Statement of Faith

The Catholic Apostolic National Church Our Statement of Faith We Hereby Make This Statement Of Our Faith And Practice. We believe Sacred Scripture as interpreted by the Church, together with the Seven Undisputed General Councils of the Whole Church, together with doctrines believed by the Church as a whole prior to the Great Schism of 1054, as defining the belief of the Whole Church. Every person wishing to become a member of this Church must affirm this Faith as contained in the articles below. We affirm the Holy Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments, as interpreted by the Church, as containing everything that is necessary for salvation, and as being the rule and ultimate statement of the Faith of the Church. We accept the Canon of Scripture, as handed down from of Old. We affirm the Nicene Creed as the principal creed of the Faith of the Church. We also recognize the Western Baptismal Creed, commonly called the "Apostles Creed," and the hymn commonly called the "Athanasian Creed" as representing statements of the Nicene Faith. We believe that the Nicene Creed is a literal statement of the belief of the Church and is not subject to interpretation which dismisses as merely allegorical or merely mythological any portion thereof. We affirm the Seven Sacraments Baptism, Holy Eucharist, Confirmation, Holy Order, Holy Matrimony, Penance and Holy Unction administered with the unfailing use of the traditional outward and visible signs, and the form, matter, ministers and intention received of old. We affirm the Historic three-fold ministry of Bishops, priests and deacons, and the traditional rights and powers thereof, locally adapted in the methods of its administration according to the needs of the nations in which the Church resides, but historic in form, matter, ministers and intention. We affirm that, in accordance with Sacred Scripture and ancient Tradition, only males may be ordained to the Diaconate, Priesthood, or Episcopate. We affirm the Real Presence of Our Lord in the Eucharist when the Eucharist is performed by a validly ordained Priest of the Holy Catholic Church, with the elements ordained by Christ, and a valid Canon of the Mass including Christ’s Words of Institution and the Epiklesis. We affirm that those who receive the Sacraments unworthily do so to their detriment, but do so without effecting the nature or efficacy of the Sacrament itself. We affirm that the unworthiness of a minister of a Sacrament does not invalidate the Sacrament, but, rather, that a Sacrament performed with the proper matter and form, and with the intention of the Church to make such action a Sacrament, remains valid, whether or not the minister is worthy to administer that Sacrament. We affirm that marriage, conducted as a Sacrament, with the full understanding and intention of both parties to make a marriage, is indissoluble except by death. However, we believe that the Church may annul "marriages" which have taken place without full understanding and intention of the parties involved, and counsel that error be made on the side of compassion for those seeking to make marriages after divorce. We affirm an openness to all of the gifts of the Holy Spirit, including the so-called "Charismata," but finding it unscriptural to require that anyone exercise any particular Charism to be considered a full, believing member of this body. (I Corinthians 12:21) Those who exercise the Charismata are welcome and encouraged to exercise their gifts to the edification of the Church in an orderly, Biblical manner, subject to the godly discipline of the Pastor of the Parish to which they have allegiance. We believe in an intermediate state wherein all persons, after death and individual (particular) judgment, will have an opportunity to repent their sins, acknowledge Jesus as the only Way, Truth and Life, and grow "from strength to strength." We deny that this intermediate state is a place of torture and fear, but affirm that any pains endured in this state are gladly embraced, as they are the pains of releasing our earthly bondage and conforming to the Will of God in all things. We believe that there is a possibility that some will reject grace, no matter how often it is offered, and these people freely choose to remain in a state of separation from God. This state of spirit we call "Hell." It is a freely chosen state of the damned to be damned. It is not the will of the Father that any be lost. We believe that humans are truly endowed with free-will and can freely choose Life in Christ Jesus or death through the rejection of grace. We believe that the Holy Scriptures are inerrant on all matters of faith and morals. We believe that people are justified by faith, which is demonstrated in good works and obedient practice. Both faith and works are necessary to the living of a Christian life. We believe that there is a "cloud of witnesses," the Saints, whom we may ask to pray for us as one would ask any other member of the Church. It is an idolatrous practice, however, to ask Saints to give us any material or physical blessing of their own. For, while the prayer of the righteous is very effective (James 5:16), yet every good thing comes from the Father (James 1:17). We believe that the "Sacrifice of the Mass" is a "making present" of Jesus’ One Sacrifice, once offered, forever. Jesus’ Sacrifice is made present on the altar, and, as such, the Mass may be spoken of as a Sacrifice. Therefore, it is appropriate that Masses be offered for the living and the dead, making present to the Church now the One Sacrifice once offered, and making very present the benefits of Christ’s Holy Sacrifice to the benefit of those present at the offering. We believe that Mary, mother of Jesus, was truly the “Theotokos”, or bearer of the Incarnation of the Second Person of the Trinity. When Mary is called "Mother of God" we truly honor her who gave everything of herself to secure our Salvation. However, the Theotokos is called "Mother of God" in the sense that she bore Jesus, who was and is the Incarnation of the Son, not in the sense that she generated, in any way, the Godhead. We believe that the prayers of the Blessed Virgin are effective because of her great and unique faith, and not because she has a relationship which is unique with God from having been the bearer of the Son. The relationship which exists between Jesus and His mother is the same relationship Jesus wants to have with all believers. Mary is unique because of her great faith, and it is this which gives special power to her prayers, not any maternal relationship with the Lord. We believe that all Bishops who have valid orders and remain in the orthodox faith, are successors of the Apostles, and, while we accord to the Bishop of Rome great respect, and primacy of position, we see him as first among equals and completely reject the Papal Claims of Universal Jurisdiction and Infallibility. We believe that faithful Christian Marriage between a male and a female, free of impediments, is the only legitimate state for sexual expression between individuals. We believe that whatsoever is not repugnant to the Catholic Faith, but which aids in belief and devotion, may be believed as pious opinion, but may not be taught as doctrine of the Church. We affirm that the Eucharist is the principal service of the Church; that its celebration is commanded by the Lord, and that it shall be the regularly celebrated Sunday Worship whenever possible. Acknowledgement and Signature I, ____________________________________, having read the above “Statement of Faith”, do hereby state and acknowledge that I understand, consent to, and agree to be bound by, all of the provisions stated herein. In oath and affirmation, I bind myself, with the help, guidance and blessing of Almighty God, to support, defend, and abide by these Constitutions of this Holy Church. I will place the needs of the Catholic Apostolic National Church first, and will follow the directions of this Constitution, and properly will care for the Church members and property placed in my control. Signature: _________________________________________________________ Date: _____________________ This _________ day of _____________________ , 200____ I, __________________________________________, having first duly sworn and deposed the above individual under oath, set my seal upon this document. My commission end on: _______________________________________ , 200_____ [NOTARY SEAL] ________________________________________________ Notary Signature Statement of Faith – 3 – August 2, 2005 3 3