Anglican Church of Virginia

Anglican Church International Communion

DECLARATION OF PRINCIPLES

Priest and Parish Application for Membership

As the Apostolic Church brought both religious and non-religious peoples to Christ, WE DECLARE that the Church of today must be a church on mission, reaching out to believers and non-believers with the saving Gospel of Jesus Christ.

WE FURTHER DECLARE that we adhere wholly to biblical teaching and to the following principles, and thus shall not accept any action or compromise that would weaken or change the faith and traditions of these principles and beliefs, which we hold to be essential to an unimpaired relationship with Jesus Christ and His one holy catholic and apostolic church.

1. We believe in the authority of the HOLY SCRIPTURES as the inerrant Word of God, as summarized by the Creeds, taught by the Fathers, and defined in the Thirty-Nine Articles of Religion, and the Authorized (King James) Version of The Holy Bible, it being the standard translation into the English language.

2. We believe the Nicene and Apostles' CREEDS are binding on every member of the Church as the expression of their specific personal commitment and conviction.

3.We believe HOLY BAPTISM as ordained by Christ, as set forth in the Book of Common Prayer, is the seal of our Salvation, and Confirmation by a bishop in the apostolic line is the means whereby we receive the strengthening gifts of the Holy Spirit in the Apostolic tradition.

4. We believe HOLY COMMUNION shall be validly celebrated by a bishop of the Apostolic line, or by a priest ordained by such a bishop, and properly received by those confirmed or ready and desirous to be confirmed.  Holy Communion will not be refused to believing baptized Christians of other traditions.

5.We believe HOLY ORDERS of Bishop, Priest, and Deacon are open only to believing men, following Biblical practice, the universal practice of the holy catholic church, and as intended by our Book of Common Prayer.

6. We believe the integrity of the sacramental functions of the EPISCOPATE, and according to the Apostolic model, as evangelists, guardians of the faith, and caring shepherds of the flock, shall be placed above the administrative responsibilities that have so often caused mischief in the churches of former years.

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7.We believe the historic BOOK OF COMMON PRAYER is regarded as a doctrinal standard and our common liturgy. We worship according to the 1928 American edition of the Book of Common Prayer, the 1962 Canadian edition, or the 1662 English Book of Common Prayer.  We respect liturgical expression established by Archbishop Thomas Cranmer in 1549, and the 1552 version as set forth by the Act of Uniformity, and other national equivalents so far as the faith is kept entire by them.

8. We believe in the unique salvation of Jesus Christ and pledge our commitment to the words of Our Lord Jesus Christ about Himself: "I am the WAY, the Truth, and the Life: and no man cometh to the Father, but by me."

WE GIVE OUR WITNESS BEFORE GOD, to all believers in Christ, unbelievers and those who claim the name of Christ for themselves while disdaining Our Lord's own words about Himself.

SIGNED, In the Name of GOD the FATHER, GOD the SON and GOD the HOLY GHOST,   the Bishops of THE ANGLICAN CHURCH INTERNATIONAL COMMUNION, representing the provinces of:

• Anglican Church of Virginia (USA) • Orthodox Anglican Church of Haiti • Anglican Diocese of the Good Shepherd (USA) • Orthodox Anglican Church of the South (USA) • Anglican Episcopal Church of India • Anglican Church International Communion (Australia) • Mexican Independent Episcopal Church • American Anglican Convocation • Anglican Episcopal Church •

I(we) the Priest(s)  of the Province/Diocese(if appropriate) of  ( parish(s) ___________________(attach list), of,_______________________( Country/Nation/ or State), do request and pray to come into the Anglican Church of Virginia, Anglican Church International Communion.  I(we) pledge and affirm my(our) agreement to the Declaration of Principles by my(our) signature(s) and  seal(s) to this document, this _________Day of ____________(month), two-thousand and three, in the year of Our Lord.

Signature(s): ___________________________ ,  in  the ______________ year of my consecration.

____________________________________________________________________

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Information Form:

Please provide the following information:

Name of Church(es) or parish(es) seeking membership in the Anglican Church of Virginia: Give location and number of communicants and members.

Name of Clergy and Clergy information ( Include information about each clergyman such as: Dates of Ordination, Name of Province or Diocese of Ordination, Location of Ordination, Name of Bishop(s) who ordained clergy.)

Name(s) of Senior Warden or Lay Leader in each Parish.

Reason for seeking to come into the Anglican Church of Virginia(USA).

Describe briefly your activities and mission.

Only a voluntary tithe is required.  Each parish or clergyman sets their own tithe to be given to the Anglican Church of Virginia.  If a tithe can not be given it should be noted.

Please provide the name, address and contact information of the person or persons to whom the   Bishop will sent all official email or correspondence.  Provide the title of a specific person to be the coordinator.  If the person does not have a title the Bishop will designate this person Canon for Communications with the approval of the appropriate governing body.

Return  signed document and  information form to:

The Rt. Rev. Dr. Larry Wilson Johnson

Secretary

The Anglican Church International Communion

Bishop, Anglican Church of Virginia

Email: bplarry@shentel.net

http://www.theanglicanchurch.net