DOCUMENT OF EPISCOPAL PROTOCOL APOSTOLIC MANDATE
SOLEMN FEAST OF PENTECOST - 2008
DECLARATION AND STATEMENT OF FULL SACRAMENTAL UNION

APOSTOLIC GREETINGS & ARCHPASTORAL BLESSINGS ON ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS AND SALUTATIONS IN CHRIST JESUS DO COME.
In the name of the XFather and of the XSon and of the XHoly Spirit
now and ever and unto the ages of ages. Amen!

THE ORTHODOX CHURCH CANADA (EASTERN RITE)
&
THE ORTHODOX CHURCH OF THE NEW WORLD (WESTERN RITE)
here after to be known as
THE ORTHODOX CHURCH OF THE EAST & WEST (CANADA & USA)
&
THE ANGLICAN INDEPENDENT COMMUNION - ORIGINAL PROVINCE

In accordance with the witness of Holy Orthodox Tradition and in full conformity with the Canons of the Holy Orthodox & Catholic Church of our Lord Jesus Christ
we do make the following Statements and Declarations:
The Hierarchy, Clergy and devout Faithful of our respective jurisdictions have heeded the prayer of our Blessed Savior "that they all may be one" articulated as His expressed will in St. John 17. For too long we have jointly and severally acknowledged our failure, resistance and inability to be obedient to our Lord's call to unity and conform to His desire for us.. In the name of Christ we have called upon the Holy Spirit to "come among us" and to rely only on Him to bring this unity to fruition.

It is our desire to heed the words of St. Paul who so eloquently expressed that "in Christ there is neither Jew nor Gentile, male nor female; bond or free." Organic unity among true believers has never been regulated to personalities, social consideration or the ramifications and machinations of civil law or politics. Neither has Holy Orthodoxy been regulated to ethnicity, language, national or local customs nor distinctions such as the venerable yet distinct liturgical expressions that have always existed among Christians of the East & West. The Holy Orthodox Faith and Church has never - in her pristine and unpolitical form - been described as a Rite, particular native language or set of Liturgical Customs. The only test of what has been properly termed as Orthodox from apostolic times has been that which has been accepted as "right or correct belief". Consequently, if any are truly "Orthodox" in theological expression, they will worship “in spirit and truth” using those holy instruments of salvation given unto us by the Lord Himself which is in full conformity and uphold the “right or correct belief.” These sacred expressions of our Orthodox faith have been handed down to us as our inheritance . If ones Liturgy (belief or faith in action) is Orthodox in expression, then his Belief (Creed) will also be fully and completely the same. These sentiments have severally been expressed and affirmed by the holy Church Fathers representing both Eastern and Western traditions: St. Basil, St. Augustine, St. Gregory the Great, St. Ambrose St. John Chrysostom and St. Cyprian. It is not our mandate to disregard the directives or fail to follow the saintly examples of those who have come before us and to therefore be disobedient unto Christ Himself. Their selfless and sacrificial examples serve as a reminder to us to lay aside all things which are impediments to full sacramental and intrinsic unity, as the Lord Himself wills.

It is with the same heart, mind and spirit that permeated the undivided Church (prior to 1054) that we come before God our Father on this Feast Day of Holy Pentecost, - the “birth day” of the One, Holy, Orthodox, Catholic & Apostolic Church - and by His grace and loving kindness hereby announce and declare that:

The undersigned - representing our respective Synod of Bishops, Clergy and devout Faithful - are one organic and sacramental Orthodox Catholic faith community, unified members of the living body of Christ (His Church ) and members of one Orthodox Catholic communion, composed of Eastern & Western Liturgical and Sacramental expressions as dictated by local custom, governed by one Holy Synod of Bishops who are equal among equals (“pares inter pares’) with a council-ruled administration. To the Glory of God, the expression of this unity is made visible with the formation of one Synod of Bishops to be known as

THE SYNOD OF ORTHODOX CATHOLIC BISHOPS OF NORTH AMERICA
(SOCBNA)

This formal statement of full and complete communion is declared for the glory of Almighty God and for the greater good of our Clergy and Laity, with our desire to uphold the purity of our Orthodox Faith "which was once delivered unto the saints" (St. Jude 1:3). As St. Paul plainly states; "one Lord, one faith, one baptism and one God and Father of all” (Ephesians 4). When admonishing the Christian community in Corinth he declared, “We all eat of one bread and drink from the same cup.” Unworthy though we are, plagued by sin, human weaknesses and desires, we stand before God’s people triumphant in Christ, joyful, obedient and with grateful hearts! The prayerful aspirations of St. Simeon of Thessalonica urge us on: "do not cease in the reality of true unity and praying for unity among all of the brethren, with one voice attaining to the perfected faith and a fuller knowledge of our Savior - God". He further proclaims, "We are perfected in love, faith, grace and can aspire to lead a life pleasing to God and in service to each other in the Church.”

Henceforth, by these acts (ordained and willed by Christ-God), through the power and action of the Holy Spirit, we take our several and individual places along side those (who now repose in eternal glory) who have given much to realize an undivided Orthodox Catholic Church. We humbly bow to their greater sanctity and more profound wisdom and ask for their prayers and intercessions to Christ as we strive to follow their saintly examples. Our intrinsic unity is grounded in our common Orthodox Catholic Faith as expressed by the 3 Great historic Creeds and defined by the Seven Ecumenical Councils of the One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church. Our various Liturgical Rites being those in full conformity with the decrees of the same Ecumenical Councils as evidenced by the living expression of devout Christian worshipers throughout the ages.

WITH ONE VOICE, PROCLAIMING ONE HOLY FAITH,
WE NOW STAND AS A UNITED WITNESS FOR CHRIST IN THE WORLD.

WE EXTEND A LOVING & FRATERNAL INVITATION TO ALL JURISDICTIONS, PARISHES, CLERGY OR LAITY WHO MAY WANT TO JOURNEY WITH US AS A UNIFIED WITNESS TO "THE MYSTERIES OF THE FAITH" AS WE STRIVE TO BE OBEDIENT TO THE PRAYERFUL WILL OF OUR SAVIOR.

In testimony of and in witness to the truths contained herein, we place our signatures and the seal of our jurisdictions on this 11th day of May in the 2008th year of the salvation of the world.

++Joseph (Royer)
Metropolitan Archbishop of the Orthodox Church of the East & West
Episcopal See of the City of Edmonton & All Canada

+Paul (Garland)
Archbishop of the Western Rite in the USA
Episcopal see of the City of Dover, Delaware

+Stylianos (Vilord)
Suffragan Bishop of the Western Rite in the USA
Episcopal See of the City of Camden, South Carolina

++Josephus Johannes Archbishop Palumbo, OCR
Metropolitan of the Anglican Independent Communion
ORIGINAL PROVINCE
Episcopal See of Webb City, Missouri

++John Charles Archbishop Maier, OCR
Superior General of the Order of Christ the King
Ordo Chancery in Laguna Beach, California

"PARES INTER PARES” & FOUNDING HIERARCHS OF
THE SYNOD OF ORTHODOX CATHOLIC BISHOPS OF NORTH AMERICA
(SOCBNA)

" PRO DEO ET HUMANITATE - UNA VOCA; UNA ECCLESIA "

Amen! Amen! Amen!
MARANATHA

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IMPORTANT NOTICE

THE ANGLICAN INDEPENDENT COMMUNION ORIGINAL PROVINCE ALSO KNOWN AS THE ANGLICAN INDEPENDENT COMMUNION IN THE AMERICAS IS AN INDIGENOUS AMERICAN TRADITIONALIST ANGLICAN JURISDICTION, ORGANIZED BY AMERICAN CITIZENS ON U.S. SOIL. HISTORICALLY WE ARE A DIRECT DESCENDANT OF MATER ECCLESIA ANGLICANA, THE HISTORIC ANCIENT, CHRIST FOUNDED MOTHER CHURCH OF ENGLAND. AS SUCH, WE CONSIDER OURSELVES TO BE “STRICT RECONSTRUCTIONIST TRADITIONAL ANGLICANS”. IT IS NOT NOW, NOR HAS IT EVER BEEN OUR INTENTION TO DEPART IN ANY FASHION FROM THAT HISTORIC CHURCH WHOSE BISHOP’S WERE PRESENT AT THE COUNCIL OF ARLES IN 314 A.D. THE HISTORIC CONTINUITY WE HAVE MAINTAINED WITH OUR CHURCH OF ENGLAND ROOTS LITURGICALLY, THEOLOGICALLY AND CANONICALLY IS THE “LIFE BLOOD” OF THE ORIGINAL PROVINCE. TO DEPART FROM HER PRINCIPLES “IN ANY SMALL MATTER” IS TO CHANGE THE “VERY HEART OF US” AND IN FACT GOES TO THE ESSENCE OF WHO WE CLAIM TO BE IN CHRIST AND THE MANNER IN WHICH WE ATTEMPT TO EXTEND HIS KINGDOM ON EARTH!

THIS COMMUNION’S FAITHFUL EXPRESSION OF “TRADITIONAL ANGLICAN ETHOS” STANDS ON ITS OWN MERIT AND SPEAKS FOR ITSELF. THIS JURISDICTION AND HER DEPENDENCIES ARE NOT AFFILIATED OR CONNECTED WITH ANY GROUP WITH A SIMILAR NAME OR WHO SHARE A COMMON HISTORICAL BEGINNING. WE MAKE NO STATEMENT PUBLIC OR OTHERWISE, SAVE ONLY THOSE ALREADY MADE CONCERNING “OTHER GROUPS” CLAIMING AN ASSOCIATION OR BEING “IN COMMUNION” WITH US. ALL STATEMENTS PREVIOUSLY MADE REGARDING SUCH MATTERS ARE WELL CIRCULATED AND ARE NOW A MATTER OF PUBLIC RECORD.

THUSLY, NO MATTER WHAT “OTHERS” MAY CLAIM OR WHAT YOU READ ELSEWHERE; WHEN IN DOUBT, RELY SOLELY ON THE INFORMATION CONTAINED IN THIS WEB SITE. WE WELCOME ALL INQUIRIES REGARDING THIS STATEMENT OR ANY OTHER QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE REGARDING THE AICA/OP OR THE CHURCH AT LARGE.

WE PRAY THIS CLARIFIES OUR OFFICIAL POSITION ON THIS MATTER AND ABROGATES ANY FURTHER CONFUSION, QUESTION OR CONCERN. MAY GOD BLESS YOU FOR YOUR INTEREST!