Which Apostolic Church do you belong to?

[Iosias]

Roman Catholic Church, the Eastern Orthodox Church, the Anglican Church, the Oriental Orthodox Church, one of the various Old Catholic churches, or one of the many Continuing Anglican churches?

This was going to be a poll but I forgot to click the relevant box :doh:

[xristos.anesti]

^_^

Ah, who cares - boxes shmoxes -

I am a Catholic Christian of the East.

[Secundulus]

I belong to the ACA (Anglican Church in America), part of the Traditional Anglican Communion.

http://www.acahome.org/tac/index.htm

[zhilan]

^_^

Ah, who cares - boxes shmoxes -

I am a Catholic Christian of the East.

:scratch: I thought you were Orthodox.....

[Colabomb]

I am an Anglican, confirmed in the Reformed Episcopal Church, but Currently worshiping at an Episcopal Church.

[Colabomb]

:scratch: I thought you were Orthodox.....

As you know sister, your Church's theology Preaches that you ARE the Catholic Church ;)

[WarriorAngel]

Roman 'Rite' Catholic. :)

[Mary of Bethany]

Eastern Orthodox - in a parish of the Orthodox Church in America

Mary

[longhair75]

I am a member of Saint Andrew's Episcopal Church.

[a_ntv]

I'm part of the Catholic Church, Ambrosian rite

[zhilan]

As you know sister, your Church's theology Preaches that you ARE the Catholic Church ;)
Yes, but we would generally not call ourselves the Catholic Church of the East at it implies that we are part of the Roman Catholic church. We would call ourselves the Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church, but that should not be confused with the Catholic Church.

[Wigglesworth]

I am a member of the Polish National Catholic Church (http://www.pncc.org).

Peace be with you.

:crossrc:

[PaladinValer]

Member of the Anglican Church

[EmperorConstantine]

Part of the One Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church in the Eastern Orthodox Tradition.

(tell me that doesn't sound a little odd)

[xristos.anesti]

:scratch: I thought you were Orthodox.....

Me too.

:)

[PassthePeace1]

Latin Rite Catholic :priest:

[eoe]

Eastern Orthodox - specifically Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America. Even more specifically the Holy Metropolis of Atlanta under the Omophorion of His Eminence Metropolitan Alexios of Atlanta.

[xristos.anesti]

Yes, but we would generally not call ourselves the Catholic Church of the East at it implies that we are part of the Roman Catholic church. We would call ourselves the Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church, but that should not be confused with the Catholic Church.

God helps Zhilan,

understood, sorry I confused you.

[karen freeinchristman]

Anglican - Church of England

[nestoj]

Orthodox Church - Serbian Orthodox Church, Episcopate of Nis, Vladika Niski Irinej (Bishop Irinej)

nestoj
God helps

[redMountian]

I'm Ukrainian Greek Catholic.

[Brushstroke]

Eastern Orthodox - Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America - St. Nicholas Antiochian Orthodox Church in Springdale, AR under the Diocese of Miami and the Southeast (Bishop Antoun). :)

[JasonV]

Liberal Catholic Church International ("Old Catholic" denomination) under +James Roberts of the Provincial Diocese of the USA.

[Tawny]

Church of England

[AveMaria]

Anglican.

:wave:

[kamikat]

Eastern Orthodox- Orthodox Church in America

[kamikat]

I belong to the ACA (Anglican Church in America), part of the Traditional Anglican Communion.

http://www.acahome.org/tac/index.htm

Ya wanna know something funny, when I was just begining my church search, I really wanted to join a church in your communion. There aren't any near me, so I kept searching. I wonder if I would be Anglican today if there had been one near me.

[EmperorConstantine]

Eastern Orthodox- Orthodox Church in America
Finally! Another OCA person! :clap:


Diocese of the West - Bishop Benjamin.

[PaladinGirl]

Liberal Roman Catholic. :)

[Albion]

Yes, but we would generally not call ourselves the Catholic Church of the East at it implies that we are part of the Roman Catholic church. We would call ourselves the Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church, but that should not be confused with the Catholic Church.

IOW, Nestorian?

[Albion]

Roman Catholic Church, the Eastern Orthodox Church, the Anglican Church, the Oriental Orthodox Church, one of the various Old Catholic churches, or one of the many Continuing Anglican churches?

Continuing Anglican

[Mary of Bethany]

Finally! Another OCA person! :clap:


Diocese of the West - Bishop Benjamin.

Hey, you forgot me! :P Diocese of the South.

Mary

[Colabomb]

Apparently, according to a few on this site. I don't belong to one.....

[minasoliman]

Oriental Orthodox
Coptic Orthodox Archdiocese of North America
St. Mina's Coptic Orthodox church in Holmdel, NJ

[Mysterium_Fidei]

Latin Rite Catholic (who would probably have been Byzantine if a church was closer) :)

[EmperorConstantine]

Hey, you forgot me! :P Diocese of the South.

Mary
Noo! Not a follower of Archbishop DMITRI!

:P

Just kidding. I've heard good things about him.

[ScottBot]

Roman Catholic Church, the Eastern Orthodox Church, the Anglican Church, the Oriental Orthodox Church, one of the various Old Catholic churches, or one of the many Continuing Anglican churches?

This was going to be a poll but I forgot to click the relevant box :doh:
I am a member of the Catholic Church, and I worship in the Latin Rite.

[lost_and_found]

Roman Catholic :)

[Rowan]

Noo! Not a follower of Archbishop DMITRI!

:P

Just kidding. I've heard good things about him.

Me too. Well, I've read good things, from the latest on Fr. Stephen's blog.

Eastern Orthodox - Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America
Metropolitan Philip, Bishop Mark
Holy Cross Antiochian Orthodox Mission, Byzantine Rite

[Mary of Bethany]

Me too. Well, I've read good things, from the latest on Fr. Stephen's blog.

Eastern Orthodox - Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America
Metropolitan Philip, Bishop Mark
Holy Cross Antiochian Orthodox Mission, Byzantine Rite

I thought about posting that blog entry on here. It's very good!

Mary

[nikostheater]

Greek Orthodox.

[ScottBot]

Greek Orthodox.
Yiasou! :wave: Pos isthe?

[Sothron]

OCA under Archbishop Dmitri of Dallas and the South. :crosseo:

[Dorothea]

Greek Orthodox here - Eastern Orthodox

[PaladinGirl]

I officially belong to the Roman Catholic Church. However, I don't currently attend a Roman Catholic church and therefore consider myself to be an an unaffiliated Apostolic Christian.

[nikostheater]

Greek Eastern Orthodox.

[nikostheater]

Yiasou! :wave: Pos isthe?
Kala,esy?
Thank you so much for your reply in Greek!
And sorry for the late answer!
:)

[Yeznik]

The Armenian Church

[Mick116]

Anglican.

Currently, I worship with Holy Trinity Anglican Church in the North Queensland diocese of the Anglican Church of Australia.

Back home in Brisbane, I worship with Patmos House Community, a parish of the Anglican Catholic Church in Australia, which is a member church in the Traditional Anglican Communion.

[ContraMundum]

Anglican.

[ContraMundum]

Back home in Brisbane, I worship with Patmos House Community, a parish of the Anglican Catholic Church in Australia, which is a member church in the Traditional Anglican Communion.

They rock! :thumbsup:

[SeraphimSarov]

Eastern Orthodox - Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America
Metropolitan Philip, Bishop Mark
Holy Cross Antiochian Orthodox Mission, Byzantine Rite

Hey hey, Bishop Mark was just at my church this weekend! :clap:

Eastern Orthodox and obviously in the Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America in the diocese of Toledo and the Midwest under Bishop Mark. Parish is Holy Transfiguration Antiochian Orthodox Church in Warrenville, IL.

[Rowan]

Hey hey, Bishop Mark was just at my church this weekend! :clap:



I met him too :) I heard he's really good at traveling to all the parishes under his jurisdiction at least once. It was during the end of Lent this year when he visited St. George (another parish I go to besides the mission). His homily was awesome.

edited to add: Just read that your parish is named after the Holy Transfiguration...cool.

[SeraphimSarov]

His homily was awesome.

He's been to my parish a few times since I've been there... he likes to focus on the Christian life as a struggle. He's really good at describing how Orthodoxy should be real in a person's life.

edited to add: Just read that your parish is named after the Holy Transfiguration...cool.


Oh yeah... big party this weekend. Having a hierarchical liturgy made it all the more festive. Good times. :)

[paleodoxy]

Formerly chrismated in the Reformed Episcopal Church. Now...

Eastern Orthodox - Antiochian Orthodox Archdiocese of North America (Metropolitan Philip) - Diocese of Wichita and Mid-America (Bishop Basil) - St. Anthony the Great Antiochian Orthodox Christian Church in Spring, TX (Byzantine Rite) - Fr. Andre Issa.

[Philothei]

Greek Orthdox church of America :)

[copticorthodoxy]

The Coptic Orthodox Church of Alexnadria ( Oriental Orthodox )

[Angeldove97]

Roman Catholic :)

[FaithfulRemnant]

Protestant here, basically Evangelical Lutheran, although Anglican and the conservative National Catholic churches, possibly Oriental Orthodox, would be some close options.

[minasoliman]

Protestant here, basically Evangelical Lutheran, although Anglican and the conservative National Catholic churches, possibly Oriental Orthodox, would be some close options.
I am truly confused on what you mean by "options." Do you mean that OO's seem to believe similar to what your Church believes? What are the conservative National Catholic churches?

[FaithfulRemnant]

I don't belong to any one Apostolic church in the official sense, but would consider any of the above since they are close to my basic understanding of the Christian faith, particularly Lutheran or Anglican(I know not all Lutheran groups have an episcopacy, but some do in a manner similar to the Anglican churches). The Polish National Catholic Church appears to be on the more conservative side. I"m still learning about the Oriental Orthodox, but seems they are quite close to what I believe also. Maybe you're confused because I don't identify strictly with one group. Sorry.

[RobNJ]

I don't belong to any one Apostolic church in the official sense, but would consider any of the above since they are close to my basic understanding of the Christian faith, particularly Lutheran or Anglican(I know not all Lutheran groups have an episcopacy, but some do in a manner similar to the Anglican churches). The Polish National Catholic Church appears to be on the more conservative side. I"m still learning about the Oriental Orthodox, but seems they are quite close to what I believe also. Maybe you're confused because I don't identify strictly with one group. Sorry.


So are you "church shopping".:thumbsup: ...or just trying some do-it-yourself mix & match? :doh:

[copticorthodoxy]

I don't belong to any one Apostolic church in the official sense, but would consider any of the above since they are close to my basic understanding of the Christian faith, particularly Lutheran or Anglican(I know not all Lutheran groups have an episcopacy, but some do in a manner similar to the Anglican churches). The Polish National Catholic Church appears to be on the more conservative side. I"m still learning about the Oriental Orthodox, but seems they are quite close to what I believe also. Maybe you're confused because I don't identify strictly with one group. Sorry.

How the Oriental Orthodox close to what you believe ?? Do you know what is the Oriental Orthodox Churches ??

[Sacrum Silentium]

I'm a catechumen of the Orthodox Church, within the American Carpatho-Russian Orthodox Diocese of the USA, under Metropolitan Nicholas, in Saint Mary's Orthodox Church. ;)

[FaithfulRemnant]

I wouldn't call it church shopping nor would I say it's a do-it-yourself mix and match. I'm just saying if any one of these Apostolic churches was available in my locality, I'd worship there.
Copticorthodoxy, I only know a little bit about the Oriental Orthodox churches. As far as being in accord with my beliefs, I like the older rituals, prayers, and tradition, also the independent nature of these churches(not under Roman papal control, etc.). I've read a little about the chalcedonian dispute. I don't see why this is such a crisis between the Oriental Orthodox and others. Maybe you could tell me more. I suppose if such a church was here locally I could give a more honest answer about joining an Oriental church. I understand the OO has a "pope" but isn't he equal to other bishops and oversees Egypt while the others are more autonomous? How do the OO's view Protestants, particularly Lutherans and Anglicans? I haven't found any literature. Do you know any books or websites?

[ContraMundum]

I understand the OO has a "pope" but isn't he equal to other bishops and oversees Egypt while the others are more autonomous?...... I haven't found any literature. Do you know any books or websites?

I have a large collection of works by the current Coptic Pope, Shenoudah III. I'm a fan to some degree (I like him except for the anti-semitism and injunction against visiting the Holy Land, of course, but hey, that's the middle East for you) and can say his works are very easy to read and quite thorough.

I've met him and let me tell you, he's a man of God.

Check it out here:

http://www.copticpope.org/index.php

There's plenty around.They have number of publications in English- available at your nearest Coptic Church, which I can also highly recommend.

[Maikelmike]

Belong to the Syrian Orthodox of Antochia. But most important a believer in Christ.

[Tavita]

I was confirmed in the Anglican Church of Australia, at St Luke's Co-operating Parish in the Diocese of Carpentaria, which takes in the tip of Queensland, Australia, and the Torres Straight Islands above it.

Right now I attend St Paul's Episcopalian Church in Pekin Illinois, USA.

[Foundthelight]

Roman.

[Akathist]

Eastern Orthodox, Orthodox Church of America, Midwest under Bishop Job.

[nikostheater]

Eastern Orthodox,Church of Crete,Ierapetra.MY bishop is Metropolitan of Ierapytna and Siteia Eygenios.

[Anglian]

British Orthodox Church, which is part of the Oriental Orthodox family of Churches and comes under the jurisdiction of Alexandria and HH Pope Shenouda.

Our Metropolitan is Abba Seraphim, who is a member of the Holy Synod of the Coptic Church. We use the ancient Liturgy of St. James.

Our website is at http://www.britishorthodox.org/index.php

In peace,

Anglian

[AnglicanPriest]

I am a monastic priest, currently in the process of incardinating into the Anglican Mission in the Americas, within the Anglican Province of Rwanda.

Greg+

[karen freeinchristman]

Welcome, Greg! :wave:

[AnglicanPriest]

Welcome, Greg! :wave:
Thanks!

Greg+

[Albion]

I am a monastic priest, currently in the process of incardinating into the Anglican Mission in the Americas, within the Anglican Province of Rwanda.

Greg+

Hi Greg, and welcome. What Anglican church body do you belong to at present?
(It's just a matter of curiosity. Don't answer if this seems too intrusive)

[IgnatiusOfAntioch]

Catholic Church here.

[Catholic Christian]

I am a Catholic. Jesus promised, "I will build my Church and the gates of hell will not prevail against it" (Matt. 16:18). Among the Christian churches, only the Catholic Church has existed since the time of Jesus. Every other Christian church is an offshoot of the Catholic Church. The Eastern Orthodox churches broke away from unity with the pope in 1054. The heretical protestant churches were established during the Reformation, which began in 1517. Only the Catholic Church existed in the tenth century, in the fifth century, and in the first century, faithfully teaching the doctrines given by Christ to the apostles, omitting nothing. The list of popes can be traced back to Peter himself, the first pope.

Jesus’ Church is called catholic ("universal" in Greek) because it is his gift to all people. He told his apostles to go throughout the world and make disciples of "all nations" (Matt. 28:19–20). For 2,000 years the Catholic Church has carried out this mission, preaching the good news that Christ died for all men and that he wants all of us to be members of his universal family (Gal. 3:28).

[Colabomb]

I am a Catholic. Jesus promised, "I will build my Church and the gates of hell will not prevail against it" (Matt. 16:18). Among the Christian churches, only the Catholic Church has existed since the time of Jesus. Every other Christian church is an offshoot of the Catholic Church. The Eastern Orthodox churches broke away from unity with the pope in 1054. The heretical protestant churches were established during the Reformation, which began in 1517. Only the Catholic Church existed in the tenth century, in the fifth century, and in the first century, faithfully teaching the doctrines given by Christ to the apostles, omitting nothing. The list of popes can be traced back to Peter himself, the first pope.


Heh, the catholics claim what just about every ancient church claims. "We've been there from the Beginning, and everyone else is schismatic".

The Eastern Orthodox claim it, the Orientals claim it, the Non Chalcedonians, the Anglicans........

Saying it doesn't make it so.

[Anglian]

Heh, the catholics claim what just about every ancient church claims. "We've been there from the Beginning, and everyone else is schismatic".

The Eastern Orthodox claim it, the Orientals claim it, the Non Chalcedonians, the Anglicans........

Saying it doesn't make it so.

Indeed we do, and that is because we all read the ecclesiology of St. Cyprian in the same way. We all read the same Fathers and worship the same Triune God, and even confess the same Creeds.

If there was not such a fear of syncretism or its modern equivalent, indifferentism, we might also discover we have similar views on these things.

Who knows, if we actually listened to each other, rather than telling each other (at times) what it is each other believes, we might discover more things in common.

We might even end up being able to practice His injunction to love each other. Our hierarchs will discuss these things for years to come, and on all sides those who think ecumenism a synonym for indifferentism will snap at some of us and cry 'heresy', and perhaps fail to see that we too believe in doctrines and dogmas, but still think we can talk to our fellow Christians to find out how they interpret our common heritage of the Risen Word.

If we are commanded to love even our enemies, how hard can it be to give that service to those who also confess Christ crucified and risen? If we find they are indeed preaching a different gospel, well He will deal with that. But what if they do not?

Of course, we must all be guided by our bishops and other hierarchs, but a faith founded on repentance and amendment of life always has within in the means towards unity - and without any need to compromise on our Faith. Love, and trust in Him.

In peace,

Anglian

[Colabomb]

Indeed we do, and that is because we all read the ecclesiology of St. Cyprian in the same way. We all read the same Fathers and worship the same Triune God, and even confess the same Creeds.

If there was not such a fear of syncretism or its modern equivalent, indifferentism, we might also discover we have similar views on these things.

Who knows, if we actually listened to each other, rather than telling each other (at times) what it is each other believes, we might discover more things in common.

We might even end up being able to practice His injunction to love each other. Our hierarchs will discuss these things for years to come, and on all sides those who think ecumenism a synonym for indifferentism will snap at some of us and cry 'heresy', and perhaps fail to see that we too believe in doctrines and dogmas, but still think we can talk to our fellow Christians to find out how they interpret our common heritage of the Risen Word.

If we are commanded to love even our enemies, how hard can it be to give that service to those who also confess Christ crucified and risen? If we find they are indeed preaching a different gospel, well He will deal with that. But what if they do not?

Of course, we must all be guided by our bishops and other hierarchs, but a faith founded on repentance and amendment of life always has within in the means towards unity - and without any need to compromise on our Faith. Love, and trust in Him.

In peace,

Anglian

Dear Brother. Do not misread me. I am for unity and ecumenism. I pray for the day we are all one.

I think however, that opening people's minds to the idea that perhaps their church is not perfect, and that there is truth and life to be found in others, is a step in that direction.

There will be no unity as long as the attitude, that our little sect is perfect while others are in schism, is allowed to exist. We ALL have contributed to the Schism that currently exists, and we ALL need to repent and heal it. That includes the Roman Catholics, the Eastern Orthodox, the Baptists, the Anglican,s the methodists the lutherans etc. None have clean hands, no matter what you are told by apologists.

[CathNancy]

Latin rite Catholic

[ScottBot]

I belong to the Very First Evanglical Apostolic Church of the Nazarene.

[copticorthodoxy]

I belong to the Very First Evanglical Apostolic Church of the Nazarene.

Where is the Nazarene ??

[RestoreTheRiver]

I am a priest in The Communion of Convergence Churches, a sister communion to the Communion of Evangelical Episcopal Churches.

Michael

[lost_and_found]

I belong to the Roman Catholic Church.

[Historynut]

Eastern Orthodox here :wave:

[IgnatiusOfAntioch]

Catholic.

[jamescarvin]

I am an Orthodox Christian interested in ecumenism (where ecumenism means being united in Christ).

"Where Christ is there is the church" is true only to the extent that the Holy Spirit is vivifying the church in Grace. Christ is not limited. The Spirit is not limited. And the only reason the statement is true is that Christ is the head of the church.

St. Cyprian said there was no salvation outside of the church. This statement has been used to abuse, confuse, divide and stand aloof for centuries, and more so today than ever. What if the term "church" he was thinking of was the mystical body of Christ that served Him as head, rather than engulfed Him as body?

I'm certain that is what he meant.

The churches of the east rave about their apophaticism with regard to the uncreated light. But when it comes to church, everything is precisely defined. The mystery is all gone. Here God is right here, right in this visible spot right here, where we can very easily say eenie meanie miney mo - and you are not it.

(Isn't that a western way of thinking?)

The non-apostolic churches look at us and laugh as we bicker and condescend. The Sovereign Holy Spirit decided in His Great Mercy to skip over formal protocols and reach the heretics because the Christians of the East were too caught up in their sectarian pride to care. God cared. And He took them in even though they had absolutely no connection to their communion.

No connection except for one thing .…Jesus Christ Himself by the Holy Spirit's vivifying Grace.

So that it could still be said that there is no salvation outside of the Church.

But we could no longer say … 'and you are not it.'

The idea that there can be no intercommunion among those who did not hold the same doctrines goes back to St. Justin. I do believe that St. Justin was referring to non-believers - those who do not believe in Christ. He was not referring to those who disagreed on small matters.

If we wait for every person to agree on every matter, then we will never have communion again.

Or maybe we can all just go into our houses and receive communion by ourselves.

Fortunately, the one Truth we celebrate is not dependent on our small-mindedness. There is not a person walking the face of this earth who is not a heretic in one way or another. There is no one who is Omniscient except God alone. The "fullness of the truth" -a phrase often applied to Orthodox Christianity, is only "full" with respect to the one who is beyond our comprehension being our head.

[PetersKeys]

Are anglican churches really truely apostolic? considered they were created by King Henry VIII?

[Voice_of _reason]

Continuing Anglican church (Cana)

Peterkeys...according to the RCC our orders are not valid....and according to the RCC we probably do not even exist. I'm glad the RCC is not God.

[JasonV]

Are anglican churches really truely apostolic? considered they were created by King Henry VIII?

Are Roman churches really apostolic? Considering they were created by Emperor Constantine?

(We can all play this game.)

[PetersKeys]

Are Roman churches really apostolic? Considering they were created by Emperor Constantine?

(We can all play this game.)


Lol, thats just a stupid protestant connotation, I dosen't have any bearing on actual history, you got around 30 Popes who existed before constantine even was born, so you kinda have a problem with history there.

It was a serious question by the way. In order for anglican church to be apostolic it would need to trace its bishops back to the apostles. How is this possible if it was created in the 15th century by King Henry VIII.

[Colabomb]

If we can't trace our bishops back to Christ, than you also have an issue as most of our bishops go through Catholic lineage.

Secondly, The Eastern Orthodox Christians could easily call you the first protestants, so lets not play the finger pointing game.

How about we just treat each other as brothers rather than trying to kick each other out.

[JasonV]

Lol, thats just a stupid protestant connotation, I dosen't have any bearing on actual history, you got around 30 Popes who existed before constantine even was born, so you kinda have a problem with history there.

The Papacy as it exists today did not exist before Constantine. The Pope of Rome was just another Bishop (well respected, even consulted, but hardly the Vicar of Christ on the earth).

It was a serious question by the way. In order for anglican church to be apostolic it would need to trace its bishops back to the apostles. How is this possible if it was created in the 15th century by King Henry VIII.

Easy answer: Because the Church was there before Henry.

More in depth: One might surmise that the Bishops of England did not lose their Bishopric when they followed the King.

Just a tip here: Read the history of the Anglican Church.

[Albion]

you kinda have a problem with history there....
It was a serious question by the way. In order for anglican church to be apostolic it would need to trace its bishops back to the apostles. How is this possible if it was created in the 15th century by King Henry VIII.

Since every Anglican bishop CAN trace his lineage back to the Apostles, you've answered your own question about the Apostolic nature of the church and that it was not "created in the 15th century." (BTW, it's the 16th century you meant to say, not the 15th, speaking of kinda having a problem with history.)

[Mick116]

Are anglican churches really truely apostolic? considered they were created by King Henry VIII?
This is a bit like asking whether the Catholic Church is apostolic, considering it was created by the Pope that excommunicated the Eastern Churches in 1054.

The Anglican churches were not founded on Henry VIII or his teachings, but on the scriptures, the tradition of the undivided Church of the first millennium AD (including the catholic creeds), and the threefold ministry of bishop, priest and deacon, in continuation with the Church that has existed in the British Isles since the second century, if not earlier.