Synod of Saint Timothy
Encyclopedia
The Christian Church – Synod of Saint Timothy is a synod
or communion
of local Christian
churches (currently active only in the United States) that was established as an autocephalous body in 2004. The Synod, though linked through apostolic succession
(i.e., the historical episcopate
) to the Latin, Greek, and Oriental Christian Churches, has no canonical or administrative ties to the mainstream Roman Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, or Oriental Orthodox churches. The Synod is linked, to a limited extent, with the Independent Catholic and Old Catholic movements.
The Synod is governed by an Episcopal Council that is required to meet once every three years, in which the bishops, other clergy, and laity of the Synod meet to discuss items of import. It is the stated preference that all decisions be made by consensus.
The Synod is a liturgical body, with each congregation worshipping according to their own local use. Guidelines exist for worship, but a wide variety of rites are employed. Only ordination
rites are mandated for verbatium usage in the Synod. The life of the Synod is outlined in The Book of Common Life. This publication includes the ancient Creeds that the Synod subscribes to, the Synod’s Articles of Religion, its governing guidelines and moral standards, and the liturgical baseline for the Synod.
The Synod was founded upon an Ignatian model of the episcopate, with bishops in the historic episcopate serving (whenever possible) as local pastors, assisted by presbyters, deacons, and deaconesses. A presiding bishop is chosen by the Synod's Episcopal Council to coordinate activities. The current presiding bishop is Bishop Charles Huckaby of Lawrenceburg, Tennessee. Congregations and ministries of the Synod exist in Georgia, Indiana, Ohio, Tennessee, and Texas as of January 2009. The Synod includes one constituted religious order, The Order of Preachers of the Primitive Faith (which is open to individuals outside the Synod), as well the Desert Companions, a ministry dedicated to sustaining others whose spirits are nourished by ancient principles of monastic life, but who are not affiliated with a monastery or convent.
Members of the Synod refer to themselves in varying manners. Some simply choose to call themselves Christians, while others prefer the terms Primitive Catholic
and Primitive Orthodox. The body maintains Altar and Pulpit Fellowships (i.e., intercommunions) with the Old Catholic Orthodox Church and the Celtic Episcopal Church, and maintains a close friendship with the Antiochian Catholic Church in America
.
Synod
A synod historically is a council of a church, usually convened to decide an issue of doctrine, administration or application. In modern usage, the word often refers to the governing body of a particular church, whether its members are meeting or not...
or communion
Communion (Christian)
The term communion is derived from Latin communio . The corresponding term in Greek is κοινωνία, which is often translated as "fellowship". In Christianity, the basic meaning of the term communion is an especially close relationship of Christians, as individuals or as a Church, with God and with...
of local Christian
Christian
A Christian is a person who adheres to Christianity, an Abrahamic, monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth as recorded in the Canonical gospels and the letters of the New Testament...
churches (currently active only in the United States) that was established as an autocephalous body in 2004. The Synod, though linked through apostolic succession
Apostolic Succession
Apostolic succession is a doctrine, held by some Christian denominations, which asserts that the chosen successors of the Twelve Apostles, from the first century to the present day, have inherited the spiritual, ecclesiastical and sacramental authority, power, and responsibility that were...
(i.e., the historical episcopate
Historical episcopate
The episcopate is the collective body of all bishops of a church. In the Roman Catholic, Anglican, Eastern Orthodox, Eastern Rite Catholic, Oriental Orthodox, Old-Catholic, Moravian Church, and Independent Catholic churches as well as in the Assyrian Church of the East, it is held that only a...
) to the Latin, Greek, and Oriental Christian Churches, has no canonical or administrative ties to the mainstream Roman Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, or Oriental Orthodox churches. The Synod is linked, to a limited extent, with the Independent Catholic and Old Catholic movements.
The Synod is governed by an Episcopal Council that is required to meet once every three years, in which the bishops, other clergy, and laity of the Synod meet to discuss items of import. It is the stated preference that all decisions be made by consensus.
The Synod is a liturgical body, with each congregation worshipping according to their own local use. Guidelines exist for worship, but a wide variety of rites are employed. Only ordination
Ordination
In general religious use, ordination is the process by which individuals are consecrated, that is, set apart as clergy to perform various religious rites and ceremonies. The process and ceremonies of ordination itself varies by religion and denomination. One who is in preparation for, or who is...
rites are mandated for verbatium usage in the Synod. The life of the Synod is outlined in The Book of Common Life. This publication includes the ancient Creeds that the Synod subscribes to, the Synod’s Articles of Religion, its governing guidelines and moral standards, and the liturgical baseline for the Synod.
The Synod was founded upon an Ignatian model of the episcopate, with bishops in the historic episcopate serving (whenever possible) as local pastors, assisted by presbyters, deacons, and deaconesses. A presiding bishop is chosen by the Synod's Episcopal Council to coordinate activities. The current presiding bishop is Bishop Charles Huckaby of Lawrenceburg, Tennessee. Congregations and ministries of the Synod exist in Georgia, Indiana, Ohio, Tennessee, and Texas as of January 2009. The Synod includes one constituted religious order, The Order of Preachers of the Primitive Faith (which is open to individuals outside the Synod), as well the Desert Companions, a ministry dedicated to sustaining others whose spirits are nourished by ancient principles of monastic life, but who are not affiliated with a monastery or convent.
Members of the Synod refer to themselves in varying manners. Some simply choose to call themselves Christians, while others prefer the terms Primitive Catholic
Primitive Catholic
The term Primitive Catholic is used by a small but growing number of Christians, both in established Church bodies as well as in independent Christian congregations...
and Primitive Orthodox. The body maintains Altar and Pulpit Fellowships (i.e., intercommunions) with the Old Catholic Orthodox Church and the Celtic Episcopal Church, and maintains a close friendship with the Antiochian Catholic Church in America
Antiochian Catholic Church in America
The Antiochian Catholic Church in America is one of the Independent Catholic Churches. The ACCA is distinct from most of these churches in that it largely embraces the theology and much of the practice of the Syriac Orthodox Church and the Indian Orthodox Church, from which the clergy of the...
.