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

General observations

Location

Our clergy generally offer the sacraments within the areas where they are based. Occasionally they may be able to travel further afield.

Policy on donations

The Liberal Catholic Apostolic Church requests donations for certain services, fully in line with the normal practice of other mainstream churches. All donations are made directly to the clergyperson concerned. No clergy member of The Liberal Catholic Apostolic Church receives any form of stipend or financial contribution from central funds. Each serves on a strictly self-supporting basis.

Policy on meetings with members of the public

It is the policy of The Liberal Catholic Apostolic Church that clergy who are meeting with members of the public for purposes connected with ministry shall have the right to nominate a public location for such a meeting if they prefer not to meet at the home of the inquirer. Clergy are neither expected nor required to use their own homes for these meetings, particularly when the meeting is a first face-to-face contact between the parties concerned. This policy is in order to protect the safety and reputations of our clergy.

No clergyperson should allow themselves to be in the company of a child under the age of 16 in the context of ministry without being accompanied by another adult.

Membership

The Liberal Catholic Apostolic Church does not maintain a specific membership for laity, instead regarding with equality all those who choose to receive ministry. It does not seek to impinge on the freedom of individuals to belong to other organisations, or none, at their choice, and does not regard such membership or non-membership as incompatible with full participation in the activities of The Liberal Catholic Apostolic Church.

Baptism/Naming Ceremonies

The clergy of The Liberal Catholic Apostolic Church are pleased to baptise into the Christian faith any adult presenting him/herself with the sincere wish to received into the Church, and any child whose parents wish sincerely for him/her to enter the membership of the universal Christian communion via The Liberal Catholic Apostolic Church.

No examination of the marital status of either parent, or of the beliefs of any involved party will take place before the administration of the sacrament of baptism, and the candidate or his/her parents will be given as much choice in the style and nature of the baptismal rite as possible.

The clergy are willing to baptise at any suitable venue, usually within the London area, by negotiation with the involved party/parties.

The clergy are also pleased to devise and conduct Naming Ceremonies for parents who do not want a traditional service of Baptism, but who want a formal, public ceremony to mark the arrival of their child or children.

The standard baptismal/naming ceremony donation is £150 (waived or decreased in cases of genuine need), which includes both the service and the planning process. To this donation may be added travelling expenses and other costs incurred. An estimate of the full costs will be given at the earliest possible juncture.

Confirmation

Individuals who have been baptised (in any Christian rite) may receive the sacrament of Confirmation as members of our community.

Holy Communion

The Mass is celebrated every day for the community at one or more of our oratories. As well as the rites of the Ancient Catholic Church and Liberal Catholic Church, other liturgies are also used. Complin is also said regularly. Those wishing to attend Mass or Complin should contact us to arrange an informal meeting.

Marriage (Religious ceremonies) - in England and Wales

The clergy of The Liberal Catholic Apostolic Church will perform liberal Christian services of marriage according to the legal form required in England and Wales. This means that civil preliminaries must be completed, and it may also involve booking a Registrar to register the marriage. Full information on marriage as it affects The Liberal Catholic Apostolic Church may be found on the General Register Office site.

The clergy require couples to choose their own venue, and are happy to advise on the suitability of any venue for the ceremony to be performed. Please note that the venue must usually be in the same registration district as the register office which is approached to register the marriage, and both must usually be in the same district as the permanent address of one or both of the couple to be married.

Currently, only marriages between members of the opposite sex are capable of being legally registered.

The standard donation to the clergy, which includes both the ceremony (but NOT the venue charges) and the planning process, is £200, plus any other expenses incurred. The couple will be informed of the full costs at the earliest possible juncture. They will also need to meet all costs incurred by the Registrar.

Blessings of Civil Marriage and Civil Partnerships

The clergy of The Liberal Catholic Apostolic Church are pleased to offer to bless existing civil partnerships, civil marriages and other legally appropriate relationships according to liberal Christian principles. They do not discriminate on the grounds of a lack of conventional Christian belief on the part of either partner.

The clergy put at the disposal of each couple their considerable liturgical expertise, and are very happy to work closely with them in designing a customised rite. Equally, they are perfectly willing to use existing Christian rites of marriage, adapting them where necessary to suit the needs of each couple.

The clergy require couples to choose their own venue, and are happy to advise on the suitability of any venue for the ceremony to be performed.

The standard donation to the clergy, which includes both the ceremony (but NOT the venue charges) and the planning process, is £200, plus any other expenses incurred. The couple will be informed of the full costs at the earliest possible juncture.

Legal information about registering civil partnerships can be found at the Citizens' Advice Bureau site by clicking here.

Holy Orders

Please see the specific guidance for those seeking ordination or incardination.

Confession/Pastoral Counselling

Because of limited resources, we offer confession and pastoral counselling only within our immediate community at present.

Healing ministry

We offer a healing ministry of directed prayer for those enduring physical or mental suffering. This is neither a physical nor a pharmaceutical form of ministry and must not be used as a substitute for medical care. We work in co-operation with medical care to bring about spiritual healing through supplication to God and anointing (unction). This ministry is undertaken face to face and usually requires two clergy in attendance.

Funerals

The clergy of The Liberal Catholic Apostolic Church prepare funeral or memorial services tailored to the needs of individual families, or to fulfil the requests of the deceased. The clergy do not discriminate on the grounds of lack of Christian belief, or the nature of any beliefs held, either by the deceased him/herself, or the family and friends of the deceased, believing the comfort of the bereaved and their aid in the grieving process to be the primary purpose of the funeral service. The clergy are dedicated to serving the needs of the bereaved and are flexible and understanding.

The clergy are at ease with both traditional-and modern-language rites, and are also happy to use a rite of your choice should you have a preference, or to design a customised rite. They place at your disposal considerable expertise in liturgy and music. Where practicable, they are happy to make personal visits to families in order to discuss service arrangements and to offer pastoral support, but are equally willing to communicate via telephone or email. They make no extra charge for discussion and support.

The donations to the minister are usually set by the funeral director concerned, and tend to be in the region of £100. If no funeral director is used, or if extra travel or difficulty is involved, the clergy may need to cover additional expenses. Families will always be informed of this at the earliest possible stage.

There is generally a nominal donation for the funerals of babies or children.