Ecumenical Catholic Church

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The Ecumenical Catholic Church (ECC) is a small Christian denomination, mainly oriented toward the LGBT community.

It adheres to a conventional Catholic Trinitarian theology, professes the Nicene Creed, and considers Jesus to be the Son of God and redeemer of humanity, uniting Christians through Baptism and the Eucharist. Its liturgy is also similar to that of the Roman Catholic Church, but it is independent and not under the jurisdiction of the Vatican or the Roman Catholic hierarchy; it is thus considered to be one of the Independent Catholic Churches. It is also considered an offshoot of the Brazilian Catholic Apostolic Church.[1]

History[]

The Ecumenical Catholic Church was founded in Santa Ana, California in 1987, The first edition of its canon law being completed and ratified on January 11, 1987.[2]: 27  It was incorporated in California on March 10, 1987.[3]

"The ECC grew out of the Californian founder’s experiences in two larger churches: the Metropolitan Community Church (MCC) – an LGBTQ-focused church – and the Episcopal Church. For founder Mark Steven Shirilau, the latter church was not fully inclusive to people in same-sex unions due to its understanding of marriage, while he also found the MCC’s lack of a full sacramental, episcopal dimension unsatisfying. An authentic ‘gap’ was therefore identified and the ECC was born."[4]

The first public service (at St. John Ecumenical Catholic Church) was held on September 4, 1988, at the home chapel of Fr. Mark Shirilau and Deacon Jeffery Shirilau in Santa Ana. Nine persons attended. 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.[2]: 30 

Apostolic Succession[]

"The ECC traces its roots through several other small ICAB offshoots. Its lineage of bishops sits within the vast dynasty of Castillo Mendez."[4] At a 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 Shirilau. He was ordained on July 27, 1991, in Pocatello, Idaho.[2]

References[]

  1. ^ Edward Jarvis, God, Land & Freedom: the true story of ICAB, Apocryphile Press, Berkeley CA, pp 169-170
  2. ^ a b c Shirilau, Mark, History and Overview of the Ecumenical Catholic Church: The First Ten Years (1995. Riverside, CA: Healing Spirit Press, ISBN 1-881568-07-5)
  3. ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2010-04-02. Retrieved 2012-11-28.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link), California Secretary of State Website, Corporation number C1581615.
  4. ^ a b Edward Jarvis, God, Land & Freedom: the true story of ICAB, Apocryphile Press, Berkeley CA, p 170

External links[]

Retrieved from ""