The term “Episcopi Vagantes” (Latin for “wandering bishops”) refers to persons claiming episcopal consecration who may or may not be part of churches recognized as being within the historic episcopate. Frequent inquiries are received by dioceses and parish priests regarding the activities of a growing number of churches which assume the title Orthodox, Catholic, or Old Catholic. Often a kind of historical continuity is claimed, through meandering lines of episcopal consecration, with the Orthodox, Roman Catholic, or Old Catholic Churches.
Often clergy from these churches will inquire about renting worship space from the Episcopal Church, or seek to be received into the Episcopal Church; sometimes they claim to be in full communion with the Episcopal Church on the basis of Old Catholic orders. Please consult the Ecumenical Relations Office for further information about dealing with these groups. In a number of instances, however, religious leaders of this sort operate social welfare and rehabilitation programs of various kinds. Admirable as they may be in themselves, such programs may be employed to provide credibility or an image of an ecclesiastical base which does not, in fact, exist. These groups should be approached with extreme caution.
Ecumenical officers and others should emphasize our relationships with recognized churches when asked about such groups. The Yearbook of American and Canadian Churches, prepared by the National Council of Churches and published by Abingdon Press, is a listing of the denominations which have demonstrated stability and have survived. New incorporations or letterhead organizations are not admitted until they qualify. Check this reference book for information, and for further information contact the national Ecumenical Office, which has official policy statements towards such groups.
None of these groups are in full communion with the Episcopal Church. The only Old Catholic Churches with which the Episcopal Church is in communion are the Old Catholic Churches of Europe. Until 2003 the Polish National Catholic Church was a member of the Old Catholic Churches of the Union of Utrecht, but that is no longer the case.
The 1958 Lambeth Conference voted the following resolution:
The Conference draws attention to the fact that there are Episcopi Vagantes who call themselves either "Old Catholic" or "Orthodox", in combination with other names. It warns its members of the danger of accepting such persons at their own valuation without making further inquiries. The Conference reiterates the principle contained in Resolution 27 of the 1920 Lambeth Conference, that it cannot recognize the Churches of such episcopi vagantes as properly constituted Churches, or recognize the orders of their ministers, and recommends that any such ministers desiring to join an Anglican Church, who are in other respects duly qualified, should be ordained sub conditione in accordance with the provisions suggested in the Report of the relevant Committee of the 1920 Lambeth Conference.
Clergy from “Old Catholic” or Continuing Anglican Churches
The Office of Ecumenical and Interfaith Relations regularly receives inquiries about clergy from “Old Catholic” or other Anglican churches seeking to be licensed or received into The Episcopal Church.
Title I, Canon 20, of the Constitution and Canons of the Episcopal Church was created to clarify the churches with which this church is in full communion:
Title I, Canon 20: Of Churches in Full Communion
Sec.1. The Episcopal Church, a member of the Anglican Communion, has a relationship of full communion with those Churches in the historic episcopal succession and with whom it has entered into covenant agreements including:
(a) the Old Catholic Churches of the Union of Utrecht,
(b) la Iglesia Filipina Independiente / the Philippine Independent Church, and
(c) the Mar Thoma Syrian Church of Malabar.
Sec.2. The Episcopal Church has a relationship of full communion with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America under the terms of “Called to Common Mission,” which was adopted by the 73rd General Convention of the Episcopal Church as Resolution A040.
While not passing judgment on the validity or invalidity of the Holy Orders of any non-Utrecht Old Catholic Church or any Anglican Church not in communion with the see of Canterbury, canonically clergy from these churches should not be considered as clergy ordained in churches in full communion with this church. As such Title III, Canon 10, Section 2, “Clergy Ordained by Bishops in Communion with this Church,” is not appropriate. It would be up to the diocesan, in consultation with the Presiding Bishop as specified in Title I, Canon 16, to determine whether Title III, Canon 10, Section 3 or Section 4 would apply.
Often clergy from these churches will inquire about renting worship space from the Episcopal Church, or seek to be received into the Episcopal Church; sometimes they claim to be in full communion with the Episcopal Church on the basis of Old Catholic orders. Please consult the Ecumenical Relations Office for further information about dealing with these groups. In a number of instances, however, religious leaders of this sort operate social welfare and rehabilitation programs of various kinds. Admirable as they may be in themselves, such programs may be employed to provide credibility or an image of an ecclesiastical base which does not, in fact, exist. These groups should be approached with extreme caution.
Ecumenical officers and others should emphasize our relationships with recognized churches when asked about such groups. The Yearbook of American and Canadian Churches, prepared by the National Council of Churches and published by Abingdon Press, is a listing of the denominations which have demonstrated stability and have survived. New incorporations or letterhead organizations are not admitted until they qualify. Check this reference book for information, and for further information contact the national Ecumenical Office, which has official policy statements towards such groups.
None of these groups are in full communion with the Episcopal Church. The only Old Catholic Churches with which the Episcopal Church is in communion are the Old Catholic Churches of Europe. Until 2003 the Polish National Catholic Church was a member of the Old Catholic Churches of the Union of Utrecht, but that is no longer the case.
The 1958 Lambeth Conference voted the following resolution:
The Conference draws attention to the fact that there are Episcopi Vagantes who call themselves either "Old Catholic" or "Orthodox", in combination with other names. It warns its members of the danger of accepting such persons at their own valuation without making further inquiries. The Conference reiterates the principle contained in Resolution 27 of the 1920 Lambeth Conference, that it cannot recognize the Churches of such episcopi vagantes as properly constituted Churches, or recognize the orders of their ministers, and recommends that any such ministers desiring to join an Anglican Church, who are in other respects duly qualified, should be ordained sub conditione in accordance with the provisions suggested in the Report of the relevant Committee of the 1920 Lambeth Conference.
Clergy from “Old Catholic” or Continuing Anglican Churches
The Office of Ecumenical and Interfaith Relations regularly receives inquiries about clergy from “Old Catholic” or other Anglican churches seeking to be licensed or received into The Episcopal Church.
Title I, Canon 20, of the Constitution and Canons of the Episcopal Church was created to clarify the churches with which this church is in full communion:
Title I, Canon 20: Of Churches in Full Communion
Sec.1. The Episcopal Church, a member of the Anglican Communion, has a relationship of full communion with those Churches in the historic episcopal succession and with whom it has entered into covenant agreements including:
(a) the Old Catholic Churches of the Union of Utrecht,
(b) la Iglesia Filipina Independiente / the Philippine Independent Church, and
(c) the Mar Thoma Syrian Church of Malabar.
Sec.2. The Episcopal Church has a relationship of full communion with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America under the terms of “Called to Common Mission,” which was adopted by the 73rd General Convention of the Episcopal Church as Resolution A040.
While not passing judgment on the validity or invalidity of the Holy Orders of any non-Utrecht Old Catholic Church or any Anglican Church not in communion with the see of Canterbury, canonically clergy from these churches should not be considered as clergy ordained in churches in full communion with this church. As such Title III, Canon 10, Section 2, “Clergy Ordained by Bishops in Communion with this Church,” is not appropriate. It would be up to the diocesan, in consultation with the Presiding Bishop as specified in Title I, Canon 16, to determine whether Title III, Canon 10, Section 3 or Section 4 would apply.