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The Ecumenical Catholic Communion (ECC) is an Independent Catholic church based in the United States. It is a confederation of independent communities in the United States and Europe with about 10,000 members, including seven bishops and more than 50 communities across 20 states. The ECC is open to Christians from other denominations and practices a characteristically Catholic faith tradition that is not sectarian. The ECC differs from Roman Catholic practice in many ways, such as consecrating married individuals to the episcopacy, ordaining women, and permitting remarriage after divorce. The ECC has its own Distinctive Foundational Teachings, which are seen as an application of Gospel teaching to a contemporary context.
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What You'll Learn
The ECC is an independent Catholic church
The Ecumenical Catholic Communion, or ECC, is an independent Catholic church. It is based in the United States and has a membership of about 10,000 people, including seven bishops and more than 50 communities across 20 states. The ECC is a confederation of independent communities based in the US and Europe.
The ECC understands itself as following the Catholic tradition without being in communion with the Bishop of Rome (the Pope). This separation from the authority of the Pope is a key distinction between the ECC and the Roman Catholic Church, along with the ECC's ordination of women and married people, and its allowance of remarriage after divorce. The ECC traces its roots to the Old Catholic movement, which began in 1870 in response to the Vatican Council's pronouncement of Papal Infallibility and the primacy of papal jurisdiction. The ECC was formally established as a national ecclesial organisation on 19 September 2003.
The ECC has its own "Distinctive Foundational Teachings", which are seen as an application of Gospel teaching to a contemporary context. These teachings include an invitation to the sacramental life, with the Eucharist open to all Christians regardless of denominational affiliation. The ECC also practices co-equal ministry, ordaining men and women who are married, and it allows the marriage of divorced people without requiring an annulment. Members of the ECC are encouraged to follow their consciences when making ethical decisions, such as on the issue of artificial birth control.
The ECC is governed by a synodal model, with a synod consisting of the Presiding Bishop, the House of Laity, the House of Pastors, and the Episcopal Council. The ECC differs from other independent Catholic churches in having a large number of lay followers.
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It is based in the United States
The Ecumenical Catholic Communion (ECC) is an Independent Catholic church based within the United States. It is a confederation of independent communities with a membership of about 10,000, including seven bishops and more than 50 communities across 20 states. The ECC is a member of the National Council of Churches (NCC).
The ECC has its roots in the Old Catholic Church, which separated from Rome in 1889 due to disputes over the jurisdiction and authority of the pope, the local election of bishops, and the inclusion of laity in the governance of the Church. The Old Catholic movement, which began in Europe, was brought to the United States by immigrants at the turn of the 20th century. These communities operated within the same theological tradition, emphasising the importance of the first millennium of Christianity when virtually all of Christianity was united.
The ECC differs from Roman Catholic practice in several ways. For example, the ECC consecrates married individuals to the episcopacy, ordains women, and permits remarriage after divorce. It also affirms and ordains members of the LGBTQ+ community. The ECC is governed by a synodal model, which includes the Presiding Bishop, the House of Laity, the House of Pastors, and the Episcopal Council.
The ECC unites authentic Catholic faith communities across the United States, celebrating a characteristically Catholic faith tradition that is not sectarian. They share a common theology and liturgical tradition with the Catholic Church, participating in the same historic apostolic succession as the Roman Catholic Church, the Eastern Orthodox Churches, and other apostolic Churches. They recognise the baptism and faith of all Christian denominations and invite all the baptised to partake in the Eucharist.
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It has a shared history with the Roman Catholic Church
The Ecumenical Catholic Communion (ECC) shares a 95% history with the Roman Catholic Church. The ECC is an Independent Catholic church based in the United States, with a membership of about 10,000 people, including seven bishops and more than 50 communities across 20 states.
The ECC has its roots in the Old Catholic Church, which began in 1870 as a response to the Vatican Council's pronouncement of Papal Infallibility and the primacy of papal jurisdiction. In 1889, the Union of Utrecht of Old Catholic Churches was formed in Europe, and the "Old Catholic movement" soon spread to the United States. ECC members consider themselves followers of the Catholic tradition, but they are not in communion with the Bishop of Rome.
The ECC differs from Roman Catholic practice in several ways. For example, the ECC consecrates married individuals to the episcopacy, ordains women, and permits remarriage after divorce. It also affirms and ordains members of the LGBTQ+ community. The ECC has its own "Distinctive Foundational Teachings", which are seen as an application of Gospel teaching to a contemporary context.
Despite these differences, the ECC shares a common theology and liturgical tradition with the Catholic Church. ECC deacons, priests, and bishops participate in the same historic apostolic succession as the Roman Catholic Church, the Eastern Orthodox Churches, and other apostolic Churches. They also share the same historical developments as Western Christianity.
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It ordains women and the LGBTQ+ community
The Ecumenical Catholic Communion (ECC) is an Independent Catholic Church based in the United States. It was established in 1987 by Mark Steven Shirilau and Jeffrey Michael Lau in Santa Ana, California. The ECC is a confederation of independent communities based in the United States and Europe with a membership of about 10,000, including seven bishops and more than 50 communities across 20 states.
The ECC differs from Roman Catholic practice in many ways, one of which is the ordination of women. Women are actively engaged in the ordained priestly ministry within the ECC, and the communities have enjoyed the benefits of the coequal ministry of women. The ECC also allows the ordination of married men and women.
Another key difference is the ECC's affirmation and ordination of members of the LGBTQ+ community. This sets it apart from both Roman Catholicism and independent Brazilian Catholicism. The ECC claims to uphold conventional Catholicity while rejecting Gnosticism, New Age, Theosophy, and Protestant worship practices found among other Independent Catholic churches.
The ECC has its own "Distinctive Foundational Teachings", which are seen as an application of Gospel teaching to a contemporary context. These teachings include an invitation to the sacramental life, co-equal ministry, and intimate commitment. The ECC is open to Christians from other denominations and allows the ordination of lay or ordained, single, celibate, or married people.
The ECC's synod model of governance includes the Presiding Bishop, the House of Laity, the House of Pastors, and the Episcopal Council. This structure allows for the inclusion of laity and clergy in governance and mission, a principle known as "synodality".
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It is a communion of communities
The Ecumenical Catholic Communion (ECC) is a communion of communities, a confederation of independent communities based in the United States and Europe. The ECC is a communion of authentic Catholic faith communities that stretch across the United States.
The ECC is a synodal model of governance, with synodality referring to the inclusion of laity and clergy in the governance and mission of the Church. The synod of the communion consists of the Presiding Bishop, the House of Laity, the House of Pastors, and the Episcopal Council. When the synod is not in session, the Leadership Council governs the communion, except in areas where authority is reserved for the other bodies. The ECC has about 10,000 members, including seven bishops and more than 50 communities across 20 states.
The ECC is a communion of communities that are ecumenical and Catholic, celebrating a characteristically Catholic faith tradition that is non-sectarian. They share a common theology and liturgical tradition with the Catholic Church, and their deacons, priests, and bishops participate in the same historic apostolic succession as the Roman Catholic Church, the Eastern Orthodox Churches, and other apostolic Churches. They share the same historical developments as Western Christianity, tracing their roots to the emergence of the Old Catholic movement in 1870, which began in response to the first Vatican Council's pronouncement of Papal Infallibility and the primacy of papal jurisdiction.
The ECC is a communion of communities that serve the poor, the outcast, the sick, the disabled, the old, the young, and the imprisoned. They offer a refuge in Christ for those who suffer prejudice based on race, colour, culture, philosophy, gender, sexual orientation, or educational deprivation. They strive for justice within the universal Church and the world and affirm the dignity of all human persons, regardless of race, national origin, religious affiliation, gender, or sexual orientation.
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Frequently asked questions
The Ecumenical Catholic Communion (ECC) is an Independent Catholic church based in the United States. It follows Catholic traditions but is not in communion with the Bishop of Rome.
The ECC was formally established as a national ecclesial organisation on 19 September 2003. However, its roots can be traced back to the Old Catholic movement, which began in 1870 as a response to the Vatican Council's pronouncement of Papal Infallibility and the primacy of papal jurisdiction.
The ECC has its own "Distinctive Foundational Teachings", which are based on Gospel teachings and include the following:
- Invitation to the Sacramental Life: The ECC is open to Christians from all denominations participating in the sacramental life of the communion.
- Invitation to Co-equal Ministry: The ECC affirms the value of ministry for all people, regardless of their life state, and allows the ordination of married men and women.
- Invitation to Intimate Commitment: The ECC acknowledges the trauma of divorce and allows remarriage without the need for an annulment.
- Invitation to Follow Conscience: Members of the ECC are encouraged to follow their conscience when making ethical decisions, such as those concerning artificial birth control.
The ECC is a communion of communities, also known as a "synodal model of governance". It consists of a Presiding Bishop, who collaborates with the House of Laity, the House of Pastors, and the Episcopal Council. When the synod is not in session, governance is carried out by the Leadership Council, except in areas reserved for the presiding bishop or other bodies.
The ECC differs from Roman Catholic practice in several ways, including its ordination of women, consecration of married individuals to the episcopacy, and permission for remarriage after divorce. It also has a large number of lay followers and affirms the LGBTQ+ community, allowing for their ordination.
