Diocese of Saint Matthias the Apostle - C.E.E.C.

Patristic Faith, Anglican Expression

Frequently Asked Questions

How do Ante-Nicene Christians "worship"? What forms do our corporate worship services take? How come I have not seen any " Ante-Nicene Christian "churches" in my area? What is the role of the "clergy" wthin the Ante-Nicene Christian Faith?

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 What is the History of the Ante-Nicene Christian Church?

The A.C.C. began as a fellowship of three communities of Christians in the Knoxville TN area that God had called to seek out HIS Church as delivered unto the saints uniting in 2000. The A.C.C. was first organized as the Communion of the Ante-Nicene Episcopal Church of Christ (in 2003). Since that time the A.C.C. has grown, though both church multiplication and the merging of like minded Christians from around the nation with whom God has provided the same vision of His Will for His Church.

In July of 2005 amiss a rising level of the general publics confusing of the A.E.C.C. and the Protestant Episcopal Church U.S.A. the Communion decided to change the name of our Community of faith to one that both better reflects what God has lead us to become and removes any confusion between the ourselves and the Episcopal Church U.S.A.. The New name of our Community of Faith has since been The Communion of Ante-Nicene Christian Fellowships or the A.F.C. for short; in 2007 this was refined to "The Communion of the Ante-Nicene Christian Church." or A.N.C.C.

Since October of 2007, after the official dissolution of the "legal enitity" of the "Communion of the Ante-Nicene Christian Church" the, what was the Cathedral Diocese of the former A.N.C.C. (the Diocese of Saint Matthias the Apostle) was reconstituted and has continued on as "The Ante-Nicene Christian Church". (or "A.C.C.") 

As of October 2008 the A.C.C. has been in continuing Dialogue with the Communion of Evangelical Episcopal Churches (C.E.E.C.) with Intent of Reception "enmass" within the same as "The Ante-Nicene Chirstian Church Dioceses of Saint Matthias the Apostles-C.E.E.C."

Although this may seem like a very short period of time it is important to remember that the primus of the A.C.C. is not to be innovative in the faith but to promote and preserve "the faith once for all delivered unto the saints". In that regard we are very much an "old" communion in the faith. We make no claims of direct lineage to the "First' or "Early" Church save that of embracing that Spiritual heritage. The A.C.C. sees itself as reclaiming the Church Christ established through His Apostles for the world of today.  

  

 

Is the Ante-Nicene Christian Church really Catholic?

It should be made clear that the A.C.C. does not derive its definition or understanding of its catholicity from Rome. We are Catholic in the spirit of catholicity as has been historicaly defined in the Vincentian Canon of 434 A.D. That being;

"Now in the Catholic Church itself we take the greatest care to hold that which has been believed everywhere, always and by all. That is truly and properly ‘Catholic,’ as is shown by the very force and meaning of the word, which comprehends everything almost universally.

We shall hold to this rule if we follow universality [i.e. ecumenicity], antiquity, and consent. We shall follow;

  •  Universality if we acknowledge that One Faith to be true which the whole Church throughout the world confesses; 
  •  Antiquity if we in no wise depart from those interpretations which it is clear that our ancestors and fathers proclaimed;
  •  Consent, if in antiquity itself we keep following the definitions and opinions of all, or certainly nearly all, bishops and doctors alike."

However if the Roman Catholic Church is your source of truth in these matters, see what the Roman Catholic Church teaches in it’s official document "DOMINUS IESUS," issued during the reign of Pope John Paul II, June 16, 2000, and signed by Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger, Prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, August 6, 2000, refer to Section IV: Article 17:

"Therefore, there exisit a single Church of Christ, which subsist in the [Roman] Catholic Church, governed by the Successor of Peter and by the Bishops in communion with him. The Churches which, while not existing in perfect communion with the [Roman] Catholic Church, remain united to her by means of the closest bonds, that is, by apostolic succession and a valid Eucharist, are true particular Churches. Therefor, the Chruch of Christ is present and operative also in these Chruches, even though they lack full communion with the [Roman} Catholic Church,..."

 

Why is the worship within the Ante-Nicene Christian Church Liturgical?

Biblically and historically true worship has consistently been liturgical. "Spontaneous" worship is an innovation of the last century or so.Liturgical worship, written Prayers (the Psalms) and feast days were the norm throughout the history of Israel (see Exod. 23: 14-19; 24:1-289:4; etc.). The worship of heaven is liturgical (Isa. 6:1-90; Heb. 8:1-3; Rev. 4).

The foundations of liturgical worship in the Church are apparent in the New Testament. The most oft-repeated prayer of the Church is there (Matt. 6:9-13). The words we say at baptism are there (Matt. 28:19). The words spoken at Holy Communion are there, with St. Paul repeating Jesus' words (I Cor. 11:23-26). Further, the believers in Acts 13:2, about 49 A.D., were seen in a liturgical service to the Lord: "As they ministered (Gk: leitourgouaton, our root word for liturgy!) to the Lord and fasted, the Holy Spirit said...." Note, too, in this passage that the Holy Spirit speaks to us during liturgical worship. Thus praise to God must never become dead form, but rather living worship, "in spirit and truth" (Jn. 4:23, 24).

Documents like the Didache (70 A.D.), the writings of St. Justin Martyr (150 A.D.) and Hipploytus (early 200s) all show the worship of the early Church was, without exception, liturgical.

Further more “liturgy” should never become merely a dead repetition of certain gestures and collective sayings. Such a state turns the Church from worshiping God to worshiping our worship. True liturgy embraces and accounts for the working of the Holy Spirit within the local and collective Church. Apostolic tradition allows for the “spontaneity” of the Holy Spirit and interactivity of the Church (see I Corinthians 14:26) within Gods divine order ( see I Corinthians 14:40)  

Because of their disdain for Rome, some Protestant groups have reacted by dismissing liturgical worship (though everyone has patterned worship, "spontaneous" or not!) But the Bible and Church history are clear; liturgical worship is the norm for the people of God.

Yet let us not assume that just because worship is liturgical it means that it does not embrace the movement of the Holy Spirit  within the congregation. Quite the contrary, worship within the A.C.C. is purposefully "interactive", as directed in 1st. Corinthians 14: 26, which we believe allows for maximum opportunity for the workings of the Holy Spirit within the corporate worship of the Church.

 

How come I have not seen any " Ante-Nicene Christian "churches" in my area?

The answer to this question is two-fold.

First, seeing how the primary form of worship within the A.C.C. is the "Home Fellowship" that is one reason that you may not have seen an A.C.C. "Church" in your community. However there is a good chance that there are "Home Fellowships" in your area. Yet not all "Home Fellowships" are A.C.C. Communities. Which leads us to the second reason;

The A.C.C., as a "formal jurisdiction", is relatively young. Yet the Lord is Blessing our collective ministry by leading others to us through personal contact, this website, and through intercommunion with other members of the broader Body of Christ. Each day more believers are made aware of the A.C.C. and the refreshing as well as Biblically and historically sound approach we take to our faith in Christ Jesus. And it is our mission to assist each of them in forming A.C.C. communities within their localities.

What is the role of the "clergy" wthin the Ante-Nicene Christian Faith?

The role of the clergy within the Ante-Nicene Community is much like that of clergy in any other community of the Body of Christ. However it should be stated that the "Clergy" within Ante-Nicene communities are not the "rulers" of our community of Faith. They are servants of and ministers to the local Ante-Nicene Community and the general population in service to Our Lord Jesus Christ. They constitute "part of the Eldership" of our community of Faith but are not "the" Eldership of our community. They are charged with the edification in the Faith of our community members and their families as well as the preservation of that same faith. 

We subscribe to the Leadership principles of SAFEchurch.com We subscribe to the Leadership principles of  SAFEchurch.com .