An episcopal polity is a hierarchical form of church governance (“ecclesiastical polity”) in which the chief local authorities are called bishops. (The word “bishop” derives, via the British Latin and Vulgar Latin term ebiscopus/biscopus, from the Ancient Greek ἐπίσκοπος epískopos meaning “overseer” It is the structure used by many of the major Christian Churches and denominations, such as the Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox, Church of the East, Anglican, Lutheran and Methodist churches or denominations, and other churches founded independently from these lineages.
Churches with an episcopal polity are governed by bishops, practising their authorities in the dioceses and conferences or synods. Their leadership is both sacramental and constitutional; as well as performing ordinations, confirmations, and consecrations, the bishop supervises the clergy within a local jurisdiction and is the representative both to secular structures and within the hierarchy of the church. Bishops are considered to derive their authority from an unbroken, personal apostolic succession from the Twelve Apostles of Jesus. Bishops with such authority are said to represent the historical episcopate or historic episcopate. Churches with this type of government usually believe that the Church requires episcopal government as described in the New Testament (see 1 Timothy 3 and 2 Timothy 1). In some systems, bishops may be subject in limited ways to bishops holding a higher office (variously called archbishops, metropolitans, or patriarchs, depending upon the tradition). They also meet in councils or synods. These gatherings, subject to presidency by higher ranking bishops, usually make important decisions, though the synod or council may also be purely advisory. For much of the written history of institutional Christianity, episcopal government was the only known form of church organization. This changed at the Reformation. Many Protestant churches are now organized by either congregational or presbyterian church polities, both descended from the writings of John Calvin, a Protestant reformer working and writing independently following the break with the Catholic Church precipitated by The Ninety-Five Theses of Martin Luther. However some people have disputed the episcopal polity before the reformation, such as Aerius of Sebaste in the 4th century.
First; We are canonical.
Second; We are a canonically established Church.
Third; We have recognized lines by the Roman Catholic and Episcopal Churches. As for the Orthodox we have never asked for recognition but from time to time have contact with various ethnic (SCOBA) clergy.
To clergy and individuals in non-traditional churches and those that might be referred to as the independent movement.
As long as you continue in a non-Traditional manner and as an independent organization your chance of recognition by any established Church body that means anything is almost nil.
IF you are interested in growth for your organization, want to be part of a canonical and canonically established Church and desire full communion with other Orthodox Churches then you need to consider changing your present status and joining us!
Our clergy have shared the altar with Roman Catholic clergy and with a priest at Sts Peter & Paul SCOBA Ukrainian Church in Wilmington, Del. A few years back one of the clergy also shared the stage with the Dalai Lama when he visited Ohio. He was the only Orthodox clergy on stage. The others were catholic and other clergy.
We are already recognized by Rome as being allowed to give communion to Catholics. One of our former priests was accepted as a priest in the Episcopal Church w/o re-ordination.
We are Orthodox. We follow Holy Scripture, Orthodox Canons and Tradition… in that order. We have recognized lines of Apostolic Succession which is clear from the fact both the Catholics and Episcopalians have no problem with us.
As a number of small organizations none will ever get full recognition from the SCOBA Orthodox or any other major Churches. The Antiochians may accept your small group into their Church but I understand they will demand all Church property be signed over to the Church upfront.
A formal concordat with Rome would be easier with larger member numbers.
We are listed in the Yearbook of American Churches, Handbook of Denominations and the Gale directory.
Join with us and become part of this canonically established Orthodox Church.
Since our lawsuit for Defamation and Harassment many of the troublemakers have stepped back. We feel now that they know we will defend ourselves that it was decided to back off. We have proven in court that we are the one and only THEOCACNA, the 1927 Church originally headed by Abp. Ofiesh and the 1928 Church corporation.
[NOTE: We do not claim all in the independent movement are bad but many of those who do attack us in some way are part of that movement].
Any of the independents who use our name to falsely claim they are us would be guilty of infringing our name [& Registered Service Mark] and could face civil or criminal charges. Many who do not understand the problems associated with the independent movement believe what they hear and believe we have been nothing more than an old catholic church. Once its understood those individuals were not of this Church or lines they may take a closer look at us and discover who we really are.
We often come across independent clergy who stack up a lot of old papers that were written before many of these people were born, then add a few recent photos and cocuments and claim they are part of one or more old world Churches. The old world Churches then deny knowing these people.
We offer communion to all baptized members of the Eastern and Oriental Orthodox Churches.
We have a letter from a Roman Catholic diocese that our clergy could offer communion within our liturgy to Catholics and our clergy have been asked to concelebrate the liturgy with Roman Catholic clergy.
There are some who claimed we are not who we say we are. Legally and Morally we are who we say we are and we can prove who we are and in fact have in court. We are the one and only Church that was established in 1927 by the Russian Synod of Bishops in North America (Moscow Patriarchate) and incorporated in 1928 by Archbishop Aftimios Ofiesh and others. The 1927 Charter many claim was issued to this Church. Our corporate documents from 1928 and the recent ones today are available on request. It would be nice if the original Synod were still alive to help prove who we are but they are not.
Over the years the Churches status has changed. Originally chartered as an autonomous and autocephalous jurisdiction the Church became a Metropolinate and then in 2003 was elevated to a Patriarchate.