CANONS OF THE INDEPENDENT CATHOLIC CHRISTIAN CHURCH
I. THE INDEPENDENT
CATHOLIC CHRISTIAN CHURCH
The Independent Catholic
Christian Church is an independent sacramental Christian Jurisdiction which is
a part of Christ’s One Holy Catholic and
II. GENERAL
GOVERNANCE
A. PRESIDING BISHOP
The general life of the Jurisdiction
as a whole shall be overseen by the Presiding Bishop, who shall serve until
death or resignation. In the absence of any bishops, the chapter of
canons shall elect a worthy priest to be consecrated a bishop by bishops of
other Jurisdictions to serve as Presiding Bishop.
The Presiding Bishop is a
servant to all the members of the Jurisdiction, and especially the
clergy. He or she shall have the responsibility for making certain that
the doctrine of the Church in accord with the Statement of Faith is
upheld. He or she shall make certain that the liturgy of word and
sacraments is reverently and validly celebrated in all congregations. He
or she shall strive to see that members and communities of the Jurisdiction,
and especially the clergy, work toward the healthiest Christian behavior and
relate to one another and the world in healthy ways. He or she shall be
devoted to prayer, the Eucharist, scripture, and balanced, healthy life and
spiritual disciplines so that his or her service to the Jurisdiction may always
be exercised in the healthiest and godliest way possible. He or she shall
be available to the bishops, clergy, and laity of the Jurisdiction to support
their faith journeys. He or she shall
uphold all the members of the Jurisdiction in prayer, and most especially in
the Eucharist, on a daily basis. He or
she shall visit all of the clergy and constituent ministries in person on a
regular basis, even annually if possible.
The Presiding Bishop is the
only person authorized to speak for the entire Jurisdiction.
B. CHAPTER OF CANONS
The Presiding Bishop shall
appoint a Chapter of Canons to advise him or her. The Canons may be either ordained or
lay. Their first duty is to pray for the
Presiding Bishop and all the members of the Jurisdiction on a daily basis. The Presiding Bishop and Chapter will gather
for prayer on a regular basis. The
Canons shall advise the Presiding Bishop on all matters of importance affecting
the life of the Jurisdiction. The Canons
shall be available to the members of the Jurisdiction, both clergy and lay, to
assist them in their Christian journey. The Canons shall serve as the Ecclesiastical Authority in the event of
the death or resignation of the Presiding Bishop, and shall elect a successor. The Presiding Bishop may appoint Honorary
Canons who are baptized Christians outside of the Jurisdiction who may offer
their advice without having voice and vote as do the official Canons. The Presiding Bishop and Chapter shall
maintain an Official Roster of all Canons of the Chapter.
II. CONSTITUENT
MINISTRIES OF THE JURISDICTION
The Presiding Bishop shall,
in consultation with the Chapter, welcome into the Jurisdiction Constituent Ministries
to serve in particular apostolates. These constituent ministries shall follow the Canons and other Policies
of this Jurisdiction. The Presiding
Bishop and Chapter shall maintain an Official Roster of all Constituent
Ministries of the Jurisdiction.
III. CLERGY
The major clergy of the
Independent Catholic Christian Church consists of those persons who have been
ordained to the diaconate, priesthood, or episcopate by a validly consecrated
Bishop (of this church or another) and who hold current public faculties from
the Presiding Bishop, whether permanent or probationary, as active clergy of
this church. While other clergypersons may join the Church as members,
they are not clergy of the Independent Catholic Christian Church unless and
until they have such faculties from the Presiding Bishop.
The clergy are to remember
that they are servants of God and the people of God and are to remain available
to the people of God to provide ministry, taking care to lead balanced and
healthy lives to enable them to provide the highest level of service possible.
All major clergy of this
Church are required to participate in the Eucharist each Sunday and to recite
daily morning and evening prayer in a form approved by the Ordinary and to
regularly read Scripture. All major clergy shall communicate with the Presiding
Bishop a minimum of once a month, unless he or she requires more frequent
communication.
The Presiding Bishop and
Chapter shall maintain an Official Roster of all Clergy of the Jurisdiction, as
well as their status.
A. BISHOPS
No Bishop shall exercise
episcopal functions in any Episcopate without the permission of the
Ordinary. Bishops of churches in full communion with our Church, and other
Bishops in the apostolic succession who are in full accord with the Statement
of Faith may be invited to exercise episcopal functions at the invitation of
the Presiding Bishop. A Bishop who joins this Church may be given
faculties to function as a priest by the Presiding Bishop at his or her
discretion. An Auxiliary Bishop or
Bishop Coadjutor may be appointed by the Presiding Bishop if the Presiding
Bishop and Chapter shall determine that it is needed for the ministry of this Jurisdiction.
B. PRIESTS
Priests who have been given
active faculties by the Ordinary of an Episcopate as active clergy of this
Church shall have the authority to preach, to celebrate the Eucharist, to
administer Holy Communion from the reserved Sacrament, to anoint the sick (and
bless oil for the sacrament of anointing in case of necessity), and to baptize
after instruction is given to the person being baptized, or their parents or
godparents if a child (the instruction may be omitted in danger of death, being
given if the person baptized recovers). Priests may solemnize
marriages in accordance with the Sacramental Policies. If the Priest signs
a marriage license, he or she shall make certain all legal requirements are
followed, and if a Priest administers sacramental marriage without civil
marriage, he or she shall counsel the couple to take all possible steps to
protect themselves. Priests may offer general absolution at Mass or, under
the direction of the Ordinary, other occasions. Only Priests who are
specifically given faculties by the Ordinary may hear private confessions and
offer absolution, except in serious danger of death, and the Ordinary shall
take all reasonable steps to ensure that Priests given faculties are properly
trained before receiving such faculties. Bishops are the ordinary
ministers of confirmation in this Church, but for sufficient cause, the Presiding
Bishop may give faculties to a Priest to administer confirmation with chrism
consecrated by a Bishop if there is sufficient cause. Priests may be given
very limited faculties as inactive clergy if deemed appropriate by the
Presiding Bishop.
C. DEACONS
Deacons who have been given
faculties by the Presiding Bishop as major clergy shall have authority to
preach, to baptize under the direction of the Presiding Bishop, and to
administer Holy Communion from the reserved Sacrament. The Presiding
Bishop may give faculties to solemnize marriages if deemed appropriate. Deacons
may be given very limited faculties as inactive clergy if deemed appropriate by
the Presiding Bishop.
D. CLERGY IN MINOR ORDERS
Those who have been
admitted as clerics in this Jurisdiction shall comprise the minor clergy. Such
clergy are not major clergy of this Church, and may not celebrate or officiate
at any of the Sacraments except for Communion from the reserved Sacrament, if
authorized by the Ordinary, or, in cases of danger of death, baptism.
E. PREPARATION FOR ORDINATION
The Presiding Bishop, in
consultation with the Chapter, shall establish Ordination and Transfer Clergy
Policies to provide for the preparation of Christians for ordination and the
orderly transfer of clergy from other ecclesial bodies who wish to join this Jurisdiction. Transfer clergy shall have probationary
status as provided in those policies.
F. REMOVAL OF FACULTIES
For sufficient cause, the Presiding
Bishop, in consultation with the Chapter, may revoke the faculties of any
clergyperson under his or her care.
IV. LAITY
Any Christian who has been
baptized with water in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy
Spirit and who agrees with the Statement of Faith may join the Independent
Catholic Christian Church. Lay members of the Church are entitled to
pastoral care and participation in the sacraments. They are responsible
for weekly participation in the Holy Eucharist (if they are able), for regular
prayer, for continuing study and growth in the Christian life, and for bearing
witness to Christ in their daily lives.
V. ECUMENICAL
RELATIONS
All persons are welcome to
worship with us and to receive pastoral care from our clergy. All baptized
Christians, without regard to denominational affiliation, are welcome to
receive sacraments of communion, anointing, reconciliation, confirmation, and
marriage in our church. We are happy to administer baptism to those wishing
to receive it and to children whose parents or godparents ask us to baptize
them.
The Council of Bishops may
enter into agreements of full communion with other Jurisdictions whose beliefs
and policies are fully compatible with our Statement of Faith. In
particular, these criteria shall apply:
The
Jurisdiction must adhere to the Nicene Creed (with or without the filioque),
holding to the full divinity and full humanity of Jesus Christ as God Incarnate
and Christ’s salvation of humankind through his death and physical
resurrection.
The
Jurisdiction must maintain the apostolic succession of bishops, priests, and
deacons and practice the seven sacraments.
The
Jurisdiction must be fully inclusive of both women and men, and of
heterosexual, gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender Christians, offering the
sacraments without discrimination on these bases, including ordination and
marriage.
Clergy from full communion
partner churches are welcome to preach and officiate at liturgical celebrations
under the direction of the Ordinary of the Episcopate.
At his or her discretion,
the Ordinary of the Episcopate may license individual clergy from other Jurisdictions
to preach and officiate at liturgical celebrations provided that the clergy
fulfill the requirements listed above.
The Jurisdiction and member
episcopates, congregations, and other entities may enter into other cooperative
endeavors with other Christian bodies and other communities of faith, even
where a relationship of full communion is not possible.
VI. CORPORATION
The
Independent Catholic Christian Church shall be incorporated as a non-profit
church corporation in accordance with the laws of the
VII. ADDITIONAL POLICIES
The
Presiding Bishop shall, in consultation with the Chapter, establish Sacramental
Policies and Ordination and Transfer Clergy Policies, and may establish
additional Policies as may be needed for the good order of the Independent
Catholic Christian Church. The Presiding
Bishop may amend these policies in consultation with the Chapter.
VIII. AMENDING THESE CANONS
The
Presiding Bishop may, in consultation with the Chapter, amend these Canons as
the needs of the Jurisdiction change.
