ORTHODOX CATHOLIC CHURCH OF THE AMERICAS
PUBLIC PROCLAMATION OF THE CHURCH
REGARDING RESTRUCTURING
OF OPERATIONS (FUNCTIONALITY)
AND RELATED MATTERS
MADE THIS THE
24th DAY OF OCTOBER 1997
(New Calendar)
For an extended period of time many matters regarding the functionality of the Church have been
left unattended. This proclamation addresses these matters as determined in Synod of the Church
held the middle weeks of October, 1997. The actual minutes of the Synod are part of the Church
records, and are available as such to the Clergy of the Jurisdiction and those having need
determined by the Synod to be reasonable.
PROCLAMATION OF THE SYNOD OF OCTOBER, 1997
In open Synod during the middle two weeks of October, 1997, attended in person by Archbishop
John J. Lehman of Louisiana, Bishop Andres Giron of Guatemala, and by proxy which was later
confirmed by written approval of the Synodal action by Bishop Augustinus (John A.) Corcoran,
the following actions were taken:
I. Name: The name of this Church and Jurisdiction is hereby changed to ORTHODOX
CATHOLIC CHURCH OF THE AMERICAS, the Church releasing any other name by which
this Church has been known and any social or organizational name associated with any such
other name.
II. Composition of the Synod: The Synod has, since May, 1997, consisted of five Bishops.
Another Bishop has been believed by some to be a Bishop of this Church. Correspondence by
this other Bishop to two Bishops of this Church and the Synodal Notary, dated 6 September
1993, and signed by this other Bishop, and a declaration by this other Bishop, of the same date, to
the same individuals, and signed by this other Bishop, clearly state he is not a member of this
Church. Copies of these documents are attached, but are censored to delete any identifying
information and certain privileged or private matters which in no manner effect this other
Bishop's statement that he is not a member of this Synod.
Inquiry was made to this other Bishop in October, 1996, as to whether he wished to join the
Synod, and hence, the Church. This other Bishop indicated in the affirmative, but his joining
was never voted upon by the Synod.
In the beginning of the year 1997, the presiding Bishop of this Church informed various members
of the Synod, that this other Bishop had withdrawn from this Jurisdiction. In actuality, this other
Bishop did not have to withdraw, having never been admitted into the Synod, but his withdrawal
compounds and confirms he is not a member of the Synod.
Jurisdictional Canon requires a Bishop who is to be received into the Church be honorably
released from his current Church. There was no release received for this other Bishop.
The Synod therefore has but five members.
III. Metropolitan Primate: The office of Metropolitan Primate is hereby retired. The Synod may
resurrect that office at will.
IV. The Church confirms its adherence to those matters decreed to be dogma by the seven
councils of the entire Church. Those matters which have not been decreed as dogma by such a
Council, and those matters which have not been decreed as false by such a Council, such as the
concepts of The Immaculate Conception, the Assumption, the existence or non existence of
Purgatory, the level of awareness of the Soul at and after death, are beyond the capacity of this
Church to make a dogmatic proclamation upon, have been the subject of theological discussions
for in excess of a thousand years without resolution, resulting in such matters therefore having
the status of permitted personal beliefs until such time as the entire Church, in proper Council or
other proper form, shall decree thereupon.
V. Bishop Andres Giron of Guatemala is appointed and is now Archbishop of Central America.
VI. All members of the Clergy of this Church, without regard to rank, shall have ten days from
the date hereof within which to sign and date a copy hereof and return said document to the
Synodal Offices thereby agreeing to conform herewith, after which time all who have not so done
shall be released from faculty with this Church without further notice. All so released may apply
for readmission in the normal manner.
VII. Reformation of Canons: Any Canon of this Church not in total conformity herewith is
hereby revised so-as-to conform herewith; the Synodal Notary being hereby instructed to present
the appropriate revision to the Synod in a timely manner.
VIII. Notice: The Synodal Notary is instructed to make public proclamation of the actions of the
Synod, in such a manner as to not readily identify any individual not an original signatory
thereto, in an attempt to not harm any individual emotionally or in any manner what-so-ever.
Signed: John (John J. Lehman), Archbishop of Louisiana, Date: October 21, 1997
Signed: Andres, (Andres Giron) Archbishop of Central America., Date: October 21, 1997
Signed: Augustinus (John A. Corcoran), Bishop, Date: October 22, 1997
Signed: Paul, Synodal Notary (Rt. Rev. Lee Mc Colloster), Mitered Archpriest, Date: October
21, 1997
(Copies of the above and the referenced documents are presented at pages 18 through 21 - Ed)
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