We are a small church with long roots in the Old Catholic Church movement in the USA. A couple of years ago, we separated from another independent Catholic church because our clergy and people wanted to more positively witness the liturgy and beliefs of the Roman Catholic Church, especially regarding the Blessed Virgin Mary. At the same time, we remain independent of the Roman Catholic Church in all matters, with particular reference to papal infallibility and authority, remarriage after a divorce, family planning, clerical celibacy, and ordination of women. Our specific beliefs recommendations regarding these issues are presented elsewhere on this website. Being a theologically open and ecumenical church, we make all sacraments available to anyone who believes in the divinity and teachings of Jesus Christ. Specifically, the sacrament of Holy Orders at all levels (deacon, priest, bishop) is open to both men and women. Indeed, women who are ordained as deacons, priests, and bishops serve with the same rights, privileges, responsibilities, and obligations as our male deacons, priests, and bishops. We are a missionary church. Even though ministry within our church takes many forms, every clergyperson must have an active ministry that is specifically designed to actualize our church's mission statement. +Our clergy serve as pastors of congregations; as chaplains to nursing homes, police and fire departments, prisons, and hospitals; and as pastoral directors of religious institutions. Many of our clergy hold a full-time secular job through which they support family and ministry. Some, however, serve as pastors of congregations that support them financially. We are worker-priests (deacons, bishops) who live in the world and bring Christ into this world both in the workplace and at the Altar. There are many places and ways for you to serve Christ as a clergyperson in the ECC+USA and/or as a member of one of our congregations, several religious orders and institutes. If you think you might be interested in joining with us in the Lord's ministry, let's talk. Welcome and blessings, +Rev. Robert A. Catlett, Jr., M.Div.Presiding Bishop
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