Old Anglican Catholic Church, USA
"An Historic Traditional Evangelical Anglican Church"
OACC-USA Statement of Faith
The faith of the Old Anglican Catholic Church, USA conforms to that of the undivided Christian Church of the first millennium of its existence. It is expressed in the ancient Symbol of Faith called the Nicene Creed, promulgated by the Council of Nicaea in 325AD and enlarged slightly by the Council of Constantinople in 381AD:
We believe in one God,
the Father, the Almighty,
maker of heaven and earth,
of all that is, seen and unseen.
We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ,
the only Son of God,
eternally begotten of the Father,
God from God, Light from Light,
true God from true God,
begotten, not made,
of one Being with the Father.
Through him all things were made.
For us and for our salvation
he came down from heaven:
by the power of the Holy Spirit
he became incarnate from the Virgin Mary,
and was made man.
For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate;
he suffered death and was buried.
On the third day he rose again
in accordance with the Scriptures;
he ascended into heaven
and is seated at the right hand of the Father.
He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead,
and his kingdom will have no end.
We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life,
who proceeds from the Father and the Son.
With the Father and the Son he is worshiped and glorified.
He has spoken through the Prophets.
We believe in one holy catholic and apostolic Church.
We acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins.
We look for the resurrection of the dead,
and the life of the world to come.
Amen.
The Old Anglican Catholic Church, USA does not consider the Bible to be a source of information concerning science or any other human discipline. Its purpose is to teach us about God and about His Son Jesus Christ. It does that within the cultural environment of its time and place, hence the need for careful study to understand its message correctly.
Sacred Scripture itself is part of Sacred Tradition, that process by which God’s revelation is passed on to us from the Apostles down through the centuries. This handing on occurs through preaching, teaching, catechesis, devotions, doctrines, and, most importantly, the Bible itself. Church Tradition then is a collection of orthodox practices and beliefs which makes Sacred Tradition an inerrant source of God’s revelation in matters essential to our faith and our Christian life.
A very important part of Sacred Tradition is the teaching of the Ecumenical Councils. The Old Anglican Catholic Church, USA believes that the doctrinal definitions of the first seven Ecumenical Councils, that is those which took place in the undivided Christian Church, were guided by the Holy Spirit and it accepts them as part of its faith. Those seven Ecumenical Councils are the Councils of Nicaea in 325AD, Constantinople in 381AD, Ephesus in 431AD, Chalcedon in 451AD, Constantinople II in 533AD, Constantinople III in 680AD, and Nicaea II in 787AD. These Councils were concerned essentially with defining the true Christian faith in the Holy Trinity and in Jesus Christ the Son of God made man. God is triune, a single God in three persons, whom Jesus Himself named Father, Son and Spirit. Jesus Christ is the Son of God, uniting in His single person both the divine and the human natures.
Equally important in Sacred Tradition are the seven Sacraments. The Old Anglican Catholic Church, USA believes that these Sacraments or Mysteries, which are Baptism and Eucharist, both of which are particularly attested to in Sacred Scripture, and Confirmation or Chrismation, Penance or Reconciliation, Matrimony, Holy Orders and Unction or Anointing of the Sick, are effective signs of the Lord’s continuing presence and action in His Church and efficacious channels of his Grace.
Among the Sacraments, Holy Eucharist holds a special place. The Old Anglican Catholic Church, USA believes that the Lord Jesus Christ is really and truly present, in His humanity and in His divinity, in the bread and wine that have been consecrated in the Eucharistic Liturgy, and that in Holy Communion we receive Him into ourselves to nourish the very life of God within us: “Those who eat my flesh and drink my blood have eternal life, and I will raise them up on the last day.” (John 6:54).
In the Lord Jesus’ plan for his Church, the Apostles and the Bishops hold a special place. The Old Anglican Catholic Church, USA believes that the Bishops, duly consecrated in the unbroken line of Apostolic Succession, are the successors of the Apostles and that they are responsible, as were the Apostles, for the triple ministry of service consisting of preaching and teaching, of sanctifying and of governing. Under the leadership and direction of the bishops, priests and deacons, empowered by the Sacrament of Holy Orders, minister to all those who come to the Old Anglican Catholic Church, USA for guidance and support on their journey to our Heavenly Father.
For the OACC-USA Apostolic Council,
Archbishop Michael D. Byus
Metropolitan Primus
11 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. 2 For by it the elders obtained a good testimony.
3 By faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that the things which are seen were not made of things which are visible.
4 By faith Abel offered to God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, through which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts; and through it he being dead still speaks.
5 By faith Enoch was taken away so that he did not see death, “and was not found, because God had taken him”; [a] for before he was taken he had this testimony, that he pleased God. 6 But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.
7 By faith Noah, being divinely warned of things not yet seen, moved with godly fear, prepared an ark for the saving of his household, by which he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness which is according to faith.
8 By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to the place which he would receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going. 9 By faith he dwelt in the land of promise as in a foreign country, dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise; 10 for he waited for the city which has foundations, whose builder and maker is God.
11 By faith Sarah herself also received strength to conceive seed, and she bore a child[b] when she was past the age, because she judged Him faithful who had promised. 12 Therefore from one man, and him as good as dead, were born as many as the stars of the sky in multitude—innumerable as the sand which is by the seashore.
13 These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off were assured of them,[c] embraced them and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. 14 For those who say such things declare plainly that they seek a homeland. 15 And truly if they had called to mind that country from which they had come out, they would have had opportunity to return. 16 But now they desire a better, that is, a heavenly country. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for He has prepared a city for them.
17 By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac, and he who had received the promises offered up his only begotten son, 18 of whom it was said, “In Isaac your seed shall be called,”[d] 19 concluding that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead, from which he also received him in a figurative sense.
20 By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau concerning things to come.
21 By faith Jacob, when he was dying, blessed each of the sons of Joseph, and worshiped, leaning on the top of his staff.
22 By faith Joseph, when he was dying, made mention of the departure of the children of Israel, and gave instructions concerning his bones.
23 By faith Moses, when he was born, was hidden three months by his parents, because they saw he was a beautiful child; and they were not afraid of the king’s command.
24 By faith Moses, when he became of age, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter, 25 choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God than to enjoy the passing pleasures of sin, 26 esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt; for he looked to the reward.
27 By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king; for he endured as seeing Him who is invisible
28 By faith he kept the Passover and the sprinkling of blood, lest he who destroyed the firstborn should touch them.
29 By faith they passed through the Red Sea as by dry land, whereas the Egyptians, attempting to do so, were drowned.
30 By faith the walls of Jericho fell down after they were encircled for seven days. 31 By faith the harlot Rahab did not perish with those who did not believe, when she had received the spies with peace.
32 And what more shall I say? For the time would fail me to tell of Gideon and Barak and Samson and Jephthah, also of David and Samuel and the prophets: 33 who through faith subdued kingdoms, worked righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, 34 quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, became valiant in battle, turned to flight the armies of the aliens. 35 Women received their dead raised to life again.
Others were tortured, not accepting deliverance, that they might obtain a better resurrection. 36 Still others had trial of mockings and scourgings, yes, and of chains and imprisonment. 37 They were stoned, they were sawn in two, were tempted, were slain with the sword. They wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins, being destitute, afflicted, tormented — 38 of whom the world was not worthy. They wandered in deserts and mountains, in dens and caves of the earth.
39 And all these, having obtained a good testimony through faith, did not receive the promise, 40 God having provided something better for us, that they should not be made perfect apart from us.
Hebrews 11-40 (NKJV)
