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Mission Statement
The Celtic Communion of Christ (CCC) has been called to do the following:
1. To be a community where people who both have Celtic and non-Celtic backgrounds can form local
communities around the world within the spirit of the Ancient Celtic Christian Church in worshipping our Lord and
Savior Jesus Christ.
2. To engage in ministries to the economically distressed, those suffering from various addictions, the
imprisoned, widows and widowers, the elderly, physically impaired, and others who seem abandoned or
forgotten by the mainline denominations.
3. To be a Moderate Celtic Christian witness for social justice and reconciliation on behalf of those who have
been overlooked by society.
4. To be committed to a true ecumenical Celtic Christian witness with other Christian groups.
5. To model collegial relationships amongst all the people of God, the Body of Christ.
6. To be a model of committed Celtic Christianity at work in the world.
7. To recognize and give thanks for our uniqueness among Christian communities of faith while continually
striving to effectively serve the Body of Christ by our shared ministries.
Canons
I. Name of the Church
The Name of this Church shall be known as the Celtic Communion of Christ otherwise known as the CCC.
II. Affirmation of Faith
The Two Ecumenical Creeds (Apostle Creed, Nicene Creed)
Holy Scriptures
Baptism, Eucharist, and Ministry
Apostolic Succession of Bishops
The Seven Historic Sacraments
The Mission of the Church as expressed in the Gospel of Luke 4:18-19
III. Membership in the CCC
1. By the sacrament of Holy Baptism and
2. Endorsement of the canons of the CCC and
3. Commitment to support the CCC with our prayers, presence, gifts and service
IV. Ministry in the CCC
1. All members of the Church are members of the Order of the Baptized and share in the general ministry of the
Church. As a baptized member of Christ's church one shares in the priesthood of the faithful expressed in
worship and service in the world. Each person is called to find their liturgy (the work of the people) and offer it as
a spiritual sacrifice to God and for the good of all. The CCC seeks to enable all its members to participate in the
general ministry of reconciliation committed to the whole Church.
2. Among the baptized there are those who are specifically called to works of mercy, justice and proclamation of
the Word. Such persons are deacons and after a time of discernment and preparation are ordained by the
bishop to the diaconate to be signs of the Church's commitment to mercy in the world and to lead the faithful in
these ministries.
3. Among the baptized are those who are specifically called to the ministry of Word and Sacrament as presbyters
(priests). Persons called to the presbyterate will, after a time of discernment and preparation, be ordained by the
bishop to share in the ministries of Word and Sacrament and in the ministry of general oversight of the bishop.
4. Among the presbyters there are those who are called of God and the Church to serve as bishop in providing
oversight, teaching and sacramental ministry to the People of God. New Bishops are selected by the CCC
Council of Bishops and are ordained in the historic apostolic succession.
5. No person shall be ordained to the sacred ministry of the Church who has not demonstrated a commitment to
working in ministries as a baptized member of the Church.
V. The Council of Bishops
1. All the bishops of this Church shall be members the Council of Bishops.
2. The Council of Bishops shall function as the administrative officers of the CCC.
3. The Council of bishops shall seek to explore and implement ideas and suggestions of CCC members.
4. The Council of Bishops may propose initiatives to the CCC members.
5. The Council of Bishops is responsible for the day to day general administration of the Church.
6. The Council of Bishops is responsible for establishing the legal affairs of the Church in relation to
various civil entities.
7. The Council of Bishops has general oversight over the clergy of the Church and may require of the clergy such
reports of their ministry as necessary to provide oversight and direction.
8. The Council of Bishops may act to temporarily suspend the faculties of clergy for good cause.
9. The Council of Bishops shall establish appropriate standards for clergy preparation and conduct. To assist
the bishops in clergy formation a vocations committee may be created composed of those members whom the
bishops believe well qualified to assist with this work.
10. Bishops of this Church will not participate in the consecration of another bishop for this Church without the
election of the candidate by the Council of Bishops, nor will individual bishops ordain clergy for this church
without the prior consent of the Council of Bishops as stated below.
11. The ordination of new clergy to the Church shall take place only after the Local Bishop Ordinary and the
Council of Bishops approve of individual candidates and certify that the person has met the eligibility
requirements to receive Holy Orders.
12. The Council of Bishops shall be responsible for establishing ecumenical relationships with other Christian
jurisdictions or denominations. Decisions beyond mutual recognition and inter-communion shall be subject to
ratification by the Council of Bishops.
13. Bishops may be removed from office by action of the Council of Bishops after hearing charges and
appointing a committee of investigation. Lesser penalties may be imposed at the discretion of the
Council of Bishops.
14. The Council of Bishops may elect one of its members to serve as Presiding Bishop or President of the
Council of Bishops.
15. The Council of Bishops may set the term of office of Presiding Bishop/President and determine the duties
and responsibilities of this office consistent with the canons and policies of this church.
16. The Council of Bishop is the Canonical authority of this Church
VI. Board of Directors or Advisory Council
At the discretion and the consent of the Council of Bishops, a Board of Directors or another advisory body may be
created to assist the bishops in the creation of policy and the carrying out of administrative responsibilities. The
Board of Directors/Advisory Council would work in concert with the Council of Bishops and decisions made
independently by the Bishops or the Board would be subject to confirmation by the other body before action
would be taken.
VII. Missions and Ministries
The Council of Bishops has the authority to establish or recognize missions and ministries developed by this
Church, its members, or by another agency. Only those missions and ministries approved by the Council of
Bishops shall be entitled to be identified as being in relation to the CCC.
VIII. Amendment of Canons and Policies
The canons of the CCC may be amended, added to or deleted by action of the Council of Bishops.
A two-thirds majority is required to change, add or delete canons of the Church. It can be done by e-mail,
mail, or by phone.
The Celtic Communion of Christ (CCC) has been called to do the following:
1. To be a community where people who both have Celtic and non-Celtic backgrounds can form local
communities around the world within the spirit of the Ancient Celtic Christian Church in worshipping our Lord and
Savior Jesus Christ.
2. To engage in ministries to the economically distressed, those suffering from various addictions, the
imprisoned, widows and widowers, the elderly, physically impaired, and others who seem abandoned or
forgotten by the mainline denominations.
3. To be a Moderate Celtic Christian witness for social justice and reconciliation on behalf of those who have
been overlooked by society.
4. To be committed to a true ecumenical Celtic Christian witness with other Christian groups.
5. To model collegial relationships amongst all the people of God, the Body of Christ.
6. To be a model of committed Celtic Christianity at work in the world.
7. To recognize and give thanks for our uniqueness among Christian communities of faith while continually
striving to effectively serve the Body of Christ by our shared ministries.
Canons
I. Name of the Church
The Name of this Church shall be known as the Celtic Communion of Christ otherwise known as the CCC.
II. Affirmation of Faith
The Two Ecumenical Creeds (Apostle Creed, Nicene Creed)
Holy Scriptures
Baptism, Eucharist, and Ministry
Apostolic Succession of Bishops
The Seven Historic Sacraments
The Mission of the Church as expressed in the Gospel of Luke 4:18-19
III. Membership in the CCC
1. By the sacrament of Holy Baptism and
2. Endorsement of the canons of the CCC and
3. Commitment to support the CCC with our prayers, presence, gifts and service
IV. Ministry in the CCC
1. All members of the Church are members of the Order of the Baptized and share in the general ministry of the
Church. As a baptized member of Christ's church one shares in the priesthood of the faithful expressed in
worship and service in the world. Each person is called to find their liturgy (the work of the people) and offer it as
a spiritual sacrifice to God and for the good of all. The CCC seeks to enable all its members to participate in the
general ministry of reconciliation committed to the whole Church.
2. Among the baptized there are those who are specifically called to works of mercy, justice and proclamation of
the Word. Such persons are deacons and after a time of discernment and preparation are ordained by the
bishop to the diaconate to be signs of the Church's commitment to mercy in the world and to lead the faithful in
these ministries.
3. Among the baptized are those who are specifically called to the ministry of Word and Sacrament as presbyters
(priests). Persons called to the presbyterate will, after a time of discernment and preparation, be ordained by the
bishop to share in the ministries of Word and Sacrament and in the ministry of general oversight of the bishop.
4. Among the presbyters there are those who are called of God and the Church to serve as bishop in providing
oversight, teaching and sacramental ministry to the People of God. New Bishops are selected by the CCC
Council of Bishops and are ordained in the historic apostolic succession.
5. No person shall be ordained to the sacred ministry of the Church who has not demonstrated a commitment to
working in ministries as a baptized member of the Church.
V. The Council of Bishops
1. All the bishops of this Church shall be members the Council of Bishops.
2. The Council of Bishops shall function as the administrative officers of the CCC.
3. The Council of bishops shall seek to explore and implement ideas and suggestions of CCC members.
4. The Council of Bishops may propose initiatives to the CCC members.
5. The Council of Bishops is responsible for the day to day general administration of the Church.
6. The Council of Bishops is responsible for establishing the legal affairs of the Church in relation to
various civil entities.
7. The Council of Bishops has general oversight over the clergy of the Church and may require of the clergy such
reports of their ministry as necessary to provide oversight and direction.
8. The Council of Bishops may act to temporarily suspend the faculties of clergy for good cause.
9. The Council of Bishops shall establish appropriate standards for clergy preparation and conduct. To assist
the bishops in clergy formation a vocations committee may be created composed of those members whom the
bishops believe well qualified to assist with this work.
10. Bishops of this Church will not participate in the consecration of another bishop for this Church without the
election of the candidate by the Council of Bishops, nor will individual bishops ordain clergy for this church
without the prior consent of the Council of Bishops as stated below.
11. The ordination of new clergy to the Church shall take place only after the Local Bishop Ordinary and the
Council of Bishops approve of individual candidates and certify that the person has met the eligibility
requirements to receive Holy Orders.
12. The Council of Bishops shall be responsible for establishing ecumenical relationships with other Christian
jurisdictions or denominations. Decisions beyond mutual recognition and inter-communion shall be subject to
ratification by the Council of Bishops.
13. Bishops may be removed from office by action of the Council of Bishops after hearing charges and
appointing a committee of investigation. Lesser penalties may be imposed at the discretion of the
Council of Bishops.
14. The Council of Bishops may elect one of its members to serve as Presiding Bishop or President of the
Council of Bishops.
15. The Council of Bishops may set the term of office of Presiding Bishop/President and determine the duties
and responsibilities of this office consistent with the canons and policies of this church.
16. The Council of Bishop is the Canonical authority of this Church
VI. Board of Directors or Advisory Council
At the discretion and the consent of the Council of Bishops, a Board of Directors or another advisory body may be
created to assist the bishops in the creation of policy and the carrying out of administrative responsibilities. The
Board of Directors/Advisory Council would work in concert with the Council of Bishops and decisions made
independently by the Bishops or the Board would be subject to confirmation by the other body before action
would be taken.
VII. Missions and Ministries
The Council of Bishops has the authority to establish or recognize missions and ministries developed by this
Church, its members, or by another agency. Only those missions and ministries approved by the Council of
Bishops shall be entitled to be identified as being in relation to the CCC.
VIII. Amendment of Canons and Policies
The canons of the CCC may be amended, added to or deleted by action of the Council of Bishops.
A two-thirds majority is required to change, add or delete canons of the Church. It can be done by e-mail,
mail, or by phone.
| Mission Statement and Ecclesiastical Canons "The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, To release the oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor." Luke 4:18-19 |
| "Amazing Grace" |
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