Biennial Statement of
CHURCH POLICY
- updated February, 2006
(Textual additions are shown in bold print.)
Introduction -
The
purpose of this "Statement of Church Policy" is to advise the membership
of this religious order as to how the Presiding Overseer is likely to rule in a
given matter of concern or controversy. The Church Policy is not considered
divinely inspired or equivalent to the Bible. Rather, it represents the
judicial application of the Sacred Writings of the Fathers to these
matters on behalf of those in covenant with us.
§1 - The Canon of Scripture:
The Cambrian Episcopal Church of the Grail follows the standards of the Anglican Church in recognizing the 66 books of the Old and New Testaments as the "canon" of Divine Scripture. The word "canon" means "standard" or "rule." These books are the standard by which to judge all inspired writings and utterances. The Canon does not preclude other inspired writings. Indeed, the Canon itself freely quotes other writings as authoritative which are not found in the Canon. The Fathers of the Church, which gave witness to the Canon, also gave witness to other authoritative sources of God's Word. We can authenticate these sources because we use the Canon to do so. The value of these other sources lies not in any "new" revelation which they may provide, but rather in the hermeneutical discipline and guidance to a true understanding of the Scriptures which we already have.
The
Received Text in the English language is the Authorized Version (or King James
Version) of the Bible. The Received Text in the Aramaic language which has been
translated into modern English is the Peshitta
which is available to us in what is known as the "Lamsa"
Bible. Together these texts may be used as the primary sources of
authority in doctrine and practice.
Explanation: The term
“the Received Text” or textus receptus refers to the Biblical texts and their
translations which have been passed-down by the Church Fathers and have been
accepted by all.
§2 - The Church, National Sovereignty and the Thirty Nine Articles of the Anglican Church:
The
Out of political
necessity, our filial relationship with the Church of England began in the 12th
Century when the
The term "sovereignty", much used by nation-states, refers to
their judicial independence from other governments and their right of
self-determination. Along with the
historic church, this Church teaches that national sovereignty does not
extend to judicial independence from the laws of the Christian God. In reference to civil law, the state is
obliged to follow the various statutes and ordinances of the Bible to the
extent that they contain the moral law, which is universal and binding upon all
sentient beings.
Explanation:
We do not believe in the "separation of church and state" because we do not believe the "church" or "state" should operate as legal fictions or artificial persons at law. Real authority resides in real people which can only come from God as its ultimate source.
At His Ascension, our Lord Jesus Christ claimed sovereignty over all peoples
and nations. This status He acquired as the Messiah (Matthew 28:18-20). Rebellion against His
law jeopardizes the peace and safety of a nation (Psalm 2). Indeed, the
concept of the non-Messianic state,
itself, is a manifestation of the satanic doctrine (Hebrews
Christ has bestowed upon His kinsmen according to the flesh - heirs of the
Davidic Covenant - the authority of His Messianic government. This
encompasses all spheres of life, including the civil realm. Officers of
civil government are "ministers of the sword" (i.e.
deacons/servants). As servants of Jesus Christ, they retain power by His
grace (Romans 13).
If they are poor stewards, they may be removed by any lawful means. It was the decision of the Desposyni
(operating through the institution of Freemasonry during the time of the
American Revolution) to disestablish the church and to separate the civil
powers from it. This was done for two reasons: first, to prevent the repetition
on American soil of the religious wars which had devastated
Because so much misery has been brought upon the world by people speaking in the name of God, it is urged upon our members to seek judicial reform in their respective countries through redemption, rather than acts of revolution. "Redemption" is one of the esoteric rites of this Church, and is a much more powerful remedy to evil than violence or tyranny.
§3 - The Church and Other Churches: Presbytery, Ecumenicalism, Cults, Language Barrier, the Creeds
In ancient times, the world was divided by the confusion of tongues. It will be united again when language becomes one. This is an eschatological goal of history.
The differing faiths of the world, once understood within their cultural contexts, always carry kernels of truth which may lead to future discoveries and unity. The Cambrian Episcopal Church of the Grail encourages peaceful discourse to promote understanding, knowing that it may take millennia before the world reaches epistemological self-consciousness.
Excommunication and anathema are not proper responses to honest
disagreements. These disciplinary remedies exist to protect a church from
teachers of obviously malicious motives. Correct doctrine exists only in
the omniscient mind. Doctrinal differences ought to be accepted with a
gracious spirit. We have taken our stand with the Ecumenical Creeds, but
we do accept those who have not if they
have embraced the spirit of the Creeds to preserve the historic faith.
We practice "guarded communion." This means we accept people where they are at on their spiritual journey. And we recognize the sphere of authority within which they may operate (such as clergymen). But we do not endorse them or ordain them, unless they are in communion with the Desposyni. In their sacerdotal capacity, they serve as deacons and presbyters to the people who receive them. We remind all who will listen, that their authoritative claims must be tempered by the fact that only the Desposyni have the right to the Episcopal Throne. For the most part, we regard rival claims as misguided rhetoric and thus, harmless. However, the misuse of pretended authority to abuse people is contrary to the spirit of the Gospel and must be condemned.
Until we reach "the grown man, and unity of the faith," the only symbol of unity for the Church, including the non-Christian religions of the world, is the Episcopal Office of the Desposyni. Churches, religions, faiths, and ministries of all affiliations, may show their unity by accepting as Overseers qualified descendants of our Lord's kinsmen. Unto them "shall the gathering of the people be." (Genesis 49:10; Psalm 60:7; 108:8; John 20:21).
§4 – Liturgy, Sacraments and the Ministry of Members:
The primary sources for liturgy, the common rites and catechetical instruction shall be the Didache and the Episcopal Book of Common Prayer.
The five-fold ministry, with their gifted assistants, are ranked as "deacons" in relation to the Desposyni. These include apostles, prophets, evangelists, teachers, and pastors, and also the leaders of any organization which exercise an office of ministry or authority and are in fellowship with them. These people have been commissioned by the Desposyni. All ministries are diaconal in nature. Midwives are deaconesses, for example. Any vocation which has been sanctified by the Desposyni is diaconal in nature. During the Dark Ages, Celtic monks fed the people by teaching the lost arts of farming. Today, teaching people how to grow and prepare their own food is a ministry recognized by the Desposyni.
Membership: The Cambrian Episcopal
Church of the Grail is a Desposynic “Order of Fellowship” within
the ethnic tradition of the ancient
A Letter of Affiliation is more
restrictive and requires the Petitioner to declare his or her intent to follow
the sacramental system set forth by the Church, namely, baptism, holy communion
(which includes footwashing), chrism, redemption, and the bride chamber.
As to the Catechumen Program, it
reflects the discipling ministry of the Overseer (who in formal address may be
called “bishop”) and is adapted to the spiritual needs of the
catechumen on a case-by-case basis.
§5 - The Desposyni Who Are Not in Fellowship with Us: Guarded Communion
Religious rites are pedagogical in purpose. God has no need of them and they provide no atonement for sin. They do, however, dispense God's grace because they clothe truth with symbols that can be received by the soul. Not all of the Desposyni have a mature understanding of truth; thus, their rituals may be defective.
We encourage our members to avoid participating in religious rites which are
at war with the Christian faith and do not acknowledge the Lordship of Jesus Christ. We realize that in
some evangelistic settings, missionaries must be present during pagan rituals,
awaiting their opportunity to speak. However, they compromise themselves
if they participate. On the other hand, participation in defective,
but not rival, rituals, such as graduation ceremonies, are
usually harmless. Unchristian religious rites led by the Desposyni ought to be
avoided. If you are in doubt, consult with your Overseer for a ruling (see §18).
§6 - Marital Issues: Divorce, Polygamy, Hierogamy, Eunuchs, etc.
Marriage
is a covenant relationship between two or more persons to fulfill the prime
directive of the human species: "to be fruitful and multiply" and thus fulfill the
Dominion Covenant (Genesis 1:26-30; Psalm 8). The standard for emulation is the
glorious Trinity of Heaven which is eternal in its love and faithfulness. This
is hierogamy. Divorce does not reflect this Divine pattern, but as Yahweh
symbolically divorced
State licensed marriages, marriages by priests, rabbis, and ministers,
whether Christian or not, are contracted concubinage if they are not solemnized
by a Desposynic Bishop. They are sanctified if the officiate has received
recognition of his office from a Desposynic Bishop. Otherwise, they must
be regulated by the "Laws of Concubinage"
in the Bible which allow temporary marital relationships. Since
the Bible and the Early Fathers taught the validity of concubinage, we do not
teach that it is immoral for people to live together conjugally without the
benefits of matrimony. If they are minors, they must do so with the counsel and
consent of their parents or guardians. If they are adults, they should enter a
counseling relationship with a trusted spiritual leader who can review the
progress of the relationship and provide mediation should the relationship end
(to decide the care of offspring and the division of property, for example).
Eunuchs (which
may include some homosexuals), widows (which include the divorced), and those in
perpetual virginity or celibacy are sanctified by their covenant relationship
with their Desposynic Bishop.
§7 - On Questions of Conscience: War, Dissident Movements, etc.
The membership of the Cambrian Episcopal Church of the Grail spans a wide-range of political persuasions. Some members may be dissidents, even in opposing factions. Protecting a dissident from persecution must be decided on a case-by-case basis. If you belong to a dissident movement and you anticipate persecution, you must inform the Overseer to obtain a ruling before you complete your training as a catechumen.
There is no war which is valid except the war of self-defense and the war of liberation. War to further economic objectives is sinful. It demonstrates a lack of faith in God's Providence and a discontent with the current resources He has provided. It is also theft.
Members of the armed forces and various police forces are in danger of mortal sin if they participate in the use of deadly force for an unjust cause. Normally, however, such people are performing a brave and selfless service to their fellowman and we support them.
Additionally, we remind our members that this Church will support their refusal to obey the order of a superior officer, if that refusal is based upon a question of conscience. Consult the Overseer for a ruling in your case
§8 - The Family: Abbeys, Father Priests, Inheritance
Men (and sometimes women) who have been set-forth by the Overseer may
officiate as priests to their own households in unity with Christ. Heads
of households may do so anyway, but they risk the sin of schism by refusing to
acknowledge a representative of the Throne of Christ and a symbol of unity with
the Body of Christ. The Overseer exists to provide that unity and
contact. If
a family priest or priestess shall form an abbey, in formal address he or she shall be called
an "Abbot" or "Abbess."
What churches are to imperial societies, abbeys are to tribal
ones. There are five indicia required of
abbeys: 1) a leader, 2) a doctrine of succession, 3) a ministry of helps, 4) a
mission statement, and 5) a place to live and worship. The
§9 - The Sabbath:
The Cambrian Episcopal Church of the Grail teaches that the Christian ought to sanctify everyday as the Lord's Day, by appropriate worship for the day. We refer you to the Book of Common Prayer and the Daily Office, as a point of beginning, for resources which are in harmony and unity with the practice of the Desposyni.
Christians ought to appoint a day of rest and recreation one day a week, which was the original purpose for the Sabbath. Our Lord said that the day was made for man, not man for the day (Mark 2:27-28). They should also seek the fellowship of other Christians on a day which they may mutually agree to gather, not necessarily for worship, but for edification.
Claims by teachers that Saturday or Sunday is the true Sabbath are spurious. The computation of the true Sabbath must follow the standards of the Jamesian Church. To avoid discord, we reserve teaching on this subject until the end of the catechumen's training.
Until such instruction can be
provided, we urge daily devotions and a monthly gathering for worship in
sacrament. We leave to personal choice
or local customs as to the selection of a weekly day of rest.
§10 - State Aid, Social Security, Church Charities:
It is an important doctrine in the Desposynic tradition that parents provide an inheritance for their children, and from that inheritance, children are to provide for their parents when they are enfeebled by old age. This is a part of the bond between generations and strengthens the family. Old-age pensions, government relief programs, and church charities are all useful during times of crisis, but in the long-run, they are destructive of the family. This is because they are institutional in nature, not familial. Therefore, we discourage our members from participation in such programs, but we do not forbid it.
We do object to the state’s
attempt to undermine family government in forcing parents to seek state-issued
identification numbers and other tracking instruments for their children or
forcing them to enter contractual relationships with the state on their
behalf. While we recognize that many of
these programs have good intentions, the state should not use coercive methods
through tax codes, the banking system, schools, hospitals, the military, and so
on to induce compliance. We affirm that
one’s Christian name given by his or her parents at birth and attested to
by church authorities, medical records or an entry in a family bible is
sufficient identification in a well-ordered and Christian society.
§11 - The Church and Medicine: Ministry of Healing
It is the doctrinal position of the Cambrian Episcopal Church of the Grail that the ministry of healing has been conferred by Jesus Christ to His Church. It is mediated by father priests to their respective households - men who are in good standing with the Episcopal Office of Christ. While the use of medical professionals is not forbidden, their general apostasy in recent generations requires the members of this Church to evaluate the validity of their services on a case-by-case basis. Generally, we support the decision of our members.
Explanation:
The coercion by various statutes and laws of civil governments which require our members to submit to apostate medical professionals is regarded by us as religious persecution and an offense to the Throne of Christ. If medical professionals or government officials believe there is a case of neglect or dereliction by a father priest, they are hereby granted permission to appeal directly to the Episcopal Office of this Church for review. But in no case does this Church surrender its authority over the healing arts, gifts which have been conferred by Christ Himself.
By their own admission on the public record, and on sundry occasions, government and medical officials have said that state certification and state licensure are no guarantees of competence. But even if such regulatory measures could guarantee competence, it would not change this verity of apostolic tradition: that sickness, injury and death come from the finger of God alone, and that healing comes for the glory of Christ. Any healing art which does not confess that health and healing come from Christ is, by its first definition, sorcery. Sorcery is a sin of presumption.
Because the modern medical profession does not, as a rule, acknowledge the Throne of Christ or work to His glory, it is in an apostate condition. We support the decision of our members who decline medical assistance, if they feel compromised by it. On the other hand, if our members believe they have found a health care professional who respects and honors their religious convictions and elect to receive his or her care, we support them in that decision, also.
So-called "alternative medicine" is not automatically acceptable. The same criteria apply to practitioners of non-allopathic medicine.
While the tone of the above statements may seem harsh, they are a measured response to the amazing arrogance in the medical profession. However, it should be noted that there are many Christians in that profession, even members of the Desposyni. We are not condemning the profession itself; rather, we condemn its secularization and its use by the state in social engineering.
§12 - Coverture and the Tithe:
The Overseer serves in Christ's stead as the kinsman-redeemer, protector of the weak, and savior of the oppressed. He can only do so if the Body provides Him with practical resources and assistance. The Scriptures identify the tithe of the increase (10% of income) as God's tax to equip this Messianic office. This is the practical sign of Covenantal unity with the Desposyni. Those Catechumens who desire coverture must covenant in this way.
Coverture - judicial and spiritual - is the benefit of covenantal unity. Coverture is the protection conferred by being a member in affiliation or minister of this Church.
If you are a deacon, such as a father priest or a minister in another Christian body, you may retain 9/10ths of the tithe and send the tithe of the tithe (1% of income) to your Overseer.
§13 - Litigation:
It is commanded in the Scriptures that disputes between Christians must be settled within the Church (1 Corinthians 6). The Overseer usually does not judge such matters, but rather appoints an Arbitrator.
Sometimes, presence in the secular courts is unavoidable. Some members of this Church may be attorneys, judges, or other officers of the court. Conditions for members of law enforcement and members of the armed forces, mentioned in §7 above, apply here.
The Cambrian Episcopal Church of the Grail teaches against the Adversarial System of litigation which exists in courtrooms today. In this system, the judge acts as referee and the opposing attorneys play as gladiators. Truth and justice suffer under this “hired gun" system because money is the key to victory.
It is the duty of every judge to probe for the truth. A judge is meant to be a one-man Grand Jury, who seeks out the truth and dispenses justice accordingly. This is the "Ministerial System."
§14 - Usury and the Jubilee:
Usury - the charging of compounding interest on loans - is a great evil in the world. The Scriptures provide for charging interest of strangers, not brethren. The modern practice of assessing interest on every commercial transaction has had the effect of creating a world of strangers. It is corrosive to the spirit of brotherly love. People have become alienated from each other and alienated from the land which is meant to be their home. We urge politicians and the wealthy to resolve this crisis before it leads to massive wars and self-annihilation. We teach a restoration of the Jubilee Law to bring peace, healing, and rest to the souls of mankind.
§15 - Ethnic Diversity and Racial Relations:
The Cambrian Episcopal Church is a catholic body which teaches that the offer of salvation has been extended to all mankind. As for how we serve Christ in liturgy, doctrine, and polity, there are different traditions reflecting the ethnic diversity of mankind. While this body follows the Cambrian Episcopal tradition which originated in ancient Wales, and it teaches the procession of the Messianic Kingdom according to ethnic groups, it does not say that this tradition is fit for all ethnic groups, at all times. Nations, like individuals, are at different points in their spiritual journey and should not be forced into a religious tradition for which they are not yet ready.
Racial chauvinism is a form of satanic pride. It was Satan who had contempt for the inferiority of the human race at its creation, and based upon that contempt, he sought occasion to destroy it.
Reflecting the Divine Trinity, mankind was created to be diverse, yet also united. In the glorious Trinity, there are three Persons, yet one God. Unity and Diversity are meant to be equal and balanced principles in social organization. Ethnic genocide, whether it be through conquest or a forced integration and miscegenation, is hereby condemned. Mankind is meant to be united by a common heritage in the Desposyni.
§16 The Peace of Jerusalem:
The violence and strife in the Middle East has demonstrated the failure of diplomacy and the inability of the three major religious groups - Christianity, Judaism, and Islam - to exert a peaceful moral influence upon their followers. Regrettably, all three groups seem resigned to a war of genocide to resolve this conflict.
The Desposyni teach that peace will come when they are entrusted with the leadership of these three religions. Following the plan found in the final chapters of Ezekiel (a book written for the post-Exilic and pre-Messianic period, yet still relevant for us today), the inhabitants of Jerusalem must be selected from all the nations of the earth according to a lottery system. Only these inhabitants of Jerusalem may sponsor and escort worshippers to the Holy Mount (Zechariah 8:22-23), which must be excavated of any structures and left clear for pilgrims to worship in the open air (Revelation 21:22). Only then will peace come.
All races and religions must
relinquish their claims of exclusivity as “God’s chosen” and
recognize that all people as individuals must “work out their own
salvation with fear and trembling.”
As to temporal dominion, “the meek shall inherit the earth.”
The meek are those who submit themselves to the burdens of family life, work
hard, and live for the benefit of others.
When the human species finally learns this lesson - that personal
advancement comes from service and
not from schemes of deceit or coercion to exploit others - then the
§17 The Desposyni:
The Desposyni are descendants of the family and relatives of Jesus Christ who have been entrusted with the dominion mandate of the Davidic Covenant (2 Samuel 7; Acts 15:15-17). They may be selected for leadership in one of three ways: 1) by acclamation, 2) by lottery, or 3) by succession. They may qualify as descendants either by blood or by family covenant. The identification of the Desposyni is an internal matter of the Cambrian Episcopal Church of the Grail.
§18 Witchcraft, Magic, and the Occult:
We oppose any act of illusion calculated to defraud, manipulate,
control or otherwise exploit people. We
stand with the Apostolic Fathers in affirming that the age of magic has ended,
its power being broken by the Atonement of Christ.
Explanation: (The above is not meant to include entertainers who use
magic tricks and do not pretend to have miraculous powers.)
The question of supernatural experiences, the notion of a personal
devil, and the source of evil have all been extremely difficult issues for
Christian leaders to resolve through the centuries. When faith has declined, Christian societies
have succumbed to periods of superstition and hysteria. We live in such a time when people still live
with the effects of youthful indiscretions involving hallucinogenic drugs,
hypnosis, and various experiments with altered states of consciousness. We warn all who will listen, that God has
given to mankind the capacity of rational thought as the primary tool for
dominion, not the subconscious mind. The
subconscious mind exists to spur investigation with sudden insights, not to
replace rational and disciplined thinking as the primary source of knowledge.
As best that can be determined from the witness of the Fathers,
there have been at least three Satans, and perhaps more, since the beginning of
recorded history: Samyaza, Azazyel, Yekun (ref.
Enoch) and perhaps Belial and Beelzebub.
Each of these have been either destroyed or imprisoned in “chains
of darkness” (Jude 6; Luke
§19 – Social Controversies:
Abortion, Gay Marriage, Circumcision:
#1 – Abortion: The Cambrian
Episcopal Church of the Grail stands with the Didache in its condemnation of induced abortion as a presumptuous
sin which, unless done in self-defense, requires penance. However, we also deny that it is the role of
the state to enforce criminal sanctions against it until after, as it was in
the old Common Law, the unborn child has “quickened” within the womb.
#2 – Gay Marriage & Polymory: This Church teaches that the state has no
compelling interest – moral or otherwise – to enforce, as public
policy, monogamy or even heterosexual marriage.
However, the state does have an interest in the orderly descent of
title, the safety of children, and the public peace. None of these aspects of social order are
impaired by unconventional marriages as long as they are freely entered without
deception or coercion. While this
statement is not meant as an endorsement of practices which might in fact be
sinful, it is meant to say that the state exceeds its authority in a
destructive way if it criminalizes relationships between people who love each
other or impairs their right to contract.
#3 – Circumcision: This Church stands with the witness of James the Just, the Apostles and the Apostolic Fathers in their condemnation of circumcision (e.g. Acts 15; Galatians 5:2; Ignatius to the Magnesians 3:1). Prior to the dispensation of the Holy Spirit, this form of sexual mutilation was imposed upon unregenerate men but now is condemned as the sins of Judaizing and sexual abuse. It is an affront to the Gospel, represents moral confusion, and engenders a spirit of sexual aggression. We reject claims that it has hygienic or therapeutic benefits and call upon modern Christians to repent and discontinue the practice.
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