| Evangelical Catholic Church | |
|---|---|
| Type | Catholic |
| Classification | Independent Catholic |
| Orientation | Evangelical Catholic |
| Bishop | James Alan Wilkowski |
| Origin | July 7, 1997 Chicago, Illinois |
| Separated from | Roman Catholic Church |
| Separations | North American Catholic Ecumenical Church |
| Congregations | 4 |
| Members | 1,500 |
| Other name(s) | Independent Evangelical Catholic Church in America |
| Official website |
evangelicalcatholicchurch |
The Evangelical Catholic Church (ECC), formerly known as the Independent Evangelical Catholic Church in America (IECCA), is an Independent Catholic church headquartered in Chicago, Illinois. Founded in 1997, [1] [2] it claimed about 1,500 members in three parishes in 2014. [2] [3] In 2017, the ECC claimed four parishes in Chicago, Illinois; Bend, Oregon; Providence, Rhode Island; and Watertown, Wisconsin. [4]
The Evangelical Catholic Church professes two creeds: the Apostles' Creed and the Nicene Creed. [5] Its theology differs from that of the Roman Catholic Church in that it permits both men and women, married as well as unmarried, to become deacons, priests and bishops; accepts gay marriage; encourages divorced and remarried worshipers to receive Communion; and allows birth control. [2]
References
- ^ "Welcome to the Evangelical Catholic Church". Evangelical Catholic Church. Archived from the original on August 19, 2016. Retrieved August 19, 2016.
- ^ a b c Morris-Young, Dan (June 10, 2014). "Turnout for Oregon breakaway church's opening weekend exceeds expectations". National Catholic Reporter. Archived from the original on August 20, 2016. Retrieved August 19, 2016.
- ^ "Bishops and Clergy". Evangelical Catholic Church. Archived from the original on February 12, 2014. Retrieved April 18, 2018.
- ^ "Parish Locations". Evangelical Catholic Church. Archived from the original on April 20, 2018. Retrieved April 18, 2018.
- ^ "The Catechism of the Evangelical Catholic Church: The Creeds". Evangelical Catholic Church. Retrieved August 16, 2016.