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Frequently Asked Questions
By Abbot-Bishop Brian E. Brown, OSH | November 5, 2009
“Wisdom calls aloud in the street, she raises her voice in the public squares; at the head of the noisy streets she cries out, in the gateways of the city she makes her speech: How long will you simple ones love your simple ways? How long will mockers delight in mockery and fools hate knowledge?” -Proverbs 1:20-22
Frequently Asked Questions
If you have a question that you would like to ask us, first look over the list of questions we have to date to see if yours is answered. If not, please leave a comment and we’ll answer your question as quickly as possible adding your question and our answer to this FAQ section.
What is Christ’s Catholic Church?
Christ’s Catholic Church is an ecumenical free catholic communion that is a grouping / gathering / umbrella organization / friendly association / communion / fellowship / family of ecclesiastical jurisdictions, led by validly consecrated bishops within the Apostolic Succession, all of which are completely autocephalous or self-governing. We have come together for purposes of unity, collegiality, friendship, comradery, fellowship, and support. We attempt to pool and share resources like a “clearinghouse” and are trying to gather particular benefits that can only be secured through being part of a larger group than any one of our associate member jurisdictions are by themselves.
While we are a “church” in the spirit of “koinonia” or “community” spoken of in the New Testament, Christ’s Catholic Church is not an “individual independent church” unto itself with rigid dogma, doctrine, or authoritative national canons but rather it is a “community of communities” or a “family of families.” It is an umbrella organization created for the sole purpose of uniting various ecclesiastical jurisdictions within the autocephalous sacramental movement in the love of Christ, His Church, and the Sacraments.
How large is Christ’s Catholic Church?
We are still very small but we are growing. Currently we have a membership of 12 associate member jurisdictions scattered across the United States. Our membership is open to all autocephalous sacramental ministries, under the protection of a bishop, that would subscribe to our Code of Canons and Declaration of Common Faith, Purpose, and Intercommunion.
What is the Code of Canons and what is it designed to do?
The word canon simply means “rule” and so our Code of Canons are the rules of the organization. There are currently only 12. They are designed to define and limit the authority of Christ’s Catholic Church and her Convening Bishops thus guaranteeing the autonomy and the sanctity of the autocephalous reality of her associate member jurisdictions. They simply govern the interaction between bishops of the communion in the Ecumenical Synod, set forth policies for entrance into the communion, define the narrow role of the Convening Bishops, and voice support for the policies and procedures of associate members jurisdictional canons. They do not in any way deal with or infringe upon the local ministry of the associate member jurisdictions, its clergy, its laity, its own canons, dogma, doctrine, or polity. Please read The Code of Canons.
What is the Declaration of Common Faith, Purpose, and Intercommunion?
It is the instrument with which we achieve intercommunion with like minded bodies of believers. It is a document that informs and shapes rather than one that governs and binds. It informs who and what Christ’s Catholic Church is about, our purpose, our faith, and our vision. Please read The Declaration of Common Faith, Purpose, and Intercommunion.
Are these two documents open to change or are they carved in stone?
These two foundational documents are living documents that will change and grow as the CCC changes and grows. They are open to changes, interpretation, discussion and are even revocable as the Holy Spirit leads the Ecumenical Synod. Every member of the communion has a voice and may propose changes, amendments or revocation as they feel called. These two documents simply provide a loose framework on which to build our unified group of friends and family. They serve the people, the people do not serve them. We strive to be an association ruled by love rather than an association ruled by law.
Does Christ’s Catholic Church have a basic core belief that it and its members share?
We confess the revelation of God in and through His Son, Jesus Christ, and are a Church consecrated to the task of spreading the importance of that revelation to the entire world. We believe in the Trinity — one God in three — God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit. We further hold that Jesus Christ, the second Person in the Trinity, is God and yet Man; that He was incarnated in the womb of the Virgin Mary; that he was crucified, died and was buried; that he rose again; and that He ascended into Heaven. He left as His ever-present witness in the world the Holy Spirit, whom we hold is the voice of God speaking in scripture, history, and in our individual souls. Where two or three are gathered together in Christ’s Name, there is He in the midst.
We further believe in His eternal witness, and that the Church is an essential part of the Spirit’s revelation. It is to this end that we are further dedicated to the unification of that Holy, Catholic (universal), and Apostolic Church, and to pledge ourselves to the struggle to follow and understand the historical traditions throughout all branches of Christ’s Church. We trust, as did the ancient Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic Church, that the Holy Spirit will lead us in this.
We offer ourselves as a Church home to all who confess and believe in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, regardless of their state of grace; and we would not exclude anyone from our fellowship, for we are committed to the principle that all are the Children of God and that “while we were yet sinners Christ died for us.” Saint or sinner, we would exclude none from the joyful response in which we embrace the gifts of the Holy Spirit and the life to which we are called. We witness to Christ who lives and loves; therefore, we are free to commit ourselves to each other, and to live and love.
Christ’s Catholic Church historically embraces the traditional Seven Sacraments. All are prescribed by the Holy Scriptures and confirmed by God’s continual revelation. It is obligatory on professing Christians and members of this Church that they avail themselves of the Sacraments, especially Baptism, Communion, Confirmation, and Reconciliation, as far as is appropriate to their vocation and station in life, as acts of love and devotion, but none are to be considered conditions for Salvation. Faith in Christ is all that man needs for his soul’s salvation.
In the spirit of historic Catholic and ecumenical concord we hold that all worship done in the Name of Christ and in the presence of the Holy Spirit is acceptable unto Him.
Who leads Christ’s Catholic Church?
The Ecumenical Synod leads Christ’s Catholic Church, but the Convening Bishops are empowered to serve the Ecumenical Synod in absentia but they must do so through unanimity in all things. They are also the only legal members of the corporation. The Convening Bishops have no authority outside of the Ecumenical Synod’s empowerment, meaning they cannot interfere with member jurisdictions in any way. Further, as we have envisioned, the Ecumenical Synod has final authority in all things. The Convening Bishopric is simply a “gatekeeper” position and a focal point for administrative needs and outreach, nothing more.
I noticed the Convening Bishop’s term is for life. I don’t like that and it sends up red flags for me. I want to be a Convening Bishop some day. How about that?
The reason we chose a life term in the beginning is to protect the EFCC from a “hostile take-over.” We think we have hold of a radical construct for the communion and have wished to protect the vision until such time as Christ’s Catholic Church is large enough to function safely. All too often in the ASM we have seen a wonderful vision of one jurisdiction or another crushed by “new leadership” with “scarlet fever.” We didn’t want that to happen to us. There is a growing sense in the CCC that with the support of the Ecumenical Synod that this “lifetime term” for the Convening Bishops will be revoked and three year alternating terms will be imposed so that every year at the Ecumenical Synod a new Convening Bishop will be elected. Join, support the change, and you just might become the next Convening Bishop.
Is there any fee to join or dues to pay?
Absolutely not! None! Never have been.
What do I have to give up in order to join?
One need give up only isolation and perhaps a little time. We encourage the members of the communion to be as involved with other members of the communion as they are able and also to participate in some way in the yearly Ecumenical Synod. We’ve joined together for fellowship and so that is what is encouraged but nothing is forced. Individual associate member jurisdictions retain their own dogma, doctrine, canons, polity, liturgy, worship practices, and internal workings and must give up none of that. They are autocephalous and autonomous.
So, let me get this straight, a ministry under the protection of a validly consecrated bishop can join Christ’s Catholic Church for free, give up nothing, and then actually offer change to the established Code of Canons and Declaration of Common Faith, Purpose, and Intercommunion without surrendering any of their autonomy; all in the pursuit of unity founded upon a love of Christ, His Church, and the Sacraments while at the same time taking advantage of any current benefits and future benefits the CCC might offer?
Yes, yes, yes, exactly!
Sounds too good to be true. There’s got to be a catch. What are you really after?
We each want to be part of something bigger than we are individually and we want fellowship and comradery. Simply, we seek that state of being that Jesus prayed for, that we all might be one. That’s it. We just want to call you friend and walk along the path with you following our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ in a community centered on a love of Him, His Church, and the Sacraments. In one word, unity, that’s what we’re after.
This unity thing has been tried before, what makes you think you’ll succeed? I don’t see any “big name” independent catholics in your list of membership.
The journey towards unity begins with a single step, and we’ve taken that first step. The journey continues by laying aside our own individual egos, by giving up what we believe WE must have, by taking our focus off of our OWN needs and desires and putting it squarely on our fellow workers in the vineyard. It’s only when we truly surrender ourselves that we can focus on our brother or sister and find a measure of shared unity.
The autocephalous sacramental movement is full of people who must have things their own way before they can even come to the table for discussion. Things must be in perfect alignment with their own individual thoughts, practices, and beliefs before they can even begin to entertain the idea of unity. This is is not unity, this is selfishness. Unity is rooted in mutual caring and mutual discovery and is fed by self-sacrifice and a desire to see another succeed. It is spurred on by a desire to be something more than an island unto ourselves and it seeks out others for fellowship and mutual support. Much like love, unity does not demand its own way.
We know that we will never be able to bring everyone to the table but we hope those who share our vision. would join us. We’ve really already succeeded, if only with the wonderful group of folks we have gathered thus far. The door is open for all who would come and join us, as are our hearts.
I don’t have a bishop but I do have a ministry. How can I be part of the CCC?
It is catholic tradition, understanding, and practice that the fullness of ministerial authority rests in the Office of the Episcopacy. Every ministry associated with Christ’s Catholic Church must have a valdily consecrated bishop within the Apostolic Succession. When a ministry is applying for membership in Christ’s Catholic Church but does not have a bishop there are several options: they may elect one of their own to serve as their bishop and approach the CCC for consecration and membership, they may choose to come under the protection of a bishop already a member of Christ’s Catholic Church, they may find a bishop outside of the CCC who will become a member. We have no wish to turn anyone away but at the same time we feel it necessary to adhere to historic catholic tradition, understanding, and practice in this matter.
I don’t like bishops. I don’t trust bishops. I don’t want a bishop. I want to be in control of my own ministry. So what do I do?
We might recommend searching out a Lutheran group or any number of wonderful Protestant organizations to aid you in your ministry. We don’t claim to be the one true path nor do we claim to have all the answers. We do claim to be catholic though, and to those ends we support the ancient scriptural position the episcopacy has held in the Church Universal since its foundation. While Christ’s Catholic Church proper might not be a place for you we would be happy to assist you in finding a place for your ministry. We hold ministerial alliances with several fine Christian organizations that might be suitable for your needs.
I’m already ordained (priest or deacon) and would like to incardinate into the Christ’s Catholic Church. Is that possible?
Yes, contact one of the Convening Bishops or choose one of the member jurisdictions and contact the bishop of that jurisdiction. We’ll be happy to talk to you and try and help you find the associate jurisdiction where you fit in the best. We’re always looking for dedicated priests and deacons to join us!
“And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.”
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