept this as our path of Christian discipleship.
In the words of our own +Charles Michael; religion is killing Christianity.
The origin behind our seal.
IHS is a Latin Monogram from the 3rd Century and it is based on Greek letters which represent the first three letters in Jesus' name. (ΙΗΣ- iota-eta-sigma; short for ΙΗΣΟΥΣ)
We have always promoted our English Catholic roots and made it abundantly clear we are neither a quasi 'Roman' Catholic Church nor are we an Anglican Church. Most ECC+C clergy define themselves as Anglican-Catholic although we have members from many Christian denominations. We proclaim the Universal Christian faith as taught by the Early Church without dogma or extreme reform. Most important of all - we are a strong and faithful community-driven body of Christians. Our church founding has been heavily influenced by the gentleness and humility of St Francis and the rejection of wealth of St Clare as she followed him in faith. We have drawn upon the strength of Sts Agnes and Bernadette who showed such courage in the face of adversity and the unknown ministry of St Matthias as the first ever example of handing over human decisions through trusting the Holy Spirit.
From left to right: Sts Francis, Clare, Agnes, Bernadette and Matthias
Our licensed and experienced clergy work with Christian men and women and clergy from other denominations supporting various Registered Charitable Projects and Communities overseen by the ECC+C. Our hands-on ministry is to advocate as Christ did for the pained, the lonely, the unvoiced and the outcast. Our communities also consist of disillusioned and disenfranchised Christian men and women with a burning heart for discipleship and a need for meaningful and relevant worship.
We advocate the beauty of the original and universal Catholic faith which dates back to Christ and His Apostles. We have gathered together with a like-mind of striving to bring Christian 'community' back to basics, leaving behind ego, politics, dogma and condemnation. We all understand that Christian discipleship is not represented by the wealth and power of religious organisations and neither is it measured by grand and imposing titles. Christian discipleship is represented and measured by our actions and deeds.
We know 'Church' means people and people mean God and we worship and celebrate with those who just want to worship and celebrate... we are church - we don't 'do' church - and we are a church for you, for us and above all; for God.
We are a part of The One Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic Church but not governed by Rome or Lambeth. Our Communities under the ECC+C are an autonomous member of the International Ecumenical Catholic Church. To be a part of a Christian community of 'Church' within the ECC+C is everything we knew it could be. People reject so much about religion but hunger for God and purpose in their lives. We are accessible and down to earth and try to show that being a Christian is about enjoying life!
Some clergy within the Church of England embrace us with open hearts and arms. The North of England CofE is so welcoming of us - Mother Renate is heralded as a 'faith champion' and works with senior CofE clergy and has done for many years. In the South we are forging some strong links with CofE clergy their ordaining Church don't seem to want because they have been told they are 'too outspoken' and we are also working with some retired parsih 'vicars' fearful for the future of Christianity in general. Our relationship with a few URC, Welsh Presbyterian and Lutheran clergy is excellent. We are delighted to have received a letter from a Rev'd Canon in the CofE endorsing our ministries and offering to help us in any way he can.
We are all Christians when it boils down to it, and as a collective, Christians struggle to be heard within an increasingly secular and atheist world. We believe with a whole heart - as many people do today - that the secured future of the global Christian Church is not with mainstream power houses who have lost themselves in money, power and politics and so have little time to minister to their flock - instead the future of Christianity is within non mainstream, community focused denominations and jurisdictions like ours. When do Baptists, Methodists and URC congregations lose interest in attending weekly worship, running their Youth Clubs, visiting those who cannot make it to church or catering for the needs of their elderly? NEVER!
And neither does the ECC+C.
In 1932 the Convocation of Canterbury established 'intercommunion' between the Church of England and the Old Catholic Churches on the terms of the Bonn Agreement of the previous year but the Lambeth Resolutions highlight the background to some of the problems we all have even today with small pockets of the Anglican Communion and are well worth a read.
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