Society of Catholic Priests
Encyclopedia
The Society of Catholic Priests (SCP) is a religious society of clergy
in the Anglican Communion
which draws its membership from Anglicans who consider themselves a part of the Anglo-Catholic tradition of Anglicanism.
who felt that they could no longer remain within the existing fraternal organisations for Anglo-Catholic priests, such as the Society of the Holy Cross
, which had taken conservative positions on the ordination of women
to the priesthood. Its objective is to promote the formation and support of priestly spirituality and Catholic evangelism. Archbishop Rowan Williams
is the group's patron.
In 2009, a group of priests and seminarians from the Episcopal Church
and the Anglican Church of Canada
gathered at Christ Church, New Haven, Connecticut
, to form a North American province of the society, known as the Society of Catholic Priests in the Episcopal Church and the Anglican Church of Canada (often abbreviated SCP NA). An Australian province was also created in 2009.
of women priests, believe in the real presence and who uphold the traditional view of the seven sacraments. Priests keep a rule of life which includes the daily offices of Mattins and Evensong
, Eucharistic-centred spirituality, use of a spiritual director, the sacrament of confession
and praying for and ministering to other SCP members. Deacons may become associate members. The Society of Catholic Priests is associated with the Dearmer Society, for ordinands who aspire to full membership of SCP, and the Company of Servers
, for lay people who serve at the altar.
In the SCP NA, membership is open to all Anglican clergy who a) believe that the churches of the Anglican Communion are part of the one holy and catholic and apostolic church; b) are members of The Episcopal Church or the Anglican Church of Canada; c) embrace as colleagues all those admitted to holy orders in the same; d) believe in the real presence of Christ in the Eucharist; e) embrace the sacramental life of the Church as means of God's grace; f) and keep the rule of life of the society. In the SCP NA, professed but unordained members of religious communities may also be admitted as full members. Seminarians and seminary graduates preparing for ordination may be admitted as "provisional members", becoming full members automatically upon their diaconal ordination.
Members of the society are entitled to use the letters "SCP" after their names.
Clergy
Clergy is the generic term used to describe the formal religious leadership within a given religion. A clergyman, churchman or cleric is a member of the clergy, especially one who is a priest, preacher, pastor, or other religious professional....
in the Anglican Communion
Anglican Communion
The Anglican Communion is an international association of national and regional Anglican churches in full communion with the Church of England and specifically with its principal primate, the Archbishop of Canterbury...
which draws its membership from Anglicans who consider themselves a part of the Anglo-Catholic tradition of Anglicanism.
Founding and early history
The society was founded in 1994 by a group of priests from the Diocese of SouthwarkAnglican Diocese of Southwark
The Diocese of Southwark is one of the 44 dioceses of the Church of England, part of the worldwide Anglican Communion. The Diocese forms part of the Province of Canterbury in England. It was formed on May 1, 1905 from part of the Diocese of Rochester...
who felt that they could no longer remain within the existing fraternal organisations for Anglo-Catholic priests, such as the Society of the Holy Cross
Society of the Holy Cross
The Society of the Holy Cross is an international Anglo-Catholic society of priests with members in the Anglican Communion, the Continuing Anglican Movement and the Roman Catholic Church's Anglican Use...
, which had taken conservative positions on the ordination of women
Ordination of women
Ordination in general religious usage is the process by which a person is consecrated . The ordination of women is a regular practice among some major religious groups, as it was of several religions of antiquity...
to the priesthood. Its objective is to promote the formation and support of priestly spirituality and Catholic evangelism. Archbishop Rowan Williams
Rowan Williams
Rowan Douglas Williams FRSL, FBA, FLSW is an Anglican bishop, poet and theologian. He is the 104th and current Archbishop of Canterbury, Metropolitan of the Province of Canterbury and Primate of All England, offices he has held since early 2003.Williams was previously Bishop of Monmouth and...
is the group's patron.
In 2009, a group of priests and seminarians from the Episcopal Church
Episcopal Church (United States)
The Episcopal Church is a mainline Anglican Christian church found mainly in the United States , but also in Honduras, Taiwan, Colombia, Ecuador, Haiti, the Dominican Republic, Venezuela, the British Virgin Islands and parts of Europe...
and the Anglican Church of Canada
Anglican Church of Canada
The Anglican Church of Canada is the Province of the Anglican Communion in Canada. The official French name is l'Église Anglicane du Canada. The ACC is the third largest church in Canada after the Roman Catholic Church and the United Church of Canada, consisting of 800,000 registered members...
gathered at Christ Church, New Haven, Connecticut
Christ Church (New Haven)
Christ Church, also known as Christ Church New Haven, is an Episcopal parish church in the Broadway district of New Haven, Connecticut. Christ Church follows an Anglo-Catholic style of worship and has a strong focus on urban ministry...
, to form a North American province of the society, known as the Society of Catholic Priests in the Episcopal Church and the Anglican Church of Canada (often abbreviated SCP NA). An Australian province was also created in 2009.
Current life
Membership in the SCP UK is open to all Anglican priests who accept the Anglican Communion as part of the "one, holy, catholic, and apostolic church", who recognise the ordinationHoly Orders
The term Holy Orders is used by many Christian churches to refer to ordination or to those individuals ordained for a special role or ministry....
of women priests, believe in the real presence and who uphold the traditional view of the seven sacraments. Priests keep a rule of life which includes the daily offices of Mattins and Evensong
Evening Prayer (Anglican)
Evening Prayer is a liturgy in use in the Anglican Communion and celebrated in the late afternoon or evening...
, Eucharistic-centred spirituality, use of a spiritual director, the sacrament of confession
Confession
This article is for the religious practice of confessing one's sins.Confession is the acknowledgment of sin or wrongs...
and praying for and ministering to other SCP members. Deacons may become associate members. The Society of Catholic Priests is associated with the Dearmer Society, for ordinands who aspire to full membership of SCP, and the Company of Servers
Company of Servers
The Company of Servers is a society within the Anglican Communion for lay people whose vocation includes serving at the altar. It was inaugurated on 24 January 2009 at Southwark Cathedral....
, for lay people who serve at the altar.
In the SCP NA, membership is open to all Anglican clergy who a) believe that the churches of the Anglican Communion are part of the one holy and catholic and apostolic church; b) are members of The Episcopal Church or the Anglican Church of Canada; c) embrace as colleagues all those admitted to holy orders in the same; d) believe in the real presence of Christ in the Eucharist; e) embrace the sacramental life of the Church as means of God's grace; f) and keep the rule of life of the society. In the SCP NA, professed but unordained members of religious communities may also be admitted as full members. Seminarians and seminary graduates preparing for ordination may be admitted as "provisional members", becoming full members automatically upon their diaconal ordination.
Members of the society are entitled to use the letters "SCP" after their names.