The Evangelical
Catholic Church
National Conference and Retreat
The 2009 National Conference and Retreat
Details for the 2009 National Conference
and Retreat
to be held in Albuquerque, New Mexico
will be announced shortly by the Presiding Bishop.
Suggestions for items for the Conference Agenda
are now welcomed for submission.
The following items are
pending
for inclusion in the 2009 Agenda:
Bishop Wilkowski offers
the following amendment to Canon Four:
Bishop Wilkowski moves that Canon Four of the Code of Canon Law
be renamed Liturgical and Sacramental Law and amended as follows:
Liturgical and Sacramental Law
1. As a validly consecrated autocephalous catholic faith community, the Evangelical Catholic Church reserves unto herself the obligation to define and make binding her liturgical norms, customs and laws.
2. The liturgical norms, customs and laws or decrees practiced within other jurisdictions lack canonical standing within this Church body, unless specifically adopted by this Church through her own canonical action..
3. The common Liturgical Rite for the Evangelical Catholic Church shall be the Rite found in the Missal promulgated by the Second Vatican Council, aka the Novus Ordo. The common Lectionary of this Church shall be the companion to the aforementioned Missal.
4. The Evangelical Catholic Church accepts the sacramental validity of the Liturgical Rites contained within the Anglican Book of Common Prayer, the Divine Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom and the Tridentine Liturgy. Any of the aforementioned Liturgical Rites may be celebrated by the priests and bishops of this Church providing that all ecclesial norms of this Church are maintained and celebrated.
5. At the time of their creation, all parishes shall be dedicated to the common Liturgical Rite of this Church, unless otherwise specifically dedicated by the local ordinary to another canonically approved Rite.
A: For just pastoral cause, a parish may petition the local ordinary for permission to change its liturgical designation.
B. The local ordinary may grant permission for a parish to expand their Mass schedule to include an additional Mass to be celebrated in a second Liturgical Rite. Parishes that schedule only one Sunday Mass may not alternate Liturgical Rites. For a compelling pastoral reason, a parish may petition the local ordinary for permission to celebrate with a different Liturgical Rite for a special or unique occasion.
6. In the celebration of any of the approved Liturgies by this Church, all priests and bishops are bound to adapt the texts of these Liturgies to include and celebrate the following:
A. When reading the Eucharistic Prayers found in the Pauline and Tridentine Liturgies, any Papal references shall be retired and replaced with the name of the Presiding Bishop of this Church, for whom we remember within the common prayer of this Church.
B. Likewise, all Papal references within the Divine Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom shall to be retired and replaced with the name of the Presiding Bishop of this Church, for whom we remember within the common prayer of this Church. When referring to the local ordinary during the Divine Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom, he or she shall be simply referred as “N, our bishop.”
C. When celebrating Rites One or Two of the Book of Common Prayer, prayers for the intentions of the Presiding Bishop and Local Ordinary shall be included in the Prayers of the People.
D. When praying the General Intercessions during the Good Friday Liturgy, the “Prayer for the Pope” shall be revised as a prayer for the Presiding Bishop, the Patriarchs of the East and West and for all Bishops and for all those in positions of Church leadership.
7. Any parish celebrating Liturgies outside of the common Rite of this Church, shall nevertheless be bound to follow the Liturgical Calendar of the common Rite of this Church.
8. Both forms of Holy Communion must be offered to those faithful irregardless of the Liturgical Rite being celebrated.
9. All Liturgies celebrated within this Church shall be celebrated in a language which best embraces and unites the People of God.
10. All priests and bishops are bound to celebrate any liturgical rite approved by this Church in the manner in which it was written, with all rubrics to be followed as prescribed to each Rite. The mixing of the texts from different Liturgical Rites is forbidden in the celebration of any Mass.
11. Visiting clergy from outside jurisdictions are bound to following the Liturgical norms, custom and laws of this Church when celebrating the Mass for the People of God. Pastors must exercise due diligence to insure the liturgical competency of any visiting celebrant.
All Canons currently in Canon Four shall follow in sequence.
Bishop Wilkowski offers
the following amendment to Canon Twenty One:
Bishop Wilkowski moves that Canon Twenty One of the Code of Canon
be amended with the following additions:
The Presiding Bishop
A. The Presiding Bishop is entrusted with the responsibility to ensure that all matters pertaining to the spiritual, sacramental, liturgical and ecclesial life of this Church are properly upheld, maintained and celebrated.
B. The Presiding Bishop is entrusted with the responsibility to ensure that the Code of Canon Law of this Church is upheld and maintained.
Bishop Wilkowski offer the creation of a new Canon to the Code of Canon Law:
The National Conference
1.
The Evangelical Catholic Church shall meet annually to discuss and address
matters of her needs.
2. The National Conference shall be called by the Presiding Bishop. If the
Office of Presiding Bishop is vacant or the Presiding Bishop is indisposed to do
so, then the National Conference shall be called by the bishop holding the
office of Vicar-General for the Church.
3. The National Conference shall be held in a location most suitable for
attendance and participation.
4. The Presiding Bishop shall publish the Conference agenda one month prior to
Conference
5. The Presiding Bishop shall act as the Presider for all Conference sessions.
(A) the Presiding Bishop shall cast votes on motions in cases of tied vote.
(B) as Presider, the Presiding Bishop shall maintain point and focus of
discussion.
6. The Presiding Bishop shall appoint a recording secretary to take notes and
minutes at all Conference sessions.
7. Proxy voting is not permitted for those not in attendance.
8. Decisions made at Conference are binding upon all canonical members of this
Church. Therefore, the Presiding Bishop must promulgate and publish the Official
Record of the Conference within one month of its adjournment for canonical
validity.