THE ORTHODOX CATHOLIC COMMUNION OF THE EAST & WEST (OCCEW)

AND

THE SYNOD OF ORTHODOX CATHOLIC BISHOPS INTERNATIONAL (SOCBI)

A UNITED SACRAMENTAL COMMUNION & SYNOD OF EASTERN & WESTERN ORTHODOX CATHOLIC JURISDICTIONS AND BISHOPS. WE HAVE DETERMINED WITH ONE RESOLVE, TO LIVE OUT THE GOSPEL IN THE SPIRIT OF THE EARLY CHRISTIAN CHURCH IN FULL EPISCOPAL COLLEGIALITY.

The OCCEW and her sister organization SOCBI were formed in obedience to the expressed will of Our Savior God and in answer to the call of the Holy Spirit among us. In St. John 17, Our Most Holy Redeemer prays to the Heavenly Father, "that they all might be one". The only "liturgia" (service rendered) to organize and bring this to fruition among us, was to proclaim with a united voice the extant union we realized had already existed. In essence, the only effort any of us put forth was to conform to the perfect will of the Almighty and thank Him for His abundant grace and favor towards us. This is the work of the Comforter as promised by Christ-God to the Apostles prior to his glorious Ascension to heaven. We are convinced there are countless more concerned souls like us who share these same aspirations. All they need do in order to share in our Blessing is what we have done: proclaim as a witness in obedience to the Divine will that union which in fact has already taken place . This is precisely how the pre-denominational Church understood what and who constituted the Mystical Body of Christ. One only needs to prayerfully read the Book of Acts or any of the Pauline Epistles to become so enlightened. Union was not merely an idle concept to the undivided Church. The brethren lived this aspect of their spirituality daily in prayer, word, deed, Sacrament, unconditional love and mutual respect among all believers.

What is it this already accomplished organic union has for its source(s)? It is those holy vessels which form the Orthodox Deposit of Faith. They are the Sacred Scriptures, the three ancient Creeds, the Ecumenical Councils (325-787 inclusive), the wisdom of the Church Fathers, the Historic Episcopate, the Seven Sacraments and the historic Liturgies of the East and West. In addition and by way of summary, we have those Sacred Traditions which have born witness to the Church as a living tribute to "the Faith once and for all given".

We have adopted as a basic premise for union that which goes to the very heart of this Holy Spirit inspired "liturgia" among us. If a jurisdiction seek to join with us, its Bishops should have no need to change, add, or make concessions on articles of belief, of which they are convicted. It is not the intention of the OCCEW and its Synod of Bishops (SOCBI) to force union where it does not already exist. Neither do we expect others to follow us in blind docility in order to become members. It is entirely conceivable that such differences might exist, as for example, the recitation of the Nicene Creed with the "filioque". In all such matters, those wishing to join us would need to re-examine these theological differences and decide on their own a willingness to conform to our Orthodox Credo. This is something which we insist is done by the free will of those involved and not by the least amount of prompting on our part. We demand total honesty in such matters and not docility or lip service. Finally, if we are all truly Orthodox as defined by those "holy vessels" enumerated above, this union of which we speak would already have been accomplished between us. Either we are fully Orthodox or we are not. We are either in complete agreement or we are not. It is imperative that all of our membership (at all levels) "AGREE TO AGREE" with our principles. Prior to the Great Schism in 1054, Mater Ecclesia Orthodoxa lived (Eastern & Western) and breathed unity in Creed and freedom in Liturgy and local parochialism.

As we look back and reflect upon the writings of those we all hold to be the Fathers of us all, a sobering reality is brought before us. Tertullian, Origen, St Cyprian, St. Augustine, St. Basil, St. Ambrose, St. Irenaeus, St Ignatius, and St. John Chrysostom in particular stressed that unity in the Church was the true verity of her Orthodoxy. This unity manifests itself in its fullness among the members of the Universal Orthodox Catholic Episcopate when meeting in Council or Synod. All of the Church Fathers wrote extensively of this as an additional source of Orthodox verity. These same Church Fathers, as well as others, were also quick to point to the discord and chaos that prevailed among those who separated themselves from their Orthodox brethren. In unison they proclaimed collegiality and concord to be the only guarantee of Orthodox belief among brother Bishops. If any single Bishop fell away from the others, his ability to stay Orthodox either became highly questionable at the least or entirely impossible at the worst. History bears witness to the truth and wisdom the Fathers espoused in such important matters.

The OCCEW and SOCBI extend an open Invitation to those groups of Christians (and their Bishops) to journey together with us who share our understanding of Orthodox Faith and Ethos. Are you Orthodox in belief? Are you Catholic in Mission, Ministry and Orders? Do you celebrate a Liturgy recognized as Orthodox by the Historic Church Universal? If the answer is yes to the above, we look forward to your RSVP to our Invitation. In Christ there is no East or West. The Apostolic Church was neither Byzantine or Western Rite, this distinctive having been made much later on. Never was it the intent of those Godly men who formulated these various Rites to have them used as a means to cause schism within the Church. In fact, many of them shed their blood for the cause of Christ to avoid schism at all costs. Should we not honor their memory and follow their saintly examples in this regard? We stand with them in our various liturgical traditions as one voice in service to Holy Mother Church.

DEDICATION & APPRECIATION

We the clergy and laity of the OCCEW and Bishops of SOCBI stand united in our resolve to "walk worthy of our several callings". With these words, we dedicate our entire being in service to Christ and His Holy Bride the Church. For this noble cause and purpose we dedicate ourselves to the Holy Spirit led "liturgia" of establishing full organic sacramental union between all of our brethren who share our hearts desire. We would like to acknowledge our affection, admiration and appreciation to our organizing Metropolitans of blessed memory, ++James Toombs of the Orthodox American Church who reposed in the Lord in 1970; ++Peter Compton-Caputo of the Anglican Independent Communion who went to his eternal reward in 1999. It was their saintly examples in bringing the Gospel of Christ to all men with one accord that urges us on. These men were true Fathers in God to their respective clergy and faithful. Equally they were true brothers in Christ to all strangers who came knocking at their doors.
"Eternal Rest Grant Unto Them O Lord. And Let Perpetual Light Shine Upon Them. Amen".

Respectfully submitted with ONE VOICE - ONE WILL - ONE MIND IN CHRIST - WITH CHRIST - FOR CHRIST THROUGHOUT THE WORLD - WITHOUT END. AMEN. Witness our signatures on the this 22nd day of July in the year of the Lord 2011. This day being the Western Calendar feast of St. Mary Magdalene and the Eastern feast of St. Markella of Chios.

++Josephus Johannes Palumbo, OCR
Archbishop Metropolitan
The Anglican Independent Communion - Original Province

++John Charles Maier, OCR
Superior General of the Order of Christ the King

++James Johnson
Archbishop Metropolitan & First Hierarch
The Orthodox American Church

++John Schneyder
Archbishop Metropolitan
The Orthodox American Church

"UNA VOCA; UNA ECCLESIA PRO DEO ET HUMANITATE"

PLEASE DIRECT ALL INQUIRIES CONCERNING THE ABOVE TO:

The Very Rev'd Stephen Andrew Sinclair
Apostolic Missionary Vicar
Holy Cross Orthodox Church
189 North Street
Bath, Maine 04530
(207) 689-4019
Email: prieststeve@yahoo.com