The Many Paths of the Independent Sacramental Movement

by John P. Plummer

The Catholic Church is much more than the Roman Catholics. The Orthodox Church is more than the sects from Greece, Russia, Africa, and Syria. What are these independent churches? Explore the independent denominations and their adherents, who long for the sacraments but have been alienated by intransigent dogma and cookie-cutter churches. In this book, Dr. John Plummer explores the sacramental churches that are beyond and above and below the mainstream. Some are arch-conservative, while others are completely New Age. In this rich tapestry of churches you will find mystical schools, esoteric, and occult teachings. You will meet gay priests and bishops, and female priests and bishops. These paths less walked include liturgies reminiscent of simpler times, and a few that blow right past any limit or tradition. Each offers hope and worship, not for a "melting pot" of mass-market religion, but for those who hold fast to their individuality.

Genres: Spirituality, Christianity

236 pages, Paperback

First published May 1, 2005

Reviews

[GORDON · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent overview of the Wandering Bishops and fellow travelers on paths connected to or derived from historical apostolic Catholic lines. While written largely for and about Independent Catholics, many of Fr. Plummer's observations and ideas could be fruitfully applied to the Interdependent Sacramental Movements that flourish under the often tattered umbrella term of Neo-Paganism.

[Steven H · Rating 5 out of 5]

A SCHOLARLY STUDY OF THE VARIOUS BRANCHES OF "INDEPENDENT CATHOLICS," ETC.

Author John P. Plummer has also written 'iving Mysteries: A Practical Handbook for the Independent Priest' and 'Who Are the Independent Catholics?.' [This 2005 book is actually Dr. Plummer's Ph.D. dissertation in Philosophy.]

He wrote in the Introduction, "Many persons are aware of some communities which have left the larger liturgical, sacramental churches... The United States today is home to literally hundreds of tiny ecclesiastical jurisdictions which share the sacramental life of the Catholic, Anglican, and Orthodox churches... Independent sacramental churches are often under the radar---small, moving, and not always easy to find. Some priests exercise a primarily solitary vocation, and even many of their close associates may not be aware of their ordained status... I will give a largely positive portrayal of the independent sacramental movement." (Pg. 2-3)

He recounts the case of Arnold Harris Mathew, who was ordained a Roman Catholic priest, but "oscillating between Rome and Canterbury for the rest of his life.' ... Mathew, with only the tiniest of flocks, consecrated two priests to the episcopate... Mathew consecrated several other men, who fanned out through England and North America. Here we begin to see the small, endlessly multiplying groups, with a high percentage of the membership in holy orders, which came to characterize the independent movement." (Pg. 18-20)

He tells of "the Evangelical Orthodox Church, a group of low church Protestants (mostly from Campus Crusade for Christ, and Christian churches of the Stone/Campbell variety) who gradually embraced Orthodox theology and liturgy. Some of the early leaders laid hands on one another, consecrating each other as bishops. The bishops then ordained priests and deacons. In 1987, a large part of this community joined the Antiochian Archdiocese, and... a number of others joined the Orthodox Church in America. A group of seven congregations continues as an independent church, served by four bishops...


"Most EOC members to whom I have spoken clearly feel that the Antiochian and OCA converts betrayed the EOC vision and the EOC priesthood, and they seem determined not to do so." (Pg. 35) Later, he adds, "These former evangelicals began by affirming that they sought to be the New Testament church, but did not know where the New Testament church went after the first century. They identified a number of topic areas (doctrine, liturgy, etc.) and set out to research the earliest patristic period. The result was a gradual movement toward a liturgical, sacramental, creedal Christianity." (Pg. 72)

He observes, "many independent clergy... at least theoretically subscribe to the fairly standard Roman/Orthodox/Anglican theology, with few distinctives beyond, for instance, the rejection of papal infallibility... The idea that the independent movement might have its own unique theological contribution strikes many of these clergy as strange, if not threatening." (Pg. 69)

Later, he admits, "The independent sacramental movement has not yet seen much sustained theological reflection. However, it continues to be the site of considerable experimentation which, with time, may provide fuel for the development of distinctive theologies. The nature of the movement makes it virtually impossible for there to ever be a unified theology among these jurisdictions." (Pg. 102)

This is a highly informative, scholarly (remember that it was a Ph.D. dissertation) study of the independent movement, and will be "must reading" for anyone studying this area.

[Michael Adam Reale · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent book by my friend, John Plummer. it's informative as well as supportive about the winding roads of Christendom.