A CHURCH FOR THE DISOWNED AND REJECTED


Over the centuries the message of Jesus Christ has been garbled, rather like a game of Chinese Whispers in which “Send reinforcements we’re going to advance”, becomes “Send three and four pence we’re going to a dance”!

Jesus came with a message of salvation and repentance for ALL. The only criterion for membership with Jesus was, as He expressed it, to “Follow me”.

Sadly, as time passed, the message of Jesus was limited by the words of men whose outreach was limited and whose love was imperfect. These limitations began in the very earliest days with arguments over whether gentiles could be admitted, or just Jews. St Paul added that women could not speak in the assembly. Who gave him the right to limit the Spirit? Certainly not Jesus who surrounded himself with men and women at all times. In saying this we do not reject Paul’s teaching authority, we simply question the right of anyone to limit the magnanimity of Jesus Christ.

To cut to the quick and reduce two thousand years to a few lines, there are many people who feel, rightly or wrongly, that the teachings of the major Churches exclude them from the fullness of communion with Christ. Let us give a few examples:

·        Women have been excluded from ministry by Catholic and Orthodox since Paul’s time, simply because of their God-given gender.

·        Those whose marriages have failed are condemned by Rome to enforced celibacy or, should they dare to fall in love again and seek remarriage, to effective excommunication and sacramental starvation.

·        Since the Middle Ages male and female homosexuals have been expected to reject the natural expression of their God-given nature if they wish to take part in the life of pretty well any religious organisation.

One could talk about slavery and other examples from the past, which were eventually changed, and it is such change that gives hope for the future.

However the mission entrusted us by Jesus Christ is to offer salvation to all the inhabitants of the world in which we live – NOW – not in some idealised future.

For these simple reasons of Christ’s all-enveloping love, the Community Parish of the Holy Angels is open and embracing.

·         Women are welcome in ministry at all levels subject to proving their vocation in the same way as any man.

·        Gays and lesbians are welcome to receive the sacraments under the same conditions as anyone else, i.e. that they have the right spiritual intention and, except where they seek Baptism, that they be baptised.

·        All who have received Baptism and wish to meet the Lord in Communion are welcome to share at the Table of the Eucharist.

·        All committed and loving relationships have a Sacramental nature and can be celebrated and blessed publicly.

All we have discussed on this page are matters of legalistic interpretation, which has been used to blind and bind the Spirit of loving inclusion that is the Spirit alive and active in the world.

If you feel excluded by another Church for any reason feel free to get in touch with us. You will find a welcoming and accepting embrace in The Ecumenical Catholic Church - United Kingdom, Parish of The Holy Angels.

WHY "ECUMENICAL"? SOME WORDS FROM OUR BISHOP.

What's in a name?

Catholic, Protestant, Orthodox, Old Catholic, Christian. All these are terms that get thrown around without thinking.

As a Bishop I am often asked the simple question: "Catholic?" The trouble is that for most people that means "Roman Catholic?"

In the first centuries of the history of the Church it was just "The Christian Church", the followers of the teaching of Jesus Christ. There were many variations in practice and even some in belief so the Bishops gathered in what they called "Ecumenical Councils" to agree on the teaching. There were seven of these (list)` and all held firm to their teachings. It was these councils that proclaimed the Nicene Creed, which we all hold as the statement of our faith. This Creed defines the Church as "One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic".

The first two words are self-explanatory and yet there were differences of practice. This is the basis on which the variety of liturgical formats developed.

CATHOLIC

The meaning of this Greek word "Catholicos" is best translated by "Universal" and applies to the fact that the mission of the Church is to bring to the whole of creation the message of Jesus Christ and the salvific love that He brought into the world. This one word proclaims the simple fact that no one is excluded from the possibility of eternal salvation.

Sadly, between the ninth and eleventh centuries a rift developed between East and West, which was political in its background. The  Roman Empire was split between two centres, Rome and Constantinople and two main factions developed within Christianity. The final split, or "Schism", occurred in 1085 when Constantinople and Rome excommunicated one another. Since that date the word "Catholic" has come to be seen as "Roman Catholic" as the political power came to rest, for centuries, with the Popes.

ORTHODOX

Another Greek word, orthodox is a combination of two words: "Orthos" meaning true or correct, and Doxa meaning teaching.

Until the schism all who submitted to the authority of the Ecumenical Councils were orthodox. After that date the word orthodox came to be associated with the East. This was because Rome added one word to the Nicene Creed. All the other senior Bishops, or Patriarchs (There were 5 including Rome , all considered equal in authority and subject to the Council) denounced the Pope for this inclusion and declared that it was not "Orthodox" teaching. The remaining 4 patriarchs were the guardians of Orthodoxy. The word stuck and became the name by which we group the Eastern Churches.

The final word of the Nicene definition of the Church is "APOSTOLIC" and this word is central to the way in which the ministry of the Church has been passed on.

It is clear from the Gospels that Jesus gave authority to His Apostles to teach and preach. He also gave some primacy to Peter, and that was well recognised in the early Church where the Pope of Rome, or Patriach of the West, was considered Peters successor and given respect as "Primus Inter Pares" - the first among equals. When the Bishops gathered in council Rome spoke first.

The Acts of the Apostles and the Pastoral Letters of St Paul make it abundantly clear that the Apostles "handed on" that authority by prayer and the laying on of hands. This process has continued in unbroken line until today. Every validly ordained Bishop can potentially trace the line between his own consecrator and Jesus Himself. This is known as "Apostolic Succession".

Our own Bishop, Terry Flynn, traces his own lines through Rome, Antioch and several other lines thanks to the four Archbishops who consecrated him.

Finally we come to the name of our part of the One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church  . Why "Ecumenical"? Simply because we are true to the Church's position as it was in the time of the Ecumenical Councils. Our teaching is that of the undivided Church, our pastoral practice is based on the needs of today not a list of rules that has been rigidly held to because others disagree with aspects of it. The word Ecumenical was used of the councils in the same sense that today we would use "plenary" that is that all who had a right to attend were invited and either present or represented. They were truly Councils of the One, Holy Catholic and Apostolic church in her entirety.

We respect and adhere to the teachings of these councils and hold that whilst all subsequent local councils (including those held by Rome   and called "ecumenical") have a teaching value their decisions are not binding in conscience on the faithful. They may, and do, have great value as guides, and the wisdom of their discussions and proclamations must be heeded. The combined wisdom of centuries should not be ignored simply because it is politically slanted.

Our own Bishop has studied the Second Vatican Council in depth and finds it a wonderful expression of the pastoral reality and liturgical expression that the Church needs in this modern world. It will be even better when its recommendations are properly implemented.