Ecumenical Catholic Church
Encyclopedia
The Ecumenical Catholic Church (ECC) is a separate denomination within the universal Christian Church. It teaches the faith of the Nicene Creed
, that One God exists in three coequal and coeternal Persons—the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit—and that Jesus is the Son of God and Redeemer of humanity, uniting Christians through the rebirth of Baptism and the fellowship of the Eucharist. The liturgy of the ECC is similar to that of the Roman Catholic Church
, but it is politically independent and not under the jurisdiction of the Vatican
or the Roman hierarchy and thus is one of the "Independent Catholic Churches
." While the ECC shares the core Christian beliefs with the Roman Church and most Protestant and Orthodox denominations, it is more liberal on many social issues.
, in 1987. The first edition of the ECC canon law was completed and ratified on the Feast of the Baptism of Our Lord, January 11, 1987(p. 27). The church organization was incorporated in California on March 10, 1987. The first publicly announced service of St. John Ecumenical Catholic Church was held at 10:30 a.m. on the 15th Sunday after Pentecost, September 4, 1988, at the home chapel of Fr. Mark Shirilau and Deacon Jeffery Shirilau in Santa Ana, California. Nine persons attended(p. 30)
Robert Oscar Simpson became the first person baptized in the Ecumenical Catholic Church on July 10, 1989, in his house in Los Angeles. Robert died of AIDS a few days later(p. 30)
On the Feast of Pentecost, May 19, 1991, Father Mark Steven Shirilau was consecrated bishop by Bishop Donald Lawrence Jolly at Bishop Donald's home chapel in San Bernardino, California
. At the same service, Deacon Jeffery Shirilau, a non-ordained deacon of the Metropolitan Community Church
, was ordained to the diaconate by Bishop Donald.
Bruce David LeBlanc, a community college professor, became the first priest ordained by Bishop Mark. He was ordained on July 27, 1991, in Pocatello, Idaho
(p. 35). Fr. Bruce was later consecrated bishop and now serves Holy Spirit Ecumenical Catholic Church in Moline, Illinois
.
The church grew rapidly across the United States in the early 1990s. In 1994 regional deans were appointed, and on July 8, 1995, the four deans were consecrated as bishops by Bishop Mark Shirilau at an ordination liturgy held at the First Congregational United Church of Christ in Santa Rosa, California
. The four new bishops were Robert Wayne Martin of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
, Michael Robert Frost of Plattsburgh, New York, Denis Armand Martel of New Orleans, Louisiana
, and Richard John Cardarelli of Hartford, Connecticut
. At the same liturgy the new bishops presented and vested Bishop Mark with a pallium
and proclaimed him archbishop; the pallium was a personal gift to Archbishop Mark from Bishop Daniel James Dahl of the Inclusive Orthodox Church in Honolulu, Hawaii
.
Nicene Creed
The Nicene Creed is the creed or profession of faith that is most widely used in Christian liturgy. It is called Nicene because, in its original form, it was adopted in the city of Nicaea by the first ecumenical council, which met there in the year 325.The Nicene Creed has been normative to the...
, that One God exists in three coequal and coeternal Persons—the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit—and that Jesus is the Son of God and Redeemer of humanity, uniting Christians through the rebirth of Baptism and the fellowship of the Eucharist. The liturgy of the ECC is similar to that of the Roman Catholic Church
Roman Catholic Church
The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the world's largest Christian church, with over a billion members. Led by the Pope, it defines its mission as spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ, administering the sacraments and exercising charity...
, but it is politically independent and not under the jurisdiction of the Vatican
Holy See
The Holy See is the episcopal jurisdiction of the Catholic Church in Rome, in which its Bishop is commonly known as the Pope. It is the preeminent episcopal see of the Catholic Church, forming the central government of the Church. As such, diplomatically, and in other spheres the Holy See acts and...
or the Roman hierarchy and thus is one of the "Independent Catholic Churches
Independent Catholic Churches
Independent Catholic churches are Catholic congregations that are not in communion with the Roman Catholic Church or any other churches whose sacraments are recognized by the Roman Catholic Church...
." While the ECC shares the core Christian beliefs with the Roman Church and most Protestant and Orthodox denominations, it is more liberal on many social issues.
History
The Ecumenical Catholic Church began in Santa Ana, CaliforniaSanta Ana, California
Santa Ana is the county seat and second most populous city in Orange County, California, and with a population of 324,528 at the 2010 census, Santa Ana is the 57th-most populous city in the United States....
, in 1987. The first edition of the ECC canon law was completed and ratified on the Feast of the Baptism of Our Lord, January 11, 1987(p. 27). The church organization was incorporated in California on March 10, 1987. The first publicly announced service of St. John Ecumenical Catholic Church was held at 10:30 a.m. on the 15th Sunday after Pentecost, September 4, 1988, at the home chapel of Fr. Mark Shirilau and Deacon Jeffery Shirilau in Santa Ana, California. Nine persons attended(p. 30)
Robert Oscar Simpson became the first person baptized in the Ecumenical Catholic Church on July 10, 1989, in his house in Los Angeles. Robert died of AIDS a few days later(p. 30)
On the Feast of Pentecost, May 19, 1991, Father Mark Steven Shirilau was consecrated bishop by Bishop Donald Lawrence Jolly at Bishop Donald's home chapel in San Bernardino, California
San Bernardino, California
San Bernardino is a city located in the Riverside-San Bernardino metropolitan area , and serves as the county seat of San Bernardino County, California, United States...
. At the same service, Deacon Jeffery Shirilau, a non-ordained deacon of the Metropolitan Community Church
Metropolitan Community Church
The Metropolitan Community Church or The Universal Fellowship of Metropolitan Community Churches is an international Protestant Christian denomination...
, was ordained to the diaconate by Bishop Donald.
Bruce David LeBlanc, a community college professor, became the first priest ordained by Bishop Mark. He was ordained on July 27, 1991, in Pocatello, Idaho
Pocatello, Idaho
Pocatello is the county seat and largest city of Bannock County, with a small portion on the Fort Hall Indian Reservation in neighboring Power County, in the southeastern part of the U.S. state of Idaho. It is the principal city of the Pocatello metropolitan area, which encompasses all of Bannock...
(p. 35). Fr. Bruce was later consecrated bishop and now serves Holy Spirit Ecumenical Catholic Church in Moline, Illinois
Moline, Illinois
Moline is a city located in Rock Island County, Illinois, United States, with a population of 45,792 in 2010. Moline is one of the Quad Cities, along with neighboring East Moline and Rock Island in Illinois and the cities of Davenport and Bettendorf in Iowa. The Quad Cities has a population of...
.
The church grew rapidly across the United States in the early 1990s. In 1994 regional deans were appointed, and on July 8, 1995, the four deans were consecrated as bishops by Bishop Mark Shirilau at an ordination liturgy held at the First Congregational United Church of Christ in Santa Rosa, California
Santa Rosa, California
Santa Rosa is the county seat of Sonoma County, California, United States. The 2010 census reported a population of 167,815. Santa Rosa is the largest city in California's Wine Country and fifth largest city in the San Francisco Bay Area, after San Jose, San Francisco, Oakland, and Fremont and 26th...
. The four new bishops were Robert Wayne Martin of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
Oklahoma City is the capital and the largest city in the state of Oklahoma. The county seat of Oklahoma County, the city ranks 31st among United States cities in population. The city's population, from the 2010 census, was 579,999, with a metro-area population of 1,252,987 . In 2010, the Oklahoma...
, Michael Robert Frost of Plattsburgh, New York, Denis Armand Martel of New Orleans, Louisiana
New Orleans, Louisiana
New Orleans is a major United States port and the largest city and metropolitan area in the state of Louisiana. The New Orleans metropolitan area has a population of 1,235,650 as of 2009, the 46th largest in the USA. The New Orleans – Metairie – Bogalusa combined statistical area has a population...
, and Richard John Cardarelli of Hartford, Connecticut
Hartford, Connecticut
Hartford is the capital of the U.S. state of Connecticut. The seat of Hartford County until Connecticut disbanded county government in 1960, it is the second most populous city on New England's largest river, the Connecticut River. As of the 2010 Census, Hartford's population was 124,775, making...
. At the same liturgy the new bishops presented and vested Bishop Mark with a pallium
Pallium
The pallium is an ecclesiastical vestment in the Roman Catholic Church, originally peculiar to the Pope, but for many centuries bestowed by him on metropolitans and primates as a symbol of the jurisdiction delegated to them by the Holy See. In that context it has always remained unambiguously...
and proclaimed him archbishop; the pallium was a personal gift to Archbishop Mark from Bishop Daniel James Dahl of the Inclusive Orthodox Church in Honolulu, Hawaii
Honolulu, Hawaii
Honolulu is the capital and the most populous city of the U.S. state of Hawaii. Honolulu is the southernmost major U.S. city. Although the name "Honolulu" refers to the urban area on the southeastern shore of the island of Oahu, the city and county government are consolidated as the City and...
.