Reuniting The Body Of Christ One Church At A Time

Instaurare Omnia In Christo - Ut Unum Sint.
Deus Le Veult!

To Restore Everything In Christ - That They May All Be One.
God Wills It!

GREETINGS IN THE NAME OF CHRIST

Presenting a kinder and gentler version of Lutheran Christianity, we are the Archdiocese of the West, one of the regional dioceses of the Anglo-Lutheran Catholic Church (ALCC,) a Church within the Lutheran Evangelical Catholic tradition which also has roots in the Anglican Anglo-Catholic tradition. The archdiocesan chancery, St. Michael's House, is located in Kansas City, Missouri.

This archdiocese is one of the ALCC's six geographic and two non-geographic Dioceses in the United States. The territory of the Archdiocese of the West covers the Western and Northern Midwest, the Central and Northern Plains States, the Mountain States North of New Mexico and Arizona, the West coast, and provisionally, Canada. Parishes (congregations) are currently located in Missouri and Washington (State.)

The Archdiocese's District of Minnesota and Wisconsin is now the Diocese of Minnesota and Wisconsin.  The non-geographic, ethnic Sub-Saharan African Archdiocese of St. Benedict of Africa has parishes within the territory of the Archdiocese of the West, in Missouri and Iowa.

Our Archbishop, like all other clergy of the ALCC are ordained in the historic Apostolic Succession in over 20 separate lineages with the Duarte-Costa lineage of the Rebiban (or Vatican) Succession being the primary one. For information about the specific lineages of the historic Apostolic Succession held by this Church, please contact the Office of the Archbishop.

The Anglo-Lutheran Catholic Church is incorporated in the State of Missouri, is a Federal 501(c)(3) tax exempt corporation, is a member of the Augustana Catholic Communion, the Sudanese Council of Churches, the Sudanese Council of Churches, USA, and is in Full Communion with the Traditional Church of England, the Anglican Church Traditional Rite (U. K.,) the Anglican Church of the Americas, and the Evangelical Marian Catholic Church.

Additional information about the ALCC may be found on the following websites:

http://www.orgsites.com/pa/rac/index.html

http://www.stmichaelsalcc.org

Detailed information about the Anglo-Lutheran Catholic Church may be found on its international website: 

http://anglolutherancatholic.org

It has been written that all Roman Catholics are Catholics, but not all Catholics are Roman. All Lutheran denominations are part of what Comparative Religion scholars call "The Catholic Family of Churches." Lutheran worship is liturgical, centered on the altar instead of the pulpit, and follows the "Mass format." However, part of a pan - Lutheran movement leading to eventual visible, corporate reunion with the Roman Catholic Church, the ALCC worships using the rites of the Roman Catholic Church exclusively. The many sacramental rites and sacramentals ("aids to devotion") used by the Catholic Church are also used by the ALCC.

Additionally, all clergy of the ALCC have signed The Mandatum, which is a binding, contractual vow not to “teach, preach, write, or publish anything which disagrees with the Catholic Magisterium,” which is the Teaching Office of the Roman Catholic Church.

Grace

The ALCC teaches, as does the Roman Catholic Church, that "our justification comes from the grace of God. Grace is favor, the free and undeserved help that God gives us to respond to his call to become children of God, adoptive sons, partakers of the divine nature and of eternal life." "Grace is a participation in the life of God." "The vocation to eternal life is supernatural. It depends entirely on God's gratuitous initiative" "The grace of Christ is the gratuitous gift that God makes to us of his own life, infused by the Holy Spirit into our soul to heal it of sin and to sanctify it." Received in baptism, in us is the source of the work of sanctification; and sanctifying grace "is an habitual gift, a stable and supernatural disposition to live with God and act by His love." (The Catechism of the Catholic Church, §1996 through §2000)

The ALCC teaches that "Faith is the theological virtue by which we believe in God and believe all that He has said and revealed to us, and that the Holy Church proposes for our belief because He is truth. By faith man freely commits his entire self to God and seeks to know and do God's Will. The righteous shall live by faith; and living faith works through charity." "The gift of faith remains in one who has not sinned against it. But Faith apart from works is dead." (James 2:26) "The disciple of Christ must not only keep the faith and live on it, but also profess it, confidently bear witness to it, and spread it." "Service of and witness to the faith are necessary for salvation." (The Catechism of the Catholic Church, §1814 - §1816 ) 

http://www.vatican.va/archive/ENG0015/__P66.HTM

Scripture

The Anglo-Lutheran Catholic Church accepts the following documents as its official statements on the nature and authority of Scripture and Revelation:

The Dogmatic Constitution on Divine Revelation – Dei Verbum

http://www.ewtn.com/library/COUNCILS/V2REVEL.HTM Vatican II, Pope Paul VI, 1965

The Interpretation of the Bible in the Church

http://www.ewtn.com/library/CURIA/PBCINTER.HTM) Pontifical Biblical Commission, 1994

The Catechism of the Catholic Church:  Part 1, Section 1, Chapter 2, Article 3.

http://www.vatican.va/archive/ENG0015/_PP.HTM

“Sacred scripture is the speech of God as it is put down in writing under the breath of the Holy Spirit.” (Dei Verbum 7 – Vatican II)

The Sacred Scriptures give support and vigor to the life of the Church. Everyone should read the Sacred Scriptures frequently because, as St. Jerome wrote, 'ignorance of the Scriptures is ignorance of Christ.'"
The Catechism of the Catholic Church: §105-108, §135-136, §131-133, §141.

http://www.christusrex.org/www1/CDHN/profess4.html

Sacred Tradition, and the Magisterium

The ALCC teaches that “God graciously arranged that the things he had once revealed for the salvation of all peoples should remain in their entirity, throughout the ages, and transmitted to all generations.” (The Dogmatic Constitution on Divine Revelation – Dei Verbum 7 cf.2 – Vatican II)

The ALCC accepts the teaching that Sacred Scripture and Sacred Tradition are “bound closely together and communicate one with the other. For both of them, flowing out from the same divine well-spring, come together in some fashion to form one thing and move toward the same goal.”  (The Dogmatic Constitution on Divine Revelation – Dei Verbum – Vatican II)

Sacred tradition transmits in its entirety the Word of God which has been entrusted to the apostles by Christ the Lord and the Holy Spirit, It transmits it to the successors of the apostles so that, enlightened by the Spirit of truth, they hay faithfully preserve, expound, and spread it abroad by their preaching.” (The Dogmatic Constitution on Divine Revelation – Dei Verbum 9 – Vatican II)

( http://www.vatican.va/archive/hist_councils/ii_vatican_council/documents/vat-ii_const_19651118_dei-verbum_en.html )

“The apostles entrusted the “Sacred deposit” of the faith, contained in Sacred Scripture and Tradition to the whole of the Church. The task of giving an authentic interpretation of the Word of God, whether in its written form or in the form of Tradition has been entrusted to the living teaching office of the Church alone” through the bishops in communion with the successor of Peter, the Bishop Rome.” “This Magisterium is not superior to the Word of God, but is its servant. It teaches only what has been handed on to it.” (“The Catechism of the Catholic Church” §75-80, §84-87, §96-100)

( http://www.vatican.va/archive/ENG0015/__PK.HTM )

( http://www.vatican.va/archive/ENG0015/__PL.HTM )

( http://www.vatican.va/archive/ENG0015/__PN.HTM)

( http://www.vatican.va/archive/ENG0015/__PT.HTM)

Because they are trustworthy witnesses to the Gospel, the ALCC accepts The Apostles', Nicene, and Athanasian Creeds, and the "Definition of the Union of the Divine and Human Natures in the Person of Christ," Definition of the Faith 2. Council of Chalcedon, 451 A.D.

The ALCC accepts only those portions of the following documents from The Book of Concord (1580) which are in full agreement with Catholic Faith and Tradition as defined by the current Catholic Magisterium:

The Unaltered Augsburg Confession

(http://www.iclnet.org/pub/resources/text/wittenberg/wittenberg-boc.html )

The Apology of the Augsburg Confession

( http://www.ctsfw.edu/etext/boc/ap)

Insofar as they do not conflict with the teachings of the Catholic Magisterium (as compiled in The Catechism of the Catholic Church,) the ALCC accepts only those portions of the remainder of The Book of Concord (1580) which are in full agreement with the teachings of the Catholic Magisterium as compiled in The Catechism of the Catholic Church.

The ALCC completely rejects the entire “Formula of Concord” while respecting it as a historical Lutheran document.

The ALCC accepts only those portions of the Anglican “Articles of Religion” from The Book of Common Prayer which are in full agreement with the teachings of the Catholic Magisterium as compiled in the Catechism of the Catholic Church.

(http://www.puseyhouse.org.uk/house/history/oxfordmovement )

(http://justus.anglican.org/resources/pc/tracts/ )

(http://www.vatican.va/archive/ENG1104/__P1.HTM)

(http://www.vatican.va/archive/ENG0015/__P2Z.HTM )

The ALCC accepts without reservation all parts of all the documents, constitutions, and doctrinal decrees of all Ecumenical Councils recognized by the Roman Catholic Church.

(http://www.catholicapologetics.org/ap040400.htm )

The ALCC subscribes to the Lutheran/Roman Catholic Joint Declaration on the Doctrine of Justification, Augsburg, Germany, 1999. The Anglo-Lutheran Catholic church accepts the documents and teachings of all the documents of the Magisterium of the Roman Catholic Church.

The ALCC recognizes the Pope as the Bishop of Rome, Successor to St. Peter, and Vicar of Christ; a prayer is said for him in our communion liturgy.  The ALCC enthusiastically accepts and proclaims both Papal Primacy and Papal Infallibility even though it is not offically under Papal Authority at this time.

The goal of the ALCC is visible, corporate reunion with the Bishop and Church of Rome in whichever form the Pope deems appropriate.

(http://www.vatican.va/archive/ENG0015/_INDEX.HTM )

The Anglo-Lutheran Catholic Church upholds the seven Sacraments of the Church (Baptism, The Eucharist (Holy Communion,) Confirmation, Reconciliation/Penance, Unction, Holy Matrimony/Marriage, and Holy Orders/Ordination.)

Mass (The Holy Eucharist or Holy Communion) is celebrated at all services in our parishes on Sundays and Holy Days of obligation. The Holy Eucharist may only be received by those who believe that the bread and wine have been changed into the actual Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity of Jesus the Christ, and are also in a "state of grace," so private confession and absolution (the Sacrament of Reconciliation) is available before Mass or by appointment. Masses may also be celebrated for specific intentions.

The requirements for Baptism are the same as those in the Roman Catholic Church. Baptism of adults is administered following completion of RCIA (the Rite of Christian Initiation.) For Infant Baptisms, a course of instruction is required for parents and godparents/baptismal sponsors, who must all be baptized, active members of the Church.

The requirements for the sacrament of Holy Matrimony in the Anglo-Lutheran Catholic Church are identical to those of the Roman Catholic Church. Premarital counseling is required for those who wish to marry in the Church, and those wishing to marry in the Church must consult with the priest before setting the date of their ceremony.

The Sacrament of Holy Unction and the Anointing is administered upon request.

A WITNESSING COMMUNITY

As an “Evangelical Catholic” (“high church”) Lutheran Church, we emphasize God's love, warmth, and forgiveness. We believe, teach and confess that God works to draw all of His beloved children to Himself through His free, unsolicited, and unconditional gift of salvation by grace through faith in Christ Jesus, then leads us into works of charity as He gently leads and nurtures us through Word and Sacrament.

In loving response, our gratitude leads us to share God's love with those around us, with true concern for both their spiritual welfare and physical well-being. As recipients of and witnesses of His grace and favor, we enthusiastically work as Christ's agents in the very midst of our increasingly secular humanist culture. We welcome the opportunity to strengthen and care for our all men and women as we present Jesus Christ and His message of salvation to the entire world.

To become a member of an parish of the Anglo-Lutheran Catholic Church, you need only to attend RCIA (Rite of Christian Initiation.)This is a series of classes and rites where you will learn the basic teachings of Catholic Christianity as presented in the Compendium of the Catechism of the Catholic Church and Faith for the Future (Liguori Publications.) This will conclude with Baptism and Confirmation or Confirmation for those baptized but not confirmed, or Affirmation of Faith for those already baptized and confirmed by a bishop in valid historic apostolic succession.

To find a parish near you, please check the list of parishes or call the Chancery (St. Michael's House) at (816) 468-9691

THE ANGLO-LUTHERAN CATHOLIC CHURCH
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

What is the Anglo-Lutheran Catholic Church?

The Anglo-Lutheran Catholic Church (ALCC) is a Church in the Lutheran “Evangelical Catholic” tradition.

What is an Evangelical Catholic Lutheran?

An Evangelical Catholic Lutheran is first of all a Christian. An Evangelical Catholic Lutheran also believes that Lutheranism is not at all Protestant. Evangelical Catholic Lutherans believe that Lutherans are Western Catholics who were involuntarily expelled from the Catholic Church and as "Catholics in exile,"are conscience-bound to return to the Catholic Church as soon as circumstances permit.

Evangelical Catholic Lutherans consider Lutheranism to be "Protestant" only to the degree that it has accepted Calvinist (Presbyterian or Reformed) influence through the centuries; so Evangelical Catholic Lutherans reject all of the doctrines, principles, and insignts of Calvinism. That is nothing new. Whether they have been known as Gnesio-Lutherans, Old Lutherans, Romanizing Lutherans, or Evangelical Catholic Lutherans, they have been an integral part of Lutheranism since the time of Martin Luther.

Why is the word "Anglo" in your name?

Unlike other Lutheran churches, the ALCC has roots in Anglicanism as well as Evangelical Catholic Lutheranism. This is reflected in our Church's name and in its coat of arms (the Church of England's St. George's Cross and the Luther Rose.)

Most Lutheran Churches only have two sacraments: Baptism and Holy Communion. Is this true for the ALCC?

No. In union with the Catholic and Anglican churches, the Anglo-Lutheran Catholic Church (ALCC) recognizes seven sacraments and celebrates them using the rites of the Catholic Church exclusively.

But don't the Lutheran confessional documents in the Book of Concord say that there are only two sacraments?

Yes. But the ALCC does not consider the Lutheran confessional documents in The Book of Concord binding whenever and wherever they conflict with Catholic faith, tradition, order, and spirituality as defined by the Catechism of the Catholic Church and the documents of the Catholic Magisterium (the Teaching Office of the Roman Catholic Church.)

What does the ALCC teach about Baptism?

The ALCC's teachings about Baptism is the same as that of the Catholic Church as presented in The Catechism of the Catholic Church. Baptism is regenerative, removes original sin, actual sin, and causes a profound ontological change in the baptized person--changing him into a "child of God." It is not a rite through which a person joins a congregation or a denomination. It is how a person becomes a Christian: It is how a person is "born again."

What does the ALCC teach about Holy Communion?

The ALCC agrees with the Catholic Church's teachings about Holy Communion (the Holy Eucharist or the Mass.) When consecrated by a priest, the bread and wine actually become the Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity of Jesus Christ while retaining the outward appearance of bread and wine. This is called "the Miracle of the Mass." The technical term for this miracle is Transubstantiation. The ALCC rejects all Protestant Eucharistic theologies.

How is the ALCC different from other Lutheran Churches?

1.  Unlike other Lutheran Churches, the ALCC accepts the Anglican 39 “Articles of Religion” from The Book of Common Prayer as reconciled with Catholic theology by Blessed John Henry Cardinal Newman in "Tracts for the Times" and in "Tract 99," but only insofar as they are in complete agreement with Roman Catholic faith, tradition, and spirituality as defined by the Catholic Magisterium and defined in The Catechism of the Catholic Church.

2.  Unlike other Lutheran Churches, the ALCC accepts The Catechism of the Catholic Church and all other documents of the Magisterium of the Catholic Church as its ultimate standard of Faith, Order, Tradition, and Spirituality. It believes and teaches nothing contrary to the Magisterium. All clergy and postulants for ordination are required to sign the Catholic Mandatum which states that they may not preach, teach, write, or publish anything contrary to the Magisterium.

3.   Unlike other Lutheran Churches, the ALCC has accepted Papal Primacy and Papal Infallibility. Though it is not legally under Papal control at this time, it acts as if it were, and is actively working toward visible, corporate reunion with the Catholic Church. The ALCC also operates under Roman Catholic Canon Law to the greatest extent practical in matters not covered by its own Canon Law Code.

4.  Unlike other Lutheran Churches, the ALCC teaches that Bishops ordained in the historic Apostolic Succession are of the essence (esse) of the Church. The ALCC's clergymen are ordained into a sacerdotal (sacrificing) Priesthood consisting of the three Sacred Orders of Deacons, Priests, and Bishops, in the historic Apostolic Succession in lineages recognized as valid in writing by various Popes; using the ordination rites of the Catholic Church within the setting of the Mass of Pope Paul VI (Novus Ordo,) or the Mass from the Catholic Church's Anglican Use Book of Divine Worship exclusively.  The ALCC's primary apostolic lineage is the Duarte-Costa branch of the Rebiban (Vatican) Succession, though it also holds the apostolic lineage of the Dutch Old Catholic Church among many others which have been ruled technically (materially) valid by various Popes.

5.  Unlike other Lutheran Churches, the ALCC accepts the Catholic Church's teachings about "the Last Things," the Saints, and the Blessed Virgin Mary. It encourages prayers and other devotions to Mary and the Saints, along with all of the other aids to devotion used in Catholicism.

6.  Unlike other Lutheran Churches, the ALCC has the same ecclesiology (teachings about the nature of the Church, and how the Church is organized and governed) as the Catholic Church. It worships using the rites and ceremonies of the Catholic Church exclusively. It observes the Seasons, Holy Days, and Saints' Days of the Catholic Church's Calendar. The ALCC accepts the same books of the Bible recognized by the Catholic Church. The Vatican II Dogmatic Constitution on Divine Revalation - Verbum Dei and the Pontifical Biblical Commission's magisterial document, The Interpretation of the Bible in the Church have been officially adopted as the ALCC's official statements on revelation, of the nature and authority of Scripture, the principles and methods to be used to interpret the Bible, and the rules, boundaries, and limitations of those methods.

How is the ALCC different from the Old Catholics and Independent Catholics?

Unlike Old Catholics and Independent Catholics, the ALCC accepts and enthusiastically proclaims the doctrines of Papal Primacy, Papal Infallibility, and the teachings about the Blessed Virgin Mary proclaimed by the First Vatican Council.  The ALCC's Apostolate is working (from within Lutheranism) for the return of large numbers of Lutherans (and those from other Communions as well) to visible, corporate reunion with the Catholic Church. This is the "bottom line."

Then why doesn't the ALCC simply join the Catholic Church?

The ALCC is actively working on just that, and is making excellent progress toward that goal. The ALCC is now in the process of entering the Catholic Church through the provisions of Anglicanorum Coetibus as instructed in writing by the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith.  Many of the clergy of the ALCC are members of its Augustinian religious order, the Priestly Society of Saint Augustine (Societas Sacerdotalis Sancti Augustini - S.S.S.A.) and are tracing the footsteps of Fr. Martin Luther (who was an Augustinian priest) back home to the Catholic Church as Augustinians.

In the meantime, we have been blessed by God with the unique task of being a bridge for those who understand Christ's prayer and call that we “all may be one,” but do not want to “swim the Tiber” alone. We feel particularly called to assist those who feel lost or cast aside as a result of recent problems in the mainline denominations of Protestantism. Visible, corporate union with the Roman Catholic Church in whatever form is deemed appropriate by the Vatican, bringing along as many Lutherans and those from other Communions who want to be fully Roman Catholic along with it, is the ALCC's apostlate and goal.

________________________________________________________________________

ALCC OFFICIAL STATEMENTS

OFFICIAL STATEMENT ON THE ORDINATION OF WOMEN

The ALCC does not have and never has had any female clergy. To learn why, read these documents:

Ordinatio Sacerdotalis (Pope John Paul II, 1994)

http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/john_paul_ii/apost_letters/documents/hf_jp-ii_apl_22051994_ordinatio-sacerdotalis_en.html

Responsum ad Dubium Concerning the Teaching Contained in
Ordinatio Sacerdotalis (Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger, 1995)

http://www.cin.org/cdfrad.html

———————————————————————————————————

OFFICIAL STATEMENT AGAINST THE ORDINATION OF
NON-CELIBATE HOMOSEXUALS

The Anglo-Lutheran Catholic Church (ALCC) does not permit the ordination of non-celibate homosexuals or men who advocate for the so-called “gay culture.” To learn why, read the following document:

Instruction Concerning the Criteria for the Discernment of Vocations with regard to Persons with Homosexual Tendencies in view of their Admission to the Seminary and to Holy Orders
(Zenon Cardinal Grocholewski, 2005)

http://www.vatican.va/roman_curia/congregations/ccatheduc/documents/rc_con_ccatheduc_doc_20051104_istruzione_en.html

———————————————————————————————————

OFFICIAL STATEMENT AGAINST SO-CALLED “SAME-SEX MARRIAGE”

The ALCC does not permit so-called “same-sex marriage.” To learn why, read the following documents:

The Catechism of the Catholic Church (Edito Typica) Part 3, Section 2, Article 6-II, paragraphs #2357-2358
http://www.vatican.va/archive/ENG0015/__P85.HTM

Some Considerations Concerning the Response to Legislative Proposals on Non-discrimination of Homosexual Persons
(Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger, 1992)

http://www.vatican.va/roman_curia/congregations/cfaith/documents/rc_con_cfaith_doc_20030731_homosexual-unions_en.html

Letter to the Bishops of the Catholic Church on the Pastoral Care of Homosexual Persons
(Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger, 1986)

http://www.vatican.va/roman_curia/congregations/cfaith/documents/rc_con_cfaith_doc_19861001_homosexual-persons_en.html

Declaration Persona Humana
(Franjo Cardinal Seper, 1975)

http://www.vatican.va/roman_curia/congregations/cfaith/documents/rc_con_cfaith_doc_19751229_persona-humana_en.html

 

ADMINISTRATION

Archdiocesan Headquarters

Office of the Archbishop pro tem
Bishop Thomas Stover, S.S.S.A, M.Div., D. Min., Ph.D.
1115 East 19th Street
Minneapolis, MN 55404
Office (612) 554-5368
Website: www.holytrinityalcc.org
E-mail: toms@holytrinityalcc.org

PARISHES

Washington (State)

Oratory of St. Olav ALCC                                                                                                                                 Rev. Dr. Kenneth Bakken, S.S.S.A., D.O., M.P.H., S.T.M., Dr.P.H., Rector
Vicar General, District of Washington and Oregon, Archdiocese of the West
500 Klalakamish Way
Eastsound, Washington 98245
Office: (206) 526-5067

 

PARISHES OF THE NON-GEOGRAPHIC AFRICAN ARCHDIOCESE OF ST. BENEDICT OF AFRICA LOCATED WITHIN THE TERRITORY OF THE ARCHDIOCESE OF THE WEST

Missouri

St. Benedict of Africa Cathedral ALCC
Most Rev. Chaplen Luyimba Kweri, O.S.A., B.A.Th., M.Div., D.D., Rector
Archbishop of the Archdiocese of St. Benedict of Africa
Archbishop Pro Tem of All Africa
251 N. Baltimore
Kansas City, MO 64116
Office and Rectory: (816) 786-2742
E-mail: bishopkweri@rocketmail.com

Iowa

St. Paul’s Lutheran Church ALCC
Rev. Fr. Chaplain Duku Ladu Gwongo, O.S.A., B.A.Th., Rector
800 N.E. 56th St., #2
Pleasant Hills, Iowa, 50327
Parish Office: (515) 494-1069

 

 

Instaurare Omnia In Christo - Ut Unum Sint.
Deus Le Veult!

To Restore Everything In Christ - That They May All Be One.
God Wills It!