The Old Catholic Communion of North America

An Old Catholic Communion made up of autocephalous Old Catholic Churches.

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The Communion Agreement

 

To be considered for membership in the communion a bishop or Church must be of good standing in both the faith and the local community. Each bishop or Church must be able to demonstrate that said diocese or Church has in place valid and actual ministries proclaiming the Gospel and providing the sacraments to the laity.

Any Old Catholic Church or Bishop seeking to be part of the Old Catholic Communion of North America (OCCNA) is expected to accept and follow a communion Concordat which each bishop will be asked to sign. The communion Concordat used by the OCCNA is directly patterned after the Bonn Agreement of 1931 which is the document that established full communion between the Church of England and the Old Catholic Churches of the Union of Utrecht.

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Blessings,

 

Bishops of the Old Catholic Communion of North America

 

 

The Communion Concordat

  • Each Communion recognizes the Catholicity and independence of the other, and maintains its own.
  • Each Communion agrees to admit members of the other Communion to participate in the Sacraments.
  • Full Communion does not require from either Communion the acceptance of all doctrinal opinions, sacramental devotion or liturgical practice characteristic of the other, but implies that each believes the other to hold all the essentials of the Christian Faith especially as set forth by the Declaration of Utrecht and the Fourteen Theses of Bonn.

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    What does this mean in practice?

    Regarding the interpretation of Declaration of Utrecht and the Fourteen Theses of Bonn:

    The Declaration of Utrecht and the Fourteen Theses of Bonn serve as the compass with which each communion formulates their individual doctrinal positions. Each communion will accept and the honor the discernment of the others as long as such discernment complies with spirit in which these documents were penned. Examples of such discernment are:

    • Whether or not to include the Filioque clause in the Nicene Creed.
    • Whether or not to accept or reject the beliefs of the Assumption and the Immaculate Conception as the local or individual level yet rejecting Rome's authority to make any such discipline into a binding dogma.
    • Which rites to use.
    • Which doctrines of the council of Trent are harmonious to their respective Church.
    • In the spirit of these documents no one Church or bishop may attempt to impose “primacy” on the others.

    Regarding revisionist and post modern theology:

    It is the position of the Churches of the Old Catholic Communion of North America that the spirit of the Declaration of Utrecht and the Fourteen Theses of Bonn require one to stand fast against such doctrines. Specifically those such as:

    • Ordination of noncelibate homosexual clergy.
    • Providing same sex marriages or blessing of same sex unions.
    • Rejection of any part of the Nicene Creed.
    • Use of rites or practices of non-Christian religions.

    Regarding the Lay people:

    The members of each Church may participate in each other's pastoral, congregational and sacramental life.

    Regarding Holy Orders:

    Clergy: The Holy Orders of each Church are recognized by all other Churches in the communion. Clergy can fully participate in each other's ministries. Bishops may participate in the consecrations of bishops of both churches and have regular consultations at many levels.

    Female clergy: It is the position of the Churches of the Old Catholic Communion of North America that the spirit of the Declaration of Utrecht and the Fourteen Theses of Bonn allows that such a decision is to be determined by each Church. While each Church has the right to deny female ordination each Church will accept the validity of females ordained in another Church.

    Regarding non-compliance with the Concordat agreement:

    Any bishop or Church having agreed to the Communion Concordat and then found to be not abiding by the Concordat Statements will be notified and asked to comply. Any Bishop or Church failing to accept and the honor the terms of the Concordat will be considered as willing severing the agreement and as such the name of the Bishop, and or Church will be removed from the role of the Communion.