Ecumenical Catholic Communion
Encyclopedia
The Ecumenical Catholic Communion (ECC) is an Independent Catholic Church. Its members understand themselves as following the Catholic tradition without being in communion with the Bishop of Rome. The ECC is a confederation of independent communities based in the United States. It differs from Roman Catholic practice in a number of key areas such as: the ordination
of married men to the priesthood and from Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox practice in allowing married men in the episcopacy, the ordination of women
, the acceptance and ordination of people of all sexual orientations, and allowing marriage after divorce (although Orthodoxy does permit divorced people to remarry under certain circumstances).
The ECC has been identified as being distinct from most other independent Catholic movements because of its number of affiliated communities and the ratio of clergy
to laity
. Many independent Catholic churches have few communities and consist mainly of bishops and priests with few lay members. In contrast, the ECC has a wider geographic spread and will only incardinate ordained clergy or ordain new priests if they have a community in which to minister. The membership of the ECC, in the region of 2,500, includes two bishops, 30 communities across 12 states and more than 80 priests and deacons.
and counts the The Declaration of Utrecht among its foundational sources although it is not in communion with the Old Catholic Church of Utrecht. Peter Elder Hickman, the current Presiding Bishop of the ECC, has been key to the evolution of the communion. Originally ordained for the American Baptists, Hickman was drawn to the liturgical elements of the Catholic tradition but had difficulties with some elements of the structure and disciplines of Roman Catholicism. Hickman found a compromise between Roman Catholic sacramental practice and the authority of Rome in an Old Catholic Church community in East Los Angeles. After being ordained a priest in the Old Catholic Church, Hickman saw the potential to start a new community and founded St Matthew Church in Orange County at the end of 1985.
Over time, the community of St. Matthew's grew in number and changed locations, worshipping in mortuary and wedding chapels, before being able to acquire its own building. A number of former Roman Catholic priests joined St. Matthew's church and new communities began to be established. In 1995, the St. Matthew's community decided to seek episcopal ordination for Hickman. To this end, he was put forward as a candidate for the episcopacy to the bishops of the Ecumenical Communion of Catholic and Apostolic Churches. In May 1996, Hickman was ordained a bishop by three independent Old Catholic bishops (i.e. not in communion with Utrecht) and, as a result, was considered to be in the apostolic succession. The ECC was formally established as a national ecclesial organization on September 19, 2003.
A number of communities sought affiliation with the St. Matthew's community and then, after 2003, membership of the ECC. The new communities required ordained leadership and this has resulted in a number of ordinations of both women and men. In 1997, Patricia McElroy became the first woman to be ordained a deacon
by Bishop Hickman. In 2000, Hickman ordained Kathy McCarthy to the priesthood, the first such ordination for the ECC. In the following year, the high profile ordination of Mary Ramerman
was considered controversial by the Roman Catholic hierarchy but was supported by some who advocate the ordination of women in the Catholic tradition.
These elements include:
Additionally, the ECC affirms The Declaration of Utrecht (1889) of the Old Catholic Church
which rejected papal jurisdiction and papal infallibility
, although the ECC does not completely reject the place of the Bishop of Rome, regarding him as first-among-equals, as was the case during the first millennium. However, reconciliation with the Holy See
would be impossible without reform in key areas of disagreement.
The ECC also have their own Distinctive Foundational Teachings of the Ecumenical Catholic Communion, which are seen as an application of Gospel
teaching to a contemporary context:
The ECC is open to Christians from other denominations participating in the sacramental life of the communion. In contrast, those Catholics in communion with the Bishop of Rome preclude other Christians from participating in sacraments such as the Eucharist
.
While affirming the value of ministry of people whether they are lay or ordained, single or celibate people, the ECC allows the ordination of men and women who are married.
While acknowledging the trauma of divorce, the ECC allows the marriage of people who have been divorced without the process of obtaining an annulment
.
Members of the ECC are encouraged to be guided by their consciences when making ethical decisions concerning issues such as artificial birth control.
of the communion consists of, "the Presiding Bishop in collaboration with the House of Laity, the House of Pastors, and the Episcopal Council." When the synod is not in session, the governance of the communion is carried by the Leadership Council, except where authority is reserved to the Presiding Bishop, the Episcopal Council, the House of Laity or the House of Pastors. The Leadership Council, "is a group the Presiding Bishop and an equal number of representatives from each of the House of Laity and House of Pastors, who shall normally be the elected officers of those Houses."
Bishop Hickman was the only bishop of the communion until late 2009, when the Ecumenical Anglican Church (EAC) joined the ECC. At that stage, Bishop Richard Hollingsworth of the EAC also joined the communion, but relinquished juridical authority within the ECC. Should another diocese be established, Bishop Hollingsworth would be eligible for election to this role.
One of the most significant theological questions raised by the existence of the ECC is its claim of catholicity. For some, the term "Catholic" may only be used by those in communion with the Church of Rome
. Others find it unhelpful to use the term 'Roman Catholic' to distinguish the churches or dioceses in full communion
with the Pope as this neglects those Eastern and Coptic Catholics who are in communion with the See of Peter. Dioceses or churches in communion with the See of Rome can have their own cultural nuances that are not Roman in nature. Other Christian churches take very seriously their claim to catholicity as they recite the words of the Nicene Creed
and affirm belief in “one holy catholic and apostolic church.” even though these groups may not have the word ‘Catholic’ in as part of their name.
For individuals, the question of Catholic identity may be very personal. There are many people who deeply identify themselves as Catholic, but can no longer accept the rulings of the papacy when it comes to matters of homosexuality and women's participation. Churches such as the ECC have played a role in the lives of some people who come from this experience.
The Roman Catholic Church itself recognizes that there are churches not in communion with Rome which possess apostolic succession
and thus valid sacraments. However, when referring to apostolic succession
, a distinction can be drawn between a minimalist understanding and a broader understanding of the term. A minimalist understanding highlights that bishops can trace their own ordination back to the Apostles whilst a broader understanding speaks of handing on the faith of the Apostles. What remains then are questions about how the apostolic faith is to be interpreted in contemporary contexts.
Throughout the history of Christianity
, there have been a number of schisms
brought about by various circumstances. These have included the Great Schism
between Eastern and Western Christianity, the Protestant Reformation
and the English Reformation
. Other events have involved the Catholic Church in communion with the Pope and Old Catholics or the Society of St. Pius X
. The ecumenical movement has been an attempt to reconcile some of these divisions. These attempts at reconciliation are further complicated by divergent approaches to questions such as the ordination of women
.
From one perspective, the catholicity of a church may be seen as dependant on that church having sacraments celebrated by a validly ordained priest. Some groups celebrate sacraments which the Holy See consides to be valid but illicit
; examples would be the Old Catholic Church, the Polish National Catholic Church
and well as the aforementioned Society of St. Pius X. With the ECC, what is being considered is an entity that is not considered to be in communion with either the Holy See or the Old Catholics of Utrecht. There is also the additional question of the ordination of women, which the papacy does not consider to be possible. The schisms that have occurred in the history of Christianity have sometimes been attributed to disputes about what has been a valid exercise of papal authority. While it is clear that papal authority has evolved over time, some argue that not all of these developments have gained the necessary assent from all Christians, and are thus questionable. In the final analysis, the issues of catholicity and authority are complex and judgements made are based on varying positions within numerous Christian traditions.
Living Hope, Faith and Freedom Ecumenical Catholic Church
Ramove Catholic Church
Ordination
In general religious use, ordination is the process by which individuals are consecrated, that is, set apart as clergy to perform various religious rites and ceremonies. The process and ceremonies of ordination itself varies by religion and denomination. One who is in preparation for, or who is...
of married men to the priesthood and from Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox practice in allowing married men in the episcopacy, the ordination of women
Ordination of women
Ordination in general religious usage is the process by which a person is consecrated . The ordination of women is a regular practice among some major religious groups, as it was of several religions of antiquity...
, the acceptance and ordination of people of all sexual orientations, and allowing marriage after divorce (although Orthodoxy does permit divorced people to remarry under certain circumstances).
The ECC has been identified as being distinct from most other independent Catholic movements because of its number of affiliated communities and the ratio of clergy
Clergy
Clergy is the generic term used to describe the formal religious leadership within a given religion. A clergyman, churchman or cleric is a member of the clergy, especially one who is a priest, preacher, pastor, or other religious professional....
to laity
Laity
In religious organizations, the laity comprises all people who are not in the clergy. A person who is a member of a religious order who is not ordained legitimate clergy is considered as a member of the laity, even though they are members of a religious order .In the past in Christian cultures, the...
. Many independent Catholic churches have few communities and consist mainly of bishops and priests with few lay members. In contrast, the ECC has a wider geographic spread and will only incardinate ordained clergy or ordain new priests if they have a community in which to minister. The membership of the ECC, in the region of 2,500, includes two bishops, 30 communities across 12 states and more than 80 priests and deacons.
History
The Ecumenical Catholic Communion professes that its roots are to be found in the Old Catholic ChurchOld Catholic Church
The term Old Catholic Church is commonly used to describe a number of Ultrajectine Christian churches that originated with groups that split from the Roman Catholic Church over certain doctrines, most importantly that of Papal Infallibility...
and counts the The Declaration of Utrecht among its foundational sources although it is not in communion with the Old Catholic Church of Utrecht. Peter Elder Hickman, the current Presiding Bishop of the ECC, has been key to the evolution of the communion. Originally ordained for the American Baptists, Hickman was drawn to the liturgical elements of the Catholic tradition but had difficulties with some elements of the structure and disciplines of Roman Catholicism. Hickman found a compromise between Roman Catholic sacramental practice and the authority of Rome in an Old Catholic Church community in East Los Angeles. After being ordained a priest in the Old Catholic Church, Hickman saw the potential to start a new community and founded St Matthew Church in Orange County at the end of 1985.
Over time, the community of St. Matthew's grew in number and changed locations, worshipping in mortuary and wedding chapels, before being able to acquire its own building. A number of former Roman Catholic priests joined St. Matthew's church and new communities began to be established. In 1995, the St. Matthew's community decided to seek episcopal ordination for Hickman. To this end, he was put forward as a candidate for the episcopacy to the bishops of the Ecumenical Communion of Catholic and Apostolic Churches. In May 1996, Hickman was ordained a bishop by three independent Old Catholic bishops (i.e. not in communion with Utrecht) and, as a result, was considered to be in the apostolic succession. The ECC was formally established as a national ecclesial organization on September 19, 2003.
A number of communities sought affiliation with the St. Matthew's community and then, after 2003, membership of the ECC. The new communities required ordained leadership and this has resulted in a number of ordinations of both women and men. In 1997, Patricia McElroy became the first woman to be ordained a deacon
Deacon
Deacon is a ministry in the Christian Church that is generally associated with service of some kind, but which varies among theological and denominational traditions...
by Bishop Hickman. In 2000, Hickman ordained Kathy McCarthy to the priesthood, the first such ordination for the ECC. In the following year, the high profile ordination of Mary Ramerman
Mary Ramerman
Mary Ramerman is one of the founders of the Spiritus Christi church in Rochester, New York. Ramerman, a convert to Catholicism from Methodism who wished to become a priest, was encouraged by the Reverend James Callan, who was serving as Administrator of Corpus Christi parish in Rochester, to...
was considered controversial by the Roman Catholic hierarchy but was supported by some who advocate the ordination of women in the Catholic tradition.
Belief
The constitution of the Ecumenical Catholic Communion affirms faith in elements common to other adherents of the Catholic tradition.These elements include:
- The person of Jesus Christ
- The place of the one catholic and apostolic church
- The Christian Scriptures considered canonicalCanonicalCanonical is an adjective derived from canon. Canon comes from the greek word κανών kanon, "rule" or "measuring stick" , and is used in various meanings....
by the historical Catholic Church - The seven Sacraments
- The Nicene Creed
Additionally, the ECC affirms The Declaration of Utrecht (1889) of the Old Catholic Church
Old Catholic Church
The term Old Catholic Church is commonly used to describe a number of Ultrajectine Christian churches that originated with groups that split from the Roman Catholic Church over certain doctrines, most importantly that of Papal Infallibility...
which rejected papal jurisdiction and papal infallibility
Papal infallibility
Papal infallibility is a dogma of the Catholic Church which states that, by action of the Holy Spirit, the Pope is preserved from even the possibility of error when in his official capacity he solemnly declares or promulgates to the universal Church a dogmatic teaching on faith or morals...
, although the ECC does not completely reject the place of the Bishop of Rome, regarding him as first-among-equals, as was the case during the first millennium. However, reconciliation with the Holy See
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...
would be impossible without reform in key areas of disagreement.
The ECC also have their own Distinctive Foundational Teachings of the Ecumenical Catholic Communion, which are seen as an application of Gospel
Gospel
A gospel is an account, often written, that describes the life of Jesus of Nazareth. In a more general sense the term "gospel" may refer to the good news message of the New Testament. It is primarily used in reference to the four canonical gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John...
teaching to a contemporary context:
- Invitation to the Sacramental Life
The ECC is open to Christians from other denominations participating in the sacramental life of the communion. In contrast, those Catholics in communion with the Bishop of Rome preclude other Christians from participating in sacraments such as the Eucharist
Eucharist
The Eucharist , also called Holy Communion, the Sacrament of the Altar, the Blessed Sacrament, the Lord's Supper, and other names, is a Christian sacrament or ordinance...
.
- Invitation to Co-equal Ministry
While affirming the value of ministry of people whether they are lay or ordained, single or celibate people, the ECC allows the ordination of men and women who are married.
- Invitation to Intimate Commitment
While acknowledging the trauma of divorce, the ECC allows the marriage of people who have been divorced without the process of obtaining an annulment
Annulment
Annulment is a legal procedure for declaring a marriage null and void. Unlike divorce, it is usually retroactive, meaning that an annulled marriage is considered to be invalid from the beginning almost as if it had never taken place...
.
- Invitation to follow ConscienceConscienceConscience is an aptitude, faculty, intuition or judgment of the intellect that distinguishes right from wrong. Moral judgement may derive from values or norms...
Members of the ECC are encouraged to be guided by their consciences when making ethical decisions concerning issues such as artificial birth control.
Governance
The Ecumenical Catholic Communion has a synodal model of governance. The synodSynod
A synod historically is a council of a church, usually convened to decide an issue of doctrine, administration or application. In modern usage, the word often refers to the governing body of a particular church, whether its members are meeting or not...
of the communion consists of, "the Presiding Bishop in collaboration with the House of Laity, the House of Pastors, and the Episcopal Council." When the synod is not in session, the governance of the communion is carried by the Leadership Council, except where authority is reserved to the Presiding Bishop, the Episcopal Council, the House of Laity or the House of Pastors. The Leadership Council, "is a group the Presiding Bishop and an equal number of representatives from each of the House of Laity and House of Pastors, who shall normally be the elected officers of those Houses."
Bishop Hickman was the only bishop of the communion until late 2009, when the Ecumenical Anglican Church (EAC) joined the ECC. At that stage, Bishop Richard Hollingsworth of the EAC also joined the communion, but relinquished juridical authority within the ECC. Should another diocese be established, Bishop Hollingsworth would be eligible for election to this role.
Catholicity and apostolic authority
It is not within the scope of this article to address all of the theological matters concerning the Ecumenical Catholic Communion. Even less appropriate for this article, is any attempt to make theological conclusions about controversial issues. However, there is a place for bringing to notice some important questions.One of the most significant theological questions raised by the existence of the ECC is its claim of catholicity. For some, the term "Catholic" may only be used by those in communion with the Church of Rome
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...
. Others find it unhelpful to use the term 'Roman Catholic' to distinguish the churches or dioceses in full communion
Full communion
In Christian ecclesiology, full communion is a relationship between church organizations or groups that mutually recognize their sharing the essential doctrines....
with the Pope as this neglects those Eastern and Coptic Catholics who are in communion with the See of Peter. Dioceses or churches in communion with the See of Rome can have their own cultural nuances that are not Roman in nature. Other Christian churches take very seriously their claim to catholicity as they recite the words of the Nicene Creed
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...
and affirm belief in “one holy catholic and apostolic church.” even though these groups may not have the word ‘Catholic’ in as part of their name.
For individuals, the question of Catholic identity may be very personal. There are many people who deeply identify themselves as Catholic, but can no longer accept the rulings of the papacy when it comes to matters of homosexuality and women's participation. Churches such as the ECC have played a role in the lives of some people who come from this experience.
The Roman Catholic Church itself recognizes that there are churches not in communion with Rome which possess apostolic succession
Apostolic Succession
Apostolic succession is a doctrine, held by some Christian denominations, which asserts that the chosen successors of the Twelve Apostles, from the first century to the present day, have inherited the spiritual, ecclesiastical and sacramental authority, power, and responsibility that were...
and thus valid sacraments. However, when referring to apostolic succession
Apostolic Succession
Apostolic succession is a doctrine, held by some Christian denominations, which asserts that the chosen successors of the Twelve Apostles, from the first century to the present day, have inherited the spiritual, ecclesiastical and sacramental authority, power, and responsibility that were...
, a distinction can be drawn between a minimalist understanding and a broader understanding of the term. A minimalist understanding highlights that bishops can trace their own ordination back to the Apostles whilst a broader understanding speaks of handing on the faith of the Apostles. What remains then are questions about how the apostolic faith is to be interpreted in contemporary contexts.
Throughout the history of Christianity
History of Christianity
The history of Christianity concerns the Christian religion, its followers and the Church with its various denominations, from the first century to the present. Christianity was founded in the 1st century by the followers of Jesus of Nazareth who they believed to be the Christ or chosen one of God...
, there have been a number of schisms
Schism (religion)
A schism , from Greek σχίσμα, skhísma , is a division between people, usually belonging to an organization or movement religious denomination. The word is most frequently applied to a break of communion between two sections of Christianity that were previously a single body, or to a division within...
brought about by various circumstances. These have included the Great Schism
East–West Schism
The East–West Schism of 1054, sometimes known as the Great Schism, formally divided the State church of the Roman Empire into Eastern and Western branches, which later became known as the Eastern Orthodox Church and the Roman Catholic Church, respectively...
between Eastern and Western Christianity, the Protestant Reformation
Protestant Reformation
The Protestant Reformation was a 16th-century split within Western Christianity initiated by Martin Luther, John Calvin and other early Protestants. The efforts of the self-described "reformers", who objected to the doctrines, rituals and ecclesiastical structure of the Roman Catholic Church, led...
and the English Reformation
English Reformation
The English Reformation was the series of events in 16th-century England by which the Church of England broke away from the authority of the Pope and the Roman Catholic Church....
. Other events have involved the Catholic Church in communion with the Pope and Old Catholics or the Society of St. Pius X
Society of St. Pius X
The Society of Saint Pius X is an international Traditionalist Catholic organisation, founded in 1970 by the French archbishop Marcel Lefebvre...
. The ecumenical movement has been an attempt to reconcile some of these divisions. These attempts at reconciliation are further complicated by divergent approaches to questions such as the ordination of women
Ordination of women
Ordination in general religious usage is the process by which a person is consecrated . The ordination of women is a regular practice among some major religious groups, as it was of several religions of antiquity...
.
From one perspective, the catholicity of a church may be seen as dependant on that church having sacraments celebrated by a validly ordained priest. Some groups celebrate sacraments which the Holy See consides to be valid but illicit
Valid but illicit
Valid but illicit, also known as valid but illegal, as it pertains to Roman Catholicism, refers to the unauthorized but valid celebration of the sacraments, especially regarding the ordinations of clergy. In the Roman Catholic Church several kinds of people have authority to celebrate the sacraments...
; examples would be the Old Catholic Church, the Polish National Catholic Church
Polish National Catholic Church
The Polish National Catholic Church is a Christian church founded and based in the United States by Polish-Americans who were Roman Catholic. The PNCC is a breakaway Catholic Church in dialogue with the Catholic Church; it seeks full communion with the Holy See although it differs theologically...
and well as the aforementioned Society of St. Pius X. With the ECC, what is being considered is an entity that is not considered to be in communion with either the Holy See or the Old Catholics of Utrecht. There is also the additional question of the ordination of women, which the papacy does not consider to be possible. The schisms that have occurred in the history of Christianity have sometimes been attributed to disputes about what has been a valid exercise of papal authority. While it is clear that papal authority has evolved over time, some argue that not all of these developments have gained the necessary assent from all Christians, and are thus questionable. In the final analysis, the issues of catholicity and authority are complex and judgements made are based on varying positions within numerous Christian traditions.
External links
Media reports
- 2005
- Catholic Church Tries Ex-Priest for Heresy
- 2006
- Some women seeking ordination won't wait for church's OK
- Faithful, Yet Not Traditional Catholics
- 2007
- Higher Calling
- 2008
- St. Louis Claims First Pregnant Catholic Priest
- 2009
- America's Second and Third Female Catholic Priests Ordained
- Denver Post Answering Priesthood's Call
Communities and ministries
- Arizona
- Saint Michael Ecumenical Catholic Church
- Arkansas
- San Damiano Church
- California
- Saint Matthew Church
- Catholic Church of the Holy Trinity
- Pathfinder Community of the Risen Christ
- Saint Andrew and Saint Paul
- All Saints American Catholic Church
- Colorado
- Church of the Holy Family
- The Church of St. Augustine
- Light of Christ Ecumenical Catholic Community
- Church of the Beloved
- Florida
- Holy Spirit Ecumenical Catholic Church
- Parish of Sts. Francis and Clare
- St. Marys Ecumenical Catholic Church
- Illinois
- Community of St. Francis
- St. Francis Virtual House of Studies
- Massachusetts
- Holy Spirit Catholic Community
- Minnesota
Living Hope, Faith and Freedom Ecumenical Catholic Church
Ramove Catholic Church
- Missouri
- Saints Clare and Francis Ecumenical Catholic Community
- New Mexico
- Holy Family Ecumenical Catholic Church
- Pennsylvania
- All Souls Ecumenical Catholic Church
- Washington
- Spiritus Dei Ecumenical Catholic Community
- Emmaus - ECC
- St. Ignatius
- Brigid's Circle – Special Ministry
- Wisconsin
- Emmaus Ecumenical Catholic Community