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, while having died
in a state of grace, but still having the temporal effects of sin on their soul, will endure a period of purification prior to
receiving their ultimate heavenly reward. 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 some will reject grace, no matter how often it is offered, and end this earthly life in a state of separation
from God. As a result, these souls will be eternally cut-off from God and will spend eternity in a place 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 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, while having died
in a state of grace, but still having the temporal effects of sin on their soul, will endure a period of purification prior to
receiving their ultimate heavenly reward. 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 some will reject grace, no matter how often it is offered, and end this earthly life in a state of separation
from God. As a result, these souls will be eternally cut-off from God and will spend eternity in a place 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).
 | |  | |  | |  | |  |
St. Francis of Assisi Old Catholic Church
Independent Old Catholic Diocese of Summerville, South Carolina
Most Rev. Richard Kalbfleisch, OCF; Diocesan Bishop
Father Robert O'Connell, OCF; Pastor
Independent Old Catholic Diocese of Summerville, South Carolina
Most Rev. Richard Kalbfleisch, OCF; Diocesan Bishop
Father Robert O'Connell, OCF; Pastor