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Questions and Answers |
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Q: What is worship like at All Souls? A: All Souls is a new community made up of people from a variety of church backgrounds. Usually, a new worshipping community is greatly influenced by the founding pastor. The pastor of All Souls comes from the Anglican tradition but is committed to work at finding the right blend of traditional with elements of contemporary expressions of faith. The church follows a more formal worship style that incorporates a blend of Anglican, Lutheran, Old Catholic, Roman Catholic and New Zealand liturgies. Those coming from a Catholic, Lutheran, Episcopal, Presbyterian or United Church of Christ background will find similarities to their own worship style.
Q: I don’t know if I really want to be Christian or not. A: All Souls welcomes everyone regardless of where one is on his or her faith journey. The sacraments are not ours to guard, protect or withhold. We believe that the mere fact that you are interested in worshipping with us indicates that God is somehow working in your life. If you are curious and questioning your faith, you are free to explore with us without having to check your brain at the door. Come on, give us a try. We won’t bite!
Q: What do you mean when you say you are ecumenical? A: A definition of ecumenical is: general; universal; pertaining to the whole Christian Church; promoting or fostering Christian unity. Rather than seeing itself as independent and isolated, All Souls sees itself as part of the larger Christian community throughout the world. The church seeks to work in cooperation with other like-minded communities of faith to reach out to others. Q: What do you mean by catholic? A: All Souls is a member of the Ecumenical Catholic Communion. All Souls is catholic, but it is not Roman Catholic. There is a difference. In this case, the word “catholic” needs a bit of rehabilitation. According to Dictionary.com, the word catholic means: broad or wide-ranging; universal in extent; involving all; pertaining to the whole Christian body or church. Using this definition, All Souls is catholic because it sees itself as part of the whole Christian church. We are practicing the original understanding of the Church which existed for the first 800 years of Christianity and still exists in the current Eastern Orthodox tradition. In this ancient understanding of Catholicism, each faith community was led by its bishop and pastoral councils. The people of each local faith community participated in the life of the Church by electing their bishops and taking an active role in the ministry of their faith tradition. The Pope was considered to be a spiritual leader but not the head of the church. Each community upheld the autonomy of its own life and governance. Before the 9th century, approval from Rome was not required in the decision making process of each local church.
Q: Why choose to identify yourselves as catholic? A: We see ourselves as catholic because we recognize that we are part of the church universal and maintain the ancient characteristics of the early church. There are a variety of Catholics, but like All Souls, catholic churches have the following core elements: Q: Do I have to become catholic to be a member? A: Actually, if you are a Christian, you are already catholic in the truest sense of the word. At All Souls, there is no test of faith. No one is required to adhere to Roman Catholic doctrines that some Protestants find troublesome. One does have to attend membership class and be confirmed by the bishop and may be received into the church if they have been confirmed by a bishop with valid apostolic succession. Q: Are you a gay church? A: We are a Christian church. We are church made up of gay and straight individuals and perhaps somewhere in between. At All Souls we celebrate diversity and strive to make everyone feel welcome.
Q: I am gay/lesbian, why should I consider your church over another?
A: This is a good question since some main-line churches are starting to break down the walls of exclusion and welcome gay and lesbians. Unfortunately, even some of the most welcoming denominations struggle with including gays and lesbians fully into every aspect of the church. An important question to ask is, “Will the church allow me to serve in all aspects of ministry?” “Will they celebrate and bless my same-gendered relationship?” “Will they marry my partner and me?” At All Souls the answer is YES! We are affiliated with a denomination that includes all without having to debate whether individuals are worthy to receive the church’s sacraments. In addition, the denomination has openly gay, partnered clergy.
Q: Who can receive the sacraments of the church? A: The sacraments belong to God. All are welcome to receive the sacraments without restriction. That includes those who have been divorced and remarried. Q: What are the sacraments of the church? A: The seven-fold sacraments are: Baptism — the right of initiation into the Christian community. Eucharist — the celebration of Christ’s continual presence in the bread and wine. Confirmation — the rite of passage where children or adults claim for themselves the baptismal vows made on their behalf as children. There are also many adults who are confirmed at the time they are baptized. Marriage — the sacrament in which two people make vows to one another and enter a mystical union. In this sacrament the clergy serves as a witness to the vows made and to ask God’s blessing upon the couple. Confession — the sacrament of confession helps people find relief from a burden of guilt and shame for their mistakes and misdeeds. Unction — also known as the anointing of the sick and Last Rites. Anointing is a ritual in which oil, an ancient symbol of healing, is used as tangible expression of the prayers spoken on behalf of the sick individual. Ordination — the sacrament by which members of the church are set apart for service, administration and responsibility in the church. For more information on the sacraments see the sacrament page. Q: I was raised Roman Catholic but have had some issues with church politics. Why would I want to be involved with another catholic church even if the church isn’t Roman Catholic?
A: All Souls is a member of the Ecumenical Catholic Communion. We take the best that Catholicism has to offer without being encumbered by doctrines being made up by clerics far removed from the world. In the ECC, laity has both voice and vote in the church’s decision making. Following its Old Catholic heritage, one’s own conscience is important and the ECC does not require one to accept questionable doctrines. For instance, in the ECC couples are free to use birth control as they see fit. And the ECC allows for couples from different faith traditions to be married in the church. In our Q and A we’ve already discussed gay, lesbian, and ordination issues. I had a fellow co-worker say to me, “You know, as a struggling Catholic I think I could benefit from a catholic church like yours. I have a hard time dealing with the pronouncements from Rome.” Perhaps you might feel the same way once you have checked us out.
Q: I want my children to be baptized, but am married to someone who is divorced so the Roman Catholic Church won’t recognize my marriage and won’t baptize my children. Will you baptize them?
A: The simple answer is YES! We’d be glad to baptize your children. The Ecumenical Catholic Communion, and All Souls, recognize that we live in a broken world and regrettably, divorce is a reality with which many people struggle. We believe that God understands our human condition. Divorce need not separate you from the love of God and from the church’s sacraments. We do ask however, that in seeking baptism, you commit to raise the child in the Christian faith and do all you can to nurture his or her spirit life. Give us a call, we’ll talk.
Q: How can I fit in at All Souls?
A: At All Souls, we believe that Christ’s ministry belongs to the whole church, and is not exclusively the responsibility of the clergy. Everyone plays a part in doing Christ’s work in the world and in the church. Since we are a small and growing church there are plenty of opportunities to share in ministry. Each person compliments other people’s gifts and makes individual gifts better through the sharing of gifts in the community. If you have a desire to be involved in ministry, let us know. We’d enjoy hearing about it! |
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All Souls Ecumenical Church Phone: 610-621-1738; P.O. Box 15020, Reading, PA 19612-5020 Worshipping 1pm Sundays in the Chapel at Calvary UCC, 640 Centre, Ave., Reading, PA 19601
To contact us: Info@allsoulsecumenical.org |