CANONS OF THE CHURCH

NICENE APOSTOLIC CHURCH

AUTOCEPHALOUS CATHOLIC CHURCH OF ANTIOCH

CANONS OF THE CHURCH

1

THE CHURCH

The Church shall be known as the NICENE APOSTOLIC CHURCH and shall have the secondary title of AUTOCEPHALOUS CATHOLIC CHURCH OF ANTIOCH.

2

FOUNDATION

A – The Nicene Apostolic Church is a welcoming Christian denomination grounded in the teachings and traditions of the Early Church and the Medieval Church, while affirming in regard to these, and in regard to all other matters of religion and belief, the primacy of freedom of human conscience, thought, interpretation and inquiry.

B – The Church is open-minded and progressive in character, while honouring and respecting traditional values and modes of worship.

C – The Church holds legitimate, valid and verifiable lines of Apostolic Succession. It is thus established upon the foundation of Christ’s historical Catholic Church, and it honours the teachings of the First Seven Ecumenical Councils.

D – The Church is, by definition and in fact, Catholic: which is to say that it continues, validly, legitimately and demonstrably, in historical and unbroken succession from the Apostles of Christ. It is thus a living member and constituent part of the One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church. Likewise, by definition and in fact, because it is Independent, like other churches of the Independent Sacramental Tradition it is not in communion with the See of Rome. It is Catholic, but it is not Roman Catholic.

3

THREEFOLD MINISTRY

A – The Church maintains the threefold ordained ministry of Deacons, Priests and Bishops.

B – Candidates for Holy Orders may initially be commissioned to the minor ministries of Cleric and Acolyte, but they are not thereby ordained. 

C – Ordinations are conducted with prayer, invocation of the Holy Spirit and the laying-on of hands, and with the formulated intention of doing what the Universal Church has always intended and done.

D – The rites for Ordination of a Deacon, for Ordination of a Priest and for Consecration of a Bishop accord, in Matter and Form, with those established by the Universal Church.

4

CREDO

A – The Church holds to the Nicene Creed, the Creed of the Universal Church, as the traditional definition of the Catholic Faith.

B – It accepts the Creed of the Apostles as sufficient Baptismal statement.

C – It accepts the ‘Athanasian Creed’ as the orthodox statement of Trinitarian Doctrine and Christology.

5

PREMISES OF THE FAITH

A – The outline of the Faith of the Church is set forth as the Premises of the Faith, which Premises are presented under that name in the Missal of the Church, Come and Worship: Independent Catholic Missal.

B – The Premises of the Faith are arranged in fourteen sections:

1 The Holy Trinity, One God

2 The Children of God

3 Sin and Salvation

4 Jesus the Christ

5 The Creed

6 The Holy Bible

7 The Church

8 The Communion of Saints

9 The Ministry of the Laity

10 The Ministry of those in Holy Orders

11 Prayer

12 The Sacraments

13 Adoption in the Beloved

14 The Great Assurance

C – The document Premises of the Faith is an integral part of the Canons of the Church.

6

CHARISM OF THE CHURCH

A – The Nicene Apostolic Church affirms and promotes ‘unity in essentials, diversity in inessentials, love in all things.’

B – It teaches the Christian way of life in service to God, for the advancement of the common good. It promotes and fosters the study and practice of Christian spirituality, particularly in regard to the transforming effect of divine grace, the divinization of the individual: of which matter St. Irenaeus writes, the Word of God, our Lord Jesus Christ, who did, through his transcendent love become what we are, that He might bring us to become even what He is Himself. 

C – The Church further encourages study of the system of symbolism, 'the Fivefold Pattern of the Spiritual Life', which was established by the Early Church and developed through the centuries by such luminaries as St. Ambrose, St. Augustine, St. Bernard of Clairvaux, St. Bonaventure (to name but a few) and which has formed an effective paradigm for theological dissertation, spiritual technique, ritual process and architectural and artistic presentation through the centuries of the Christian era. This Fivefold Pattern is witnessed to by the rites and formulations of the Early Church.

D – The Nicene Apostolic Church is committed to providing a safe and secure environment for all individuals and families who participate in ministries and activities sponsored by the church. This commitment reflects our desire to preserve this church as a safe sanctuary for all who enter and as a place in which all people can know and experience the love of God. The Church maintains a zero-tolerance policy in regard to any form of violence or abuse.

E – Ordination in the Nicene Church is open to all competent and properly qualified individuals, irrespective of race, gender or sexual orientation.

7

THE PRESIDING BISHOP

A – The Presiding Bishop, whose formal title of office is Archbishop Primate, is the senior spiritual leader and the senior ecclesiastical authority of the jurisdiction in its entirety. Only a validly consecrated bishop of the Nicene Apostolic Church is eligible for the office of Presiding Bishop.

B – The Presiding Bishop is elected by majority vote of the members of the Episcopal Synod of the Church to serve for a term of seven years from date of election.

C – A Presiding Bishop may serve for a further two terms of seven years if so elected, but shall not serve for more than a total of three terms of seven years whether consecutively or subsequently.

D – The Presiding Bishop alone has authority to accept deacons, priests or bishops of another jurisdiction with apostolic succession for incardination in the Nicene Apostolic Church. 

E – The Presiding Bishop is empowered to appoint such officers, clerical or lay, as are deemed appropriate to the efficient running of the Church: for his own diocese particularly; and, with consultation and agreement of the Episcopal Synod, for the Church in whole or in part.

F – The Presiding Bishop is responsible for sanctioning ecumenical dialogue and for authorizing Concordats of Intercommunion. Any capable priest or bishop may be appointed by the Presiding Bishop to assist in the actual process of ecumenical dialogue and in the preliminary organization of the terms of the Intercommunion Concordats.

G – The Presiding Bishop may appoint qualified officers for the establishment of specific research and advisory commissions, as may from time to time be desirable, and where necessary he shall present the findings of the said commissions to the Episcopal Synod for appropriate vote.

H – The Presiding Bishop is responsible for formulating and authorizing the programmes of religious studies, theoretical and practical, required for education of clergy of the Church and the programmes of clerical formation preceding ordination.

I – The Episcopal Synod shall have the right to vote upon the adoption, expansion or modification of such programmes before their authorization by the Presiding Bishop.

J – The Presiding Bishop may appoint learned and competent clergy to assist with the preliminary formulation or subsequent adjustment of the said programmes.

K – The Presiding Bishop is required to consider the views of the Episcopal Synod in regard to the said formulation or adjustment of programmes and to accept and act upon the rulings of the Episcopal Synod prior to authorizing the introduction and use of the said programmes.

L – Where there is perceived to be academic error or conflict of purpose or intention in the rulings of the Episcopal Synod in regard to the presented programmes, the Presiding Bishop may require the Episcopal Synod to reconsider its rulings and to amend any contentious material or views. In this case an amended ruling of the Synod is required before the programme is authorized by the Presiding Bishop; but in the event the Episcopal Synod determines to retain any item contested by the Presiding Bishop, a special ruling is to be made by the Synod upon this, and this shall require a majority vote of two-thirds plus one in order for the programme to be legitimized as desired by the Episcopal Synod.

M – The Presiding Bishop is the sole authority for the creation of new dioceses or archdioceses of the Church, but he or she is required to consider the views of the Episcopal Synod and to take the views of its members into account before he authorizes the creation of any such diocese or archdiocese.

N – The Presiding Bishop is the sole authority for approval of all who are proposed for episcopal office; but he or she is required to consider the views of the Episcopal Synod and to take the views of its members into account before he or she approves such persons. When such persons are approved, the Presiding Bishop proceeds to give his or her assent to actual consecration to the Episcopal Order.

O – The Presiding Bishop is the sole authority for approval, following consecration, of all episcopal appointments or re-appointments to diocese or to geographical location; but he or she is required to consider the views of the Episcopal Synod and to take the views of its members into account before he or she approves such appointments.

P – The Presiding Bishop alone has the authority to create Personal Prelatures, to appoint Bishops of the Church to Titular Office, and to appoint Apostolic Administrators to specific provinces. In this, he or she is required to consider the views of the Episcopal Synod and to take these into account before enacting the said measures.

Q – The Presiding Bishop has the right to suspend, dismiss, or remove from Holy Orders, any clergyperson of the Church for proven grave cause: for criminal wrongdoing, moral failing, misrepresentation of the Church or its programmes, or for seriously compromising the oath of allegiance to the Church and the Presiding Bishop. The Presiding Bishop shall consult with the members of the Episcopal Synod and seriously consider their views before acting in this regard. His or her final decision shall be notified to the Episcopal Synod in all cases so that, with supporting material, it may form part of the official record of proceedings.

8

THE EPISCOPAL SYNOD

A – The Episcopal Synod is composed of all Bishops of the Church, whether Diocesan, Auxiliary or Titular; and these are ipso facto the Board of Governors of the Church.

B – Appointments to the Episcopal Synod are ex officio and carry the full power of voice and vote.

C – The Synod shall appoint a Director and a Secretary by majority vote, and these officers shall serve for a time specified by the Synod.

D – An ordinary ruling of the Episcopal Synod is carried by majority vote.

E – A special ruling of the Episcopal Synod is carried by a vote of two-thirds plus one.

F – An extraordinary ruling of the Episcopal Synod is carried by unanimous vote of all members of the Synod except the Presiding Bishop.

A member of the Synod, but not the Presiding Bishop, may be suspended for any period of time up to but not exceeding one month, and this shall require an ordinary ruling.

G – Where deemed advisable and correct, a Presiding Bishop may be suspended from the Synod and thus effectively removed from office; but this shall require an extraordinary ruling of the Episcopal Synod.

H – Any member of the Synod may call a meeting of that body, at any time, to discuss matters which touch upon the Church entire, or which touch upon a Province or Diocese or Parish of the Church. In this, pastoral matters, theological issues and Church procedure may be presented.

I – Matters impinging upon the exclusive rights and privileges of the Presiding Bishop may be discussed and voted upon under the terms of a special ruling, and presented to the Presiding Bishop for his consideration and response. If the Presiding Bishop agrees with the ruling it shall be passed, but if the Presiding Bishop does not agree with the ruling, the Episcopal Synod has the right but not the obligation to require an extraordinary ruling to pass the measures so considered.

J – The Episcopal Synod shall hold an Annual Convocation for review and development of the life and work of the Church entire; and this shall be held on the first Saturday of March or, if liturgically necessary, upon another chosen date agreed by the majority.

K – Meetings of the Episcopal Synod or the Annual Convocation shall be conducted at a physical venue but may, alternatively, be conducted electronically.

9

BLESSED REDEEMER INSTITUTE OF THEOLOGY

A – The seminary or teaching arm of the Church is called Blessed Redeemer Institute of Theology.

B – It is headed by a Chancellor, who is appointed by the Presiding Bishop.

C – The Chancellor elects an assistant who is called Provost.

D – The Chancellor and the Provost, may establish an Institute faculty with invited clergy to assist in the tuition of students.

E – Diplomas are issued by the Institute and signed, by agreement of the Presiding Bishop, by both Chancellor and Provost.

F – Internal organization of the Institute and its teaching programmes is the joint responsibility of Chancellor and Provost, in accordance with the formulated and approved programmes.

G – Both Chancellor and Provost serve for a term at the discretion of the Presiding Bishop.

10

BISHOPS

A – Diocesan Bishops, within their diocese and by their own authority, can commission candidates for minor ministries and can undertake, or delegate to responsible diocesan clergy, the ordination of deacons and priests. Such commission and ordination shall be certified by the responsible diocesan officers, ordinary clergy and laity, and notification of this certification shall be sent to the Presiding Bishop.

B – Diocesan Bishops may propose the nomination of bishops-elect to the Presiding Bishop. Upon approval and assent of the Presiding Bishop, Diocesan Bishops may consecrate the elect to the Episcopal Order. It is assumed here, but not taken for granted, that these consecrated ones will function as auxiliary bishops of the diocese.

C – It remains the right of the Presiding Bishop to consecrate any elect, should he or she so desire, and to commission bishops for the purpose of assisting the consecration; these actions being appropriately recorded. The Presiding Bishop may approve the Diocesan Bishop as the Senior Consecrator, and commission one or more other Bishops to act as assistant consecrators. Such consecration shall be attested by the responsible prelates, ordinary clergy and laity, with notification being sent to the Presiding Bishop.

D – No persons under the age of thirty are eligible for ordination to the episcopate, and neither are any persons who have a criminal record, or who have a mental or physical illness which would potentially compromise their ability to function in the episcopal office.

E – Diocesan Bishops may appoint such officers, clerical or lay, in such number as is required for the efficient management of their diocese. 

F – Titular Bishops and Apostolic Administrators are appointed by the Presiding Bishop, Vicars-General and Archpriests are appointed by Bishops for their own Diocese.

G – Diocesan Bishops shall govern their Diocese in accordance with the rites and usages of the Nicene Apostolic Church; but they enjoy the freedom also to initiate specific and pertinent programmes of study or spiritual discipline, as they personally judge to be appropriate.

 H – It is the office and dignity of Bishops to represent Christ and his Church, particularly as chief priests and shepherds of a diocese; to consecrate; to ordain others to continue Christ’s ministry; to celebrate the Eucharist; to anoint; to bless; to loose and to bind; to baptise and to confirm; to preside; to interpret and to judge; to guard the faith and unity of the whole Church; to proclaim God’s word; to act in Christ’s name for the peace of the world and for the strengthening and positive growth of the Community of the New Covenant.

11

ADVISORY AND CONSULTATIVE BODY

A – Effective communication shall be maintained between the Diocesan and the clergy of a Diocese, in order to ensure harmonious and united endeavour. The clergy of a Diocese together form an advisory and consultative body for the Diocesan and may jointly or individually bring any relevant matters to his or her attention, or may offer their considered advice upon any matter required by the Diocesan. The Diocesan shall give serious attention to any matters thus presented to him or her and shall examine them impartially. Where it is deemed appropriate, he or she shall refer such matters to the Presiding Bishop for his or her attention.

B – The advisory and consultative body may, by majority decision, directly require the Diocesan to request a ruling from the Episcopal Synod upon any matter considered to be necessary.

C –Officers or representatives of the advisory and consultative body are elected internally, and its procedures are also a matter for internal organization.

12

PRIESTS

A – It is the office and dignity of Priests to represent Christ and his Church, particularly as shepherds to the people; to celebrate the Eucharist; to bless, to preside; to anoint; to absolve; to preach; and to baptise.

B – No persons under the age of twenty-three are eligible for ordination to the priesthood, and neither are any persons who have a criminal record, or who have a mental or physical illness which would potentially compromise their ability to function in the sacerdotal office.

C – Ordained Priests are granted faculties by their Bishop, to serve within the Church at diocesan or parish level.

13

DEACONS

A – It is the office and dignity of Deacons to represent Christ and his Church, particularly as servants to those in need; to assist at the altar; to proclaim the Gospel; to preach; and in the absence of the Priest to baptise.

B -- No persons under the age of twenty are eligible for ordination to the diaconate, and neither are any persons who have a criminal record, or who have a mental or physical illness which would potentially compromise their ability to function in the diaconal office.

C – Ordained Deacons are granted faculties by their Bishop, to serve within the Church at diocesan or parish level.

14

COMMISSIONING FOR MINOR MINISTRIES

A – Persons of sound character, desirous of receiving Holy Orders within the Church, may first be received into the Minor Ministry of Cleric, wherein they may pursue such learnings and duties as are required of them. They are received according to the ceremony Reception of a Cleric.

B – Clerics who have satisfactorily completed their work are promoted to the Minor Ministry of Acolyte, wherein they perform such practical duties and undertake such further studies as are required of them. They are received according to the ceremony Reception of an Acolyte.

C – The Reception of Clerics and Acolytes is not ordination; but participation in these Minor Ministries is a valuable step in the formation for actual ordination to the diaconate.

D – Minor Ministries are not an essential requirement for ordination but may be of immense benefit to some aspirants. Nonetheless, it is recommended that the Minor Ministry of Cleric should normally be retained.

E – Bypassing the Minor Ministry of Acolyte is a decision to be made by aspirants in consultation with their bishop.

15

STATUS OF MINISTRIES

(Amended, 16 October, 2022. Amended Canon 15 follows below)

A –The decision to establish a formal parish is made by the diocesan, in consultation with the priest intending to fulfil the needs of the faithful in a local area of the diocese.

B – A charter establishing the parish shall be provided by the Ordinary, given to the parish and recorded at diocesan level.

C – Every parish so formed shall have sole responsibility for its own financial conduct and its legal affairs, not involving the diocese or the greater Church.

D – No clergyperson of the Church shall receive any wage from the Church.

E – All ministries, throughout the Church, shall be self-supporting.

15

STATUS OF MINISTRIES

A – The decision to establish a formal parish is made by the diocesan, in consultation with the priest intending to fulfil the needs of the faithful in a local area of the diocese.

B – A charter establishing the parish shall be provided by the Ordinary, given to the parish and recorded at diocesan level.

C – Every parish so formed shall have sole responsibility for its own financial

conduct and its legal affairs, not involving the diocese or the greater Church.

D – The decision to create a new diocese or archdiocese is made by the Presiding Bishop alone; but after consultation with the Episcopal Synod, the views of whose members shall be carefully considered.

E – A charter establishing the diocese or archdiocese shall be provided by the Presiding Bishop, given to the diocese or archdiocese and recorded at primatial level.

F – Every diocese or archdiocese so formed shall have sole responsibility for its own financial conduct and its legal affairs, not involving its parishes or the greater Church.

G – No clergyperson of the Church shall receive any wage from the Church.

H – All ministries, throughout the Church, shall be self-supporting.

16

CEREMONIES OF THE CHURCH

(Amended, 18 June, 2024. Amended Canon 16 follows below)

A – The official Missal of the Church is called: Come and Worship: Independent Catholic Missal.

B – Ordination Ceremonies and other rites intended for use by clergy are those officially approved by the Nicene Apostolic Church.

16

CEREMONIES OF THE CHURCH

A – The official Missal of the Church is called: Come and Worship: Independent Catholic Missal.

B – Ordination Ceremonies and other rites intended for use by clergy are those officially approved by the Nicene Apostolic Church. For Commissioning, Ordination and Consecration, the approved rites are as published in the Nicene Apostolic Ordinal, Ordinations.

17

PRE-NOMINAL QUALIFICATIONS OF CLERGY

(Amended, 18 June, 2024. Amended Canon 17 follows below)

A – A Deacon is styled THE REVEREND.

B – A Priest is styled THE REVEREND.

C – A Bishop-elect is styled (His or Her Excellency) THE RIGHT REVEREND.

D – A Bishop Ordinary or Auxiliary is styled (His or Her Grace) THE MOST REVEREND.

E – An Archbishop is styled (His or Her Eminence) THE MOST REVEREND.

F – A titular Bishop is styled (His or Her Excellency) THE RIGHT REVEREND.

G – A titular Archbishop is styled (His or Her Grace) THE MOST REVEREND.

H – A Vicar-General is styled according to his or her actual rank.

I – An Archpriest is styled (His or Her Excellency) THE VERY REVEREND.

J – An Apostolic Administrator is styled according to his or her actual rank.

17

PRE-NOMINAL QUALIFICATIONS OF CLERGY

A – A Deacon is styled THE REVEREND.

B – A Priest is styled THE REVEREND.

C – A Bishop-elect is styled (His or Her Excellency) THE RIGHT REVEREND.

D – A Bishop Ordinary or Auxiliary is styled (His or Her Excellency) THE MOST REVEREND.

E – An Archbishop is styled (His or Her Grace) THE MOST REVEREND.

F – A titular Bishop is styled (His or Her Excellency) THE RIGHT REVEREND.

G – A titular Archbishop is styled (His or Her Grace) THE MOST REVEREND.

H – A Vicar-General is styled according to his or her actual rank.

I – An Archpriest is styled (His or Her Excellency) THE VERY REVEREND.

J – An Apostolic Administrator is styled according to his or her actual rank.

18

EPISCOPAL FOUNT OF HONOUR

A – The ability and spiritual right of a Church in possession of valid Apostolic Succession to award ecclesiastical titles of honour and nobility is founded upon the actual power of the Holy Spirit, acting through the agency of a legitimate successor of the Apostles of Jesus the Christ. This power is present in the Nicene Apostolic Church, and is within the gift of the Presiding Bishop.

B – The legal basis of this ability and right is enshrined in Article 9 of the European Convention on Human Rights, which guarantees the freedom of thought, conscience and religion in relation to the State.

C – Article 9 demonstrates that religious freedom is in the first instance a matter of the individual conscience, but also it implies freedom to ‘perform’ one’s religion alone, in community, in public and among those who share one’s faith. Article 9 names worship, teaching, practice, and observance as forms in which one’s religion may be manifested.

C – The European Court of Human Rights has recognised that a Church may, as such, exercise on behalf of its members the rights guaranteed by Article 9 of the Convention.

D – The ‘Fount of Honour’, issuing the said honours and decorations of religious organizations is protected by this religious freedom and the right to manifest this freedom by symbols.

E – Article 9 further recognizes that religious observances, in which titles and awards are granted, have undoubted meaning and sacred significance for the faithful, when conducted by religious authorities empowered for such purpose in compliance with established rules.

19

CONCERNING FURTHER MATTERS

All matters of protocol and procedure not examined here in detail may be enacted in accordance with the principles outlined in this document, in accordance with the ethos and charism of the Church and subject to the approval of the Presiding Bishop.

20

INTERPRETATION AND ADJUSTMENT

A – These Canons are properly open for responsible interpretation where greater definition of any of the subject areas is required.

B – Revision of these Canons requires a special ruling of the Episcopal Synod and final approval of the Presiding Bishop.

Publication Schedule

Reviewed and agreed at all stages, in accordance with Canon 20, by the Episcopal Synod of the Nicene Apostolic Church and authorised by the Presiding Bishop on behalf of the Synod.

This document was first issued on 28 July, 2021

It was amended on 16 October, 2022 and 18 June, 2024

It was re-issued, as here given, on 23 June, 2024