The Liberal Catholic Apostolic Church

The Official Notices of the Liberal Catholic Apostolic Church for the period January to June 2008 are recorded below.

19 May 2008

The Liberal Catholic Apostolic Church is accepted as a member of the International Council of Community Churches
The Liberal Catholic Apostolic Church has been accepted as a member of the International Council of Community Churches. The ICCC is a member of the World Council of Churches, Churches Uniting in Christ, the National Council of Churches (USA) and Christian Churches Together in the USA.

The ICCC can trace its history with the Independent Catholic movement back to the French-Gallican work of Archbishop Joseph-René Vilatte in 1907-08.

Today, the ICCC is the predominant ecumenical body representing the smaller Independent Catholic churches alongside other churches from the evangelical tradition. Its membership of the major world ecumenical organizations, notably the World Council of Churches and Churches Uniting in Christ, gives Independent Catholics a voice on the wider stage.

The LCAC is at the time of writing the only Liberal Catholic denomination to hold membership in the ICCC and only the third UK-based church to do so. Metropolitan Mar Joannes has said, "We look forward greatly to working with our brethren in the ICCC to God's glory in the months and years to come. We salute the work of the ICCC and in particular its pioneering achievements in bringing together predominantly black and predominantly white churches in a combined effort against racism."

18 May 2008

Andy Hall admitted as Cleric
Seminarian Andy Hall has been admitted as a Cleric by Mar Alexei. We ask your prayers for Andy as he continues his formation.

15 May 2008

Fr. Christopher Sowers appointed Father-Custodian of the Order of Ave Maria
We are pleased to announce the appointment of Fr. E. Christopher L. Sowers, Priest of the LCAC, as Father-Custodian of the Order of Ave Maria. This position is equivalent to that of Abbot in other orders. We pray that Fr. Christopher will lead the Order with the wisdom and energy he has already shown through his commitment to its development. He is currently preparing for publication by European-American University Press a book of prayers for the Order.

Pamela Marie Slayton appointed to membership of the Order of Ave Maria
Mrs. Pamela Marie Slayton, a member of the LCAC in its community All Saints and Angels Ancient Catholic Church, Oregon, has been appointed Senior Member of the Order of Ave Maria.

4 May 2008

Andy Hall confirmed and accepted as a seminarian
On Sunday 4th May, Mar Alexei confirmed Andrew Hall. Andy, who lives in Glasgow, was formerly for many years a priest and missionary in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. Your prayers are asked for Andy on Trinity Sunday as on that day he will be ordained to the office of Cleric at the Oratory of St Paul of the Cross, Edinburgh, and will also be received as a Probationer Brother with the Companions of the Cross and Passion. He has already begun the A.Th. program with the European American University. Deo Gratias!

1 May 2008

Fr. Dan L. Edmunds welcomed as a Pastor
Fr. Dan has been admitted to the specialist ministry of Pastor within the LCAC from his base in Pennsylvania, USA. He was ordained priest by Metropolitan Nicholas Valissoupolis of the Greek Orthodox Church (Old Calendar) and subsequently transferred to the Ukrainian Autocephalous Orthodox Church, which was in communion with his previous denomination.

17 April 2008

Sr. Magdalena OEF welcomed to membership of the ILCF
We are delighted to welcome Sr. Magdalena, OEF (the Revd. Alyssa Stebbing) to clergy membership of the ILCF. In many respects this is but a formal recognition of someone who is already very much part of our family, since Alyssa was last year married to fellow ILCF member Fr. Colin Stebbing (Br. Thomas, OEF) in a Navajo ceremony and blessing which is described here.

12 April 2008

Fr. François Lepine welcomed as a Pastor
We welcome Fr. François Lepine to the position of Pastor within the LCAC. He was ordained within The Liberal Rite by former Bishop for Canada the Most Revd. Mike Shaw. He is based near Quebec, Canada.

11 April 2008

Fr. Dennis Donlon welcomed as a Priest
We welcome Fr. Dennis Donlon to the LCAC as a bivocational priest. Fr. Dennis was ordained for the Companions in Spirit Community in Washington, DC, in 2007. Companions in Spirit was founded in 1985 and is an Eucharistic, Ecumenical and Spiritually Eclectic and Inclusive Community in association with The Fraternity of Mercy, in which Fr. Dennis continues to serve under Bishop Michael Thomas.

Fr. Dennis is at present a Probationer in the Companions of the Cross and Passion, a Religious Order of LCAC.

30 March 2008

Fr. Adrian Glover to be Vicar-General
The Revd. Fr. Adrian Glover has been appointed as Vicar General in the Liberal Catholic Apostolic Church.  He writes, "I will do all in my power, God willing, to serve the Church diligently, wisely and compassionately in this regard." We pray for Fr. Adrian as he takes up his office and look forward to working with him in the months and years to come.

28 March 2008

Establishment of the Liberal Catholic Apostolic Church
In March 2008, the College of Bishops of The Liberal Rite, having received a special commission to continue the work of Archbishop Harold Nicholson from Mr Richard Hadingham, his closest living associate, agreed that these diverse heritages should be united into a single body.

We believe that the new Liberal Catholic Apostolic Church offers the best chance for the preservation of the legacies and cardinal features of both heritages and maintains their essential spiritual elements.

The following appointments have been agreed in the new Church, with all other clergy continuing in their existing roles:

Mar Joannes III (The Most Revd. John Kersey), Primate and Titular Archbishop of Karim, to be also Metropolitan of the LCAC with effect from March 2008.

Mar Andreas (The Most Revd. Andrew Linley), Titular Archbishop of Mount Carmel, to be also Co-adjutor with perpetual right of succession and Primate in the LCAC with effect from March 2008.

Mar Alexei (The Rt. Revd. Alistair Herrick Bate), Titular Bishop of Hebron, to be also Administrator of the Province of Scotland and a member of the College of Bishops of the LCAC with effect from March 2008.

25 March 2008

Kay Ellen Krueger admitted as Underdeacon
Ms Kay Ellen Krueger is to be Underdeacon in the LCAC. She will assist Fr. Christopher Sowers at All Saints and Angels Ancient Catholic Church, Portland, Oregon, USA.

2 March 2008

Ordination to the Priesthood of Fr. Adrian Glover
Fr. Adrian Glover was ordained to the Sacred Priesthood by Mar Andreas on the Feast Day of St David. He will serve in Bournemouth. We pray for Adrian+ as he begins this new chapter of his ministry.

A new oratory is to be established under Fr. Adrian in Bournemouth. The oratory will be dedicated to St Michael and All Angels.

Ordination to the Priesthood of Sr. Magdalena OEF
Mrs Alyssa Stebbing, Sr. Magdalena of the Order of Ecumenical Franciscans, will be ordained to the minor orders and Diaconate by Bishop Charles Mugleston (ILCF Clergy Member) at the Well Chapel, Witnesham, on March 8-9. All are welcome and contact should be made via the Well Chapel website. It is provisionally organised that Deacon Alyssa will be raised to the Sacred Priesthood at the Well Chapel on August 9. Please pray for Alyssa as she enters this new stage in her life.

Consecration of Bishop Aristid Havlicek
Bishop Aristid Havlicek was consecrated for The Young Rite during the Sophia School gathering which took place on Sunday 2 March in Slovenia. Mar Alexei was among the consecrating bishops.

15 February 2008

Appointments in the Clergy
Fr. Eckhart Christopher Lee Sowers, to be Priest with effect from February 2008.
Fr. Charles Reynolds, to be Priest with effect from February 2008.

30 January 2008

Appointments in the Clergy
Mar Alexei (The Rt. Revd. Alistair Herrick Bate, CCP, MA Div), to be Titular Bishop of Hebron with effect from January 2008.
Revd. David Upton, to be Acolyte with effect from January 2008.

12 January 2008

Ordination to the Diaconate of the Revd. Adrian Glover
The Revd. Adrian Glover was conditionally ordained to the minor orders and diaconate on 12 January 2008 by Bishop Andrew Linley at the Oratory of the Holy Spirit, London, during the celebration of Mass. The service was conducted according to the rite of the Liberal Catholic Church International. Adrian will be advanced to the Priesthood on St David's Day. Please pray for Adrian as he enters this new chapter in his ministry.

The Revd. Adrian Glover is to be conditionally ordained to the minor orders, diaconate and priesthood at a future date. Adrian is serving with the Cross Denominational Mission, an interdenominational ministry that promotes understanding and co-operation across the different branches of Christ's Church.  Adrian was formerly an ordained Overseer within the Apostolic Faith Church, a position equivalent to that of bishop. His ordination in the Catholic tradition and clergy membership of the Church will enhance his cross-denominational ministry, and we welcome the opportunity to assist him in this aim. He has also been accepted as a member of the Religious Society of St Simon.

Admission of Paul Maher as Postulant
We are pleased to announce the acceptance of Paul Maher as a postulant in the Church. Paul will be working towards the minor orders and Diaconate through study with European-American University under the supervision of Fr. Colin Stebbing (Br. Thomas, O.E.F.), to whose oratory he has been assigned. We wish Paul well as he discerns his vocation and prepares for the ordained ministry.