WHO WE ARE AND WHAT WE BELIEVE

OUR HISTORY

Currently almost all of the communities and ministries under the jurisdiction of the Inclusive Anglican / Episcopal Church are made up of parishes previously belonging to the former Archdiaconate for the Italian-speaking Communities of the Episcopal Church of the Anglican Communion which, choosing to live the spirit with more authenticity of Anglicanism, have unanimously chosen to join the IAEC.

Our Church is part of the Anglican Free Communion International of which it is a diocese of Italy, included in the Province of Europe. This great World Communion is, perhaps, after the historic one in Canterbury, the oldest Anglican Communion (London, 1897). It is a world Communion made up of several Anglican-inspired Churches operating in different parts of the world. It is superfluous to specify it but we prefer to clarify: just as there are Churches that legitimately define themselves as "Catholic" while legally independent from the Pope, there are also Churches that call themselves "veteran Catholics" even though they are not part of the Utrecht Union, there are Churches that , correctly, they define themselves as "Orthodox" without affecting any of the five "canonical" Patriarchates so even in the world there are Communions and Churches that embrace the principles of Anglicanism even if they do not legally belong to Canterbury.

Some of the Churches of this Communion, that is of the Anglican Free Communion International, are part (indirectly or not) of the Ecumenical Council of Churches and the Communion itself, having the requisites required (numbers and history) by the World Council of Christian Churches, will be able to work for direct entry among the members of the Ecumenical Council of Churches.

Communion is inserted into the World Council of Christian Churches through the ICCC.

Italy is part of the Province of Europe, of which Bishop Laurent Lenne is responsible, who governs the Province together with the other Bishops of Europe.

LITURGY AND WORSHIP

The liturgy bears witness to the deep history and identity of a congregation. So - being aware of the triple liturgical richness that our history has given us - we use various liturgical expressions, alternating them according to the circumstances, thus respecting the Christians of different origins that attend our Community: we use the BCP of the Episcopal Church of the USA, the Old-Catholic German Missal of the Union of Utrecht and, finally, the traditional Western missal. The texts of the aforementioned liturgical books have been adapted in an inclusive way: wo do not pronounce the "neutral" or (supposedly) "universal" masculine but we use the masculine and feminine, as well as - in the performance of the rite - God is appealed as Father and Mother.

CATHOLICITY AND (IS) INCLUSIVITY

"Conviviality of differences"

We Believe...

in GOD, almighty Father and most tender Mother, who is Love and who through love and for love created the universe and all that it contains, blowing a nature of dignity into humanity, a spirit of liberation from slavery for who we can cry out to God with confidence and trust, as sons and daughters (Rom 8:15)

We believe in JESUS, faithful image of the living and loving God (Jn 14: 9), Lord and Teacher, icon of the new humanity, our brother, our model, our friend, our peace (Jn 16:33), our strength (Lk 6 , 19), our shepherd (Ps 22) and guardian, door of all Good (Jn 10: 7), model of every relationship, balm, remedy and medicine for every wound caused by evil that tears our souls (Mt 11, 28 -30).

We believe in the HOLY SPIRIT, breath of God, breath of life (Gn 1,1), strength from the Highest (Acts 1,8), supreme inspiration, prompter of every project of peace and justice (Lk 12:12), comforter ( Jn 14:16), intercessor at the throne of the Most High, he who offers our weak and unconscious babble to the Father (Rom 8:15).

We believe in the CHURCH, family of Jesus (Mt 12 49), welcoming (Jn 10,26), ONE because it is inclusive and CATHOLIC (ie universal) because it is open to the embrace of every man and woman; HOLY because it is an oasis of dignity where brothers and sisters - around the Firstborn - gather in love and equality, blaspheming all forms of marginalization and discrimination.

We believe in the CHURCH, as a place where the legacy of the apostles shines and warms hearts like a torch, useful for nourishing, leading and consoling the people of God on their journey through the immeasurable gifts of sacramental grace and the great Sacrament of authentic relationship.

We believe in the COMMUNION OF SAINTS, an inseparable bond that Christ sealed for eternity between Heaven and earth, canceling the fords of time and space, in the splendor of an eternity always active and present in the hearts of the redeemed, in a mysterious enveloping Communion those who happily dwell in the womb of Abraham and us, yearning to be lulled into the womb of tenderness prepared for us since the beginning of time.

We believe in the GOOD that is present in the heart of every human being since the foundation of the world, a power capable of repelling darkness; we believe in dialogue as the privileged way of human brotherhood and sisterhood, we believe in embrace as a fire of benevolence that blazes, dissolving the white ice curtain that freezes the flow of joy and love in this troubled world.

(Presiding Bishop Maria Vittoria Longhitano)

HISTORY OF THE COMMUNITY OF CATANIA, BISHOP SEAT

Our Congregation "Madonna del Carmelo" - former part of the ex-Archdiaconate for Italian Language Ministry of the Episcopal Church - has its roots in the Old-Catholic Church of the Union of Utrecht, which, thanks to an agreement signed with the Episcopal Church in Europe - conferred its jurisdiction to the European Diocesi of the Episcopal Church.
Our Communities conciliate the extraordinary and multifaceted Episcopal \ Anglican theology with some aspects (liturgical and practical) of the Uhrechtian Old-Catholic tradition, enjoying respect and recognition thanks to the institution of the Archdiaconate for Italian Language Ministry. With the election of the new Episcopal bishop for Europe, this relationship of freedom and mutual recognition for the specific identity of the Italian-speaking Anglican communities has ceased, so the congregations rediscovered their Old- Catholic roots and their truly "Catholic spirit. "(i.e. universal, as the etymology of the term indicates) which is inclusive, welcoming for all races, nations, sex and gender identities... in building a relationship of friendship, brotherhood / sisterhood among human beings as well as a relationship of communion capable of overcoming the barriers of theological differences on non-essential issues.

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