The Liberal Catholic Apostolic Church
An independent Catholic church in the liberal tradition

"The Fellowship of the Holy Spirit is a Mystery "which from all ages hath been hid in God." Eph.3.9

The Independent Liberal Catholic Fellowship came into being in early 2007 as a result of contacts between clergy in the liberal Catholic tradition. It is an ecumenical clergy and community fellowship, and acts as an umbrella body for independent Catholics in the liberal tradition in the UK and elsewhere. It is autonomous, and has no connection with any of the churches currently using a formulation of the name "Liberal Catholic" save the LCAC.

The ILCF is not a fellowship of dogma; rather, it is a fellowship of support and freedom. It does not seek to control what its members believe or their approach to worship and devotions, but is an informal union of hearts and minds, joining together individual clergy and their jurisdictions for mutual edification and the greater glory of God. In this sense it fulfils more than a merely organisational role, and is a spiritual bond across boundaries.

Membership of the ILCF is open to clergy and communities only; there is no provision for individual lay membership. Clergy who have been ordained in the Apostolic Succession may become members even if their community is not, provided their Ordinary consents to their joining the ILCF. Arrangements can be made for those who have been ordained non-Apostolically to receive the blessing of Apostolic ordination on joining, again provided the consent of their Ordinary is given if they are within another jurisdiction. Members may belong to other associations or none at their choice. There are no membership dues, although all are expected to support the ILCF in its work as their gifts and resources permit. The ILCF is organised directly by the Liberal Catholic Apostolic Church with Mar Joannes as its Administrator.

We have community and clergy members currently in the UK, Mexico, Nigeria, the Netherlands, Slovenia, South Africa and the USA, embracing a following of several thousand souls.

Mission

The ILCF offers to God and His people a witness to a distinct and historical tradition of Catholicism that is different from that of the contemporary Roman Catholic church. Because it is non-dogmatic in nature, it welcomes those who are drawn to a liberal interpretation of Catholicism equally with those who come from within the traditions of the Liberal Catholic movement. It welcomes those clergy and denominations who recognise the essentials of Catholic sacramental worship but are stifled by teachings that are at variance with the love of God. The ILCF will not turn you away if you have been divorced, or if you are in civil partnership. It will not turn you away if your faith is mystic or shaped by individual conscience rather than Church dogma. It will not turn you away because of your sexuality.

The ILCF is Catholic but independent of the existing Roman Catholic and Liberal Catholic churches. It is free from the control and influence of the government, and does not seek to impose upon the consciences of its members. It seeks to regain that relationship with God through Jesus Christ that was the blessing of the earliest Christians. It teaches that Christianity and liberty are indelibly united; "if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed!" (John 8:36)

Why join?

The ILCF is currently small, but it is growing. We believe it fulfils an important role as a fellowship of those who stand against the dangers of fundamentalism, intolerance and selective literalism currently sweeping the Church. Our independence gives us an unique voice for tolerance and freedom of conscience. We acknowledge that our members may be very different from one another and may believe very different things. What unites us is firstly a commitment to the essential truths of the Christian tradition and secondly a desire to turn the concept of the "broad church" into reality, seeking strength in our diversity.

If you join us, we do not ask you to change the name of your community or your ministry. All we ask is that you say that your community or ministry is now part of the Independent Liberal Catholic Fellowship and that you adhere to a liberal interpretation of the Catholic faith in theology and practice. We will not seek to change the way you worship or the way your church is run. You retain full control, but benefit from our support.

Your church or ministry will be featured on our large and comprehensive website so that others can learn about your work and your witness. You can obtain documents confirming your membership of the ILCF from us for the benefit of those who may receive ministry from you. You can take advantage of individually-structured theology courses via distance learning from our seminary, for growth in your ministry and the preparation of your ordinands. You will also have the assurance of belonging to an organised fellowship committed to the fullness of divine experience through the Holy Spirit, and that fellowship will hold you and your ministry in prayer.

To begin discussions concerning membership, please contact us via email. 

Denominational or Religious Order Member	Countries where located	Clergy/Members of Religious Orders (including Postulants)
	Suffolk, UK	Bishop Charles Mugleston
	Texas, USA	Bishop Richard Saint John
Order of Ecumenical Franciscans	Liverpool, UK	Fr. Colin Stebbing  (Bro. Thomas, OEF)
	Texas, USA	Revd. Alyssa Stebbing, (Sr. Magdalena, OEF)
The Free Apostolic Communion	Texas, USA	Bishop Lee Allen Petersen, OFJ
The Native Americas Catholic Church	Mexico/North Carolina, USA	Bishop Morgan Eagle Bear
The Liberal Catholic Church - Theosophia Synod	Florida, USA	Fr. William Delahunt
The Liberal Catholic Apostolic Church	London, UK	Mar Joannes (Administrator, ILCF)
	London, UK	Mar Andreas
(Companions of the Cross and Passion)	Edinburgh, UK	Mar Alexei, CCP
(Companions of the Cross and Passion)	Washington, DC, USA	Fr. Dennis Donlon, CCP
(Companions of the Cross and Passion)	Edinburgh, UK	Revd. Deacon David Upton, CCP
(Companions of the Cross and Passion)	Glasgow, UK	Andy Hall, CCP (Cleric)
(Companions of the Cross and Passion)	Arizona, USA	Robert Pieper (Postulant)
(Cross-Denominational Mission)	Bournemouth, UK	Mgr. Adrian Glover, VG
(Sodalitas Sacerdotalis Mariae Vitae)	Texas, USA	Fr. Charles Reynolds, OSM
(All Saints and Angels Ancient Catholic Church)	Oregon, USA	Fr. Eckhart Christopher Lee Sowers
(All Saints and Angels Ancient Catholic Church)	Oregon, USA	Underdeacon Kay Ellen Krueger
	Pennsylvania, USA	Fr. Dan L. Edmunds
	Pennsylvania, USA	Thomas Gayley (Cleric)
	Quebec, Canada	Fr. Francois Lepine
	Colorado, USA	Fr. Scott Shubert
	Liverpool, UK	Paul Maher (Postulant)
(Religious Society of St Simon)	Chichester, UK	Dr. Michael Walsh, OblateOSB (Church of England)
The Young Rite	Netherlands	Bishop Markus van Alphen
	Netherlands	Revd. Annette Haccou
	Netherlands	Revd. Frans Kalse
	Netherlands	Revd. Brigitte Klein Bog
	Netherlands	Revd. Louise Lombard
	Netherlands	Revd. Arie Rozendaal
	Netherlands	Robin Manna (Cleric)
	Netherlands	Marida Vermeulen (Cleric)
	Netherlands	Coralie Meijer (Reader)
	Nigeria	Revd. Ibiso Igani
	Slovenia	Bishop Aristide Havlicek
	Slovenia	Revd. Francek Dobovisec
	Slovenia	Revd. Domen Kocevar
	South Africa	Bishop Johannes van Alphen
	South Africa	Revd. Antonie Harthoorn
	South Africa	Revd. Jannie Hofkamp

The Sophia Circle

Members who are bishops in the Apostolic Succession and whose view of Christianity is in the esoteric tradition may also be interested to join the Sophia Circle. A number of bishops who are members of the ILCF are currently also members of the Sophia Circle.