Although the ANCC shares a common theological, spiritual, and liturgical tradition with the Roman Catholic Church, we differ significantly in many respects.
- We are a radically inclusive community, believing that no one is barred from the Lord’s table because of sexual orientation or divorce.
- We affirm and rejoice that God calls men and women alike to ordained ministry. Priests are free to marry if they wish.
- We embrace a congregational model of self-sustaining parishes instead of a top down hierarchical one.
- We believe that the sacrament of marriage is available to all loving couples, straight or LGBTQ.
- We affirm the dignity of all persons regardless of race, national origin, religious affiliation, gender, or sexual orientation.
- We pray and strive for peace and justice within the universal Church, the whole world, and in our local community.
- We do our best to substitute profligate love, compassion, forgiveness, and hospitality for judgmentalism and censure.
- We embrace contemplative as well as active ministries. We strive to open ourselves to God’s presence through prayer, retreats, Bible study, and corporate worship. By practicing good works, we take seriously the Lord’s promise that when we aid the needy, we serve Him as well.
Sacraments
We recognize that all of God’s world is sacramental, reflecting as it does the loving holiness of its Creator. We affirm and honor the traditional seven sacraments which both sustain us in our journeys to God and offer us signposts of grace along the way.
