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The Ecumenical Catholic Church
United Kingdom

WHY "ECUMENICAL"?

What's in a name?

Catholic, Protestant, Orthodox, Old Catholic, Christian. All these are terms that get thrown around without thinking.

As a Bishop I am often asked the simple question: "Catholic?" The trouble is that for most people that means "Roman Catholic?"

In the first centuries of the history of the Church it was just "The Christian Church", the followers of the teaching of Jesus Christ. There were many variations in practice and even some in belief so the Bishops gathered in what they called "Ecumenical Councils" to agree on the teaching. There were seven of these (list)` and all held firm to their teachings. It was these councils that proclaimed the Nicene Creed, which we all hold as the statement of our faith. This Creed defines the Church as "One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic".

The first two words are self-explanatory and yet there were differences of practice. This is the basis on which the variety of liturgical formats developed.

CATHOLIC

The meaning of this Greek word "Catholicos" is best translated by "Universal" and applies to the fact that the mission of the Church is to bring to the whole of creation the message of Jesus Christ and the salvific love that He brought into the world. This one word proclaims the simple fact that no one is excluded from the possibility of eternal salvation.

Sadly, between the ninth and eleventh centuries a rift developed between East and West, which was political in its background. The Roman Empire was split between two centres, Rome and Constantinople and two main factions developed within Christianity. The final split, or "Schism", occurred in 1085 when Constantinople and Rome excommunicated one another. Since that date the word "Catholic" has come to be seen as "Roman Catholic" as the political power came to rest, for centuries, with the Popes.

ORTHODOX

Another Greek word, orthodox is a combination of two words: "Orthos" meaning true or correct, and Doxa meaning teaching.

Until the schism all who submitted to the authority of the Ecumenical Councils were orthodox. After that date the word orthodox came to be associated with the East. This was because Rome added one word to the Nicene Creed. All the other senior Bishops, or Patriarchs (There were 5 including Rome, all considered equal in authority and subject to the Council) denounced the Pope for this inclusion and declared that it was not "Orthodox" teaching. The remaining 4 patriarchs were the guardians of Orthodoxy. The word stuck and became the name by which we group the Eastern Churches.

The final word of the Nicene definition of the Church is "APOSTOLIC" and this word is central to the way in which the ministry of the Church has been passed on.

It is clear from the Gospels that Jesus gave authority to His Apostles to teach and preach. He also gave some primacy to Peter, and that was well recognised in the early Church where the Pope of Rome, or Patriarch of the West, was considered Peter's successor and given respect as "Primus Inter Pares" - the first among equals. When the Bishops gathered in council Rome spoke first.

The Acts of the Apostles and the Pastoral Letters of St Paul make it abundantly clear that the Apostles "handed on" that authority by prayer and the laying on of hands. This process has continued in unbroken line until today. Every validly ordained Bishop can potentially trace the line between his own consecrator and Jesus Himself. This is known as "Apostolic Succession".

Our own Bishop, Terry Flynn, traces his own lines through Rome, Antioch and several other lines thanks to the four Archbishops who consecrated him.

Finally we come to the name of our part of the One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church. Why "Ecumenical"? Simply because we are true to the Church's position as it was in the time of the Ecumenical Councils. Our teaching is that of the undivided Church, our pastoral practice is based on the needs of today not a list of rules that has been rigidly held to because others disagree with aspects of it. The word Ecumenical was used of the councils in the same sense that today we would use "plenary" that is that all who had a right to attend were invited and either present or represented. They were truly Councils of the One, Holy Catholic and Apostolic church in her entirety.

We respect and adhere to the teachings of these councils and hold that whilst all subsequent local councils (including those held by Rome and called "ecumenical") have a teaching value their decisions are not binding in conscience on the faithful. They may, and do, have great value as guides, and the wisdom of their discussions and proclamations must be heeded. The combined wisdom of centuries should not be ignored simply because it is politically slanted.

Our own Bishop has studied the Second Vatican Council in depth and finds it a wonderful expression of the pastoral reality and liturgical expression that the Church needs in this modern world. It will be even better when its recommendations are properly implemented.