The All Saints Accord

Dear Friends:

Attached below is the text of a document called the All Saints Accord.

But first, a word of introduction, taken from Msgr. Jordan Straford's blog :

What it isn't: It's not a concordat, a standing committee, treaty or an organization.

What it is: It's a survey. Who here supports the following ideas as self-evident, and who does not?;

• That we honour our common heritage
  
• That we do not deny the sacraments to someone from another Church
  
• That we as clergy are all here to serve the people

Why it's special: Because it's unilateral – this isn't an agreement between Churches amongst themselves, this is a declaration that "I welcome you even if you don't welcome me". It's caritas in praxis, leaving Church X free to disagree and exclude while Church Y includes and welcomes. Which position would you rather your church take?

Why sign?: Because the Bishops have taken a solemn vow to serve the whole church, and it's the right thing to do.

Why not sign?: Because the non-signatory does not agree with the principles, or they didn't understand them, or has been to busy to sign them but will get around to it eventually. Or perhaps that the vow to serve the whole church was somehow equivocated to serving just one little corner of it. Ego? Disorganization? Territoriality? Who knows? Ask your bishops if they'll sign it.

What we do know is that below are eleven Bishops from nine Churches who recognize that we are one Gnostic Ekklesia and are committed to building on our common heritage and moving forward. We all of us owe them our thanks for their exemplary leadership and service to the Holy Gnosis.

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The All Saints Accord

Recognizing the true face of Gnosis in the brothers and sisters of each of our Church communities and acknowledging our common heritage in the One Apostolic Succession through which the Master has promised to be present to his Church until the end of time, we the undersigned Bishops of the Gnostic Church in its myriad forms, do affirm and commit to uphold the following principles:

1. The right to open participation and veneration of the Sacred and Divine in its traditional and contemporary forms irrespective of social status, organizational affiliation, gender, sexual orientation and creed.

2. The common bond shared by all active Apostolic Gnostic Churches in liturgical ministry through the agency of the one Apostolic Succession and thereby the validity and value of the Sacramental and Liturgical ministry maintained by those same active Apostolic Gnostic Churches when conducted in an ethical and upright manner.

3. The invitation to all members of the Gnostic Church, and indeed all spiritually minded people, to partake of our communities, free of all obligation but Respect and Charity.

Bishop +Anthony Angelo
Ecclesia Gnostica Catholica Hermetica

Bishop Dr. +William Behun
Apostolic Johannite Church

Bishop +Gerald del Campo
Thelemic Gnostic Church of Alexandria

Bishop +Kenneth J. Canterbury
Ecclesia Gnostica Catholica Hermetica

Bishop +John Gilbert
Universal Gnostic Church

Bishop +Allen Greenfield
Assembly of the Knowledge and Wisdom of Solomon

Bishop Dr. +Lewis Keizer,
The Home Temple

Bishop +Thomas Langley
The Alexandrian Gnostic Church

Bishop +Valdiveso Paschal Matthews,
Oriental Apostolic Church of Damcar and the Ecclesia Gnostica Joanita

Bishop +Shaun McCann
Apostolic Johannite Church

Bishop +Rosamonde Miller
Ecclesia Gnostica Mysteriorum

Bishop +Christine Payne-Towler
Gnostic Church of Mary Magdalene