Lee, Carol Ann, Roman, Theresa co-preside with members of community on Pentecost 2013 |
Terry Binder Proclaims the Word at MMOJ Liturgy on Pentecost |
Lee and Carol Ann Breyer, a married priest couple co-preside at MMOj |
Mary Mother of Jesus Inclusive Catholic Community in Sarasota, Florida Welcomes
You
Our Description:
We are a Christ- centered community of equals, consisting of women and men, ordained and non-ordained, powered by the Spirit whose mission is to worship, to serve, to promote compassion, justice and care for creation.
Our Liturgy reflects an adaptation of earliest centuries of
Christianity where the community gathered in the homes to celebrate the Eucharist.
Gary Wills, in his book, What Jesus Meant writes
“Nowhere is it indicated
there was an official presider at the Christian meal (agape), much less that
consecrating the bread and wine was a task delegated to persons of a certain rank.
It is a mark of the gospels’ fidelity to the followers’ original status that not one of them mentions a Christian priest or priesthood. When the term “priesthood” finally occurs, in the pseudo-Petrine letters, it refers to the whole Christian community (1 Peter 2.5, 2.9) and the “Peter” of this letter refers to himself not as a priest but as a “fellow elder” to the other elders …” (p. 69-70) Scholars such as Gary Macy in The Hidden History of Women’s Ordination, conclude that women performed priestly functions as leaders of house churches in the early church. He concludes that women were ordained during the first twelve hundred years of the church’s history.
there was an official presider at the Christian meal (agape), much less that
consecrating the bread and wine was a task delegated to persons of a certain rank.
It is a mark of the gospels’ fidelity to the followers’ original status that not one of them mentions a Christian priest or priesthood. When the term “priesthood” finally occurs, in the pseudo-Petrine letters, it refers to the whole Christian community (1 Peter 2.5, 2.9) and the “Peter” of this letter refers to himself not as a priest but as a “fellow elder” to the other elders …” (p. 69-70) Scholars such as Gary Macy in The Hidden History of Women’s Ordination, conclude that women performed priestly functions as leaders of house churches in the early church. He concludes that women were ordained during the first twelve hundred years of the church’s history.
Co-Presiders
Mary Mother of Jesus Catholic community is blessed with
both ordained and
non-ordained in a vibrant community. We have two women priests:
Katy Zatsick and Bridget Mary Meehan www.arcwp.org
and two married priest couples:
Lee and Carol Ann Breyer and Michael and Imogene Rigdon
who have presided at our liturgies during the past several years.
Now we are expanding and inviting co-presiders to share in this
important ministry of liturgical leadership.
We provide the preparation, resources and work together
to design beautiful celebrations.
In addition to co-presiders, we invite you to consider
Ministers of Hospitality, Outreach, Prayers for the Sick, etc.
non-ordained in a vibrant community. We have two women priests:
Katy Zatsick and Bridget Mary Meehan www.arcwp.org
and two married priest couples:
Lee and Carol Ann Breyer and Michael and Imogene Rigdon
who have presided at our liturgies during the past several years.
Now we are expanding and inviting co-presiders to share in this
important ministry of liturgical leadership.
We provide the preparation, resources and work together
to design beautiful celebrations.
In addition to co-presiders, we invite you to consider
Ministers of Hospitality, Outreach, Prayers for the Sick, etc.
Community Participation.
We use inclusive language.
We invite the gathered assembly to participate in a
dialogue homily, gather around the Banquet Table to recite the
Eucharistic Prayer.
The community serves one another the bread and alcohol free wine,
and then, each person returns to their pew after Communion for
prayerful reflection.
Our liturgy concludes with a communal blessing.
We use inclusive language.
We invite the gathered assembly to participate in a
dialogue homily, gather around the Banquet Table to recite the
Eucharistic Prayer.
The community serves one another the bread and alcohol free wine,
and then, each person returns to their pew after Communion for
prayerful reflection.
Our liturgy concludes with a communal blessing.
1. There were no
priests in the first centuries of Christianity.
Peter, Paul and the other apostles were not priests or bishops.
Women were apostles Junia (Romans 16:7) and Mary of Magdala,
whom the Risen Christ appeared to and sent her to proclaim the
Peter, Paul and the other apostles were not priests or bishops.
Women were apostles Junia (Romans 16:7) and Mary of Magdala,
whom the Risen Christ appeared to and sent her to proclaim the
core belief of
which Christianity is based, the Resurrection.
2. The Catholic
scholar Raymond Brown wrote, “Peter never served
as the bishop or local administrator of any church.Antioch and Rome
included.” St. Ignatius ofAntioch wrote that there were no
bishops
in his lifetime and none inRome
until the second century.
The Twelve were an eschatological symbol that the Twelve
would preside over the reunion of the Twelve Tribes of Israel at the end of time.
as the bishop or local administrator of any church.
included.” St. Ignatius of
in his lifetime and none in
The Twelve were an eschatological symbol that the Twelve
would preside over the reunion of the Twelve Tribes of Israel at the end of time.
3. Apostolic
Succession does not go back to Peter and there is
no unbroken line of succession.
Three popes claimed to be pope at one time and Council of Constance
no unbroken line of succession.
Three popes claimed to be pope at one time and Council of Constance
appointed a different/new
pope in 1417. The history of the papacy
i
s triple x rated – popes waged wars, granted indulgences for killing infidels (Crusades),
papacy brought and sold for money,
Gregory 1, “When a woman has given birth she should abstain from entering
a church for thirty-three days if she had a boy, sixty-six if she had a girl.”
Pope Gelasius wrote “Nevertheless we have heard to our annoyance
s triple x rated – popes waged wars, granted indulgences for killing infidels (Crusades),
papacy brought and sold for money,
Gregory 1, “When a woman has given birth she should abstain from entering
a church for thirty-three days if she had a boy, sixty-six if she had a girl.”
Pope Gelasius wrote “Nevertheless we have heard to our annoyance
that divine
affairs have come to such a low state that women are
encouraged to officiate at the sacred altars and to take part in all
matters imputed to the offices of the male sex to which they do not belong.” (Gelasius
Letter to the Bishops of Lucania, 494)
Sources: Rome has Spoken by Maureen Fiedler and Linda Rabben, and Gary
encouraged to officiate at the sacred altars and to take part in all
matters imputed to the offices of the male sex to which they do not belong.” (Gelasius
Letter to the Bishops of Lucania, 494)
Sources: Rome has Spoken by Maureen Fiedler and Linda Rabben, and Gary
4. Gary Wills, What
Jesus Meant writes:
“Exclusion returned
with the reinstitution of a “Christian priesthood,
along with revived holiness
codes, consecrated altars and consecrated men
and “consecrating fingers”, with the extrusion of the laity (especially women)
from altars from secret conclaves, from decision making from control of the
believers’ money. The “rood screen” separating clergy from laity was a great
barrier in the Middle Ages and it survived for a long time in
the “communion railing”. Women returned to the unclean
and “consecrating fingers”, with the extrusion of the laity (especially women)
from altars from secret conclaves, from decision making from control of the
believers’ money. The “rood screen” separating clergy from laity was a great
barrier in the Middle Ages and it survived for a long time in
the “communion railing”. Women returned to the unclean
status given
them by menstruation under Jewish (and other) law, were not
allowed inside the sanctuary of a church- even the altar cloths had to be c
arried out to the nuns who washed them. For these groups,
Jesus cleansed theTemple in
vain.” Gary Wills, What Jesus
Meant. p. 85-84
allowed inside the sanctuary of a church- even the altar cloths had to be c
arried out to the nuns who washed them. For these groups,
Jesus cleansed the
5. The Roman
Catholic Women Priests’ Movement offers a renewed priestly
ministry in a community of equals that is rooted in Jesus’ example of inclusive
embrace of allespecially those on the margins.
We offer a paradigm shift that women are equal images of God, and therefore
worthy to preside at the altar. We offer a new model of partnership in an
empowered community of equals that is non-clerical or hierarchical.
ministry in a community of equals that is rooted in Jesus’ example of inclusive
embrace of allespecially those on the margins.
We offer a paradigm shift that women are equal images of God, and therefore
worthy to preside at the altar. We offer a new model of partnership in an
empowered community of equals that is non-clerical or hierarchical.
On a deep,
spiritual, mystical level we are beginning a healing process of
centuries-old misogyny in which spiritual power was invested exclusively in men.
We are moving the church toward partnership in a Christ-centered,
Spirit empowered community of equals.
For some like the Catholic hierarchy women priests are a revolution.
For millions of people the time has come for a holy shakeup that will
bring new life, creativity and justice to the church and beyond.
centuries-old misogyny in which spiritual power was invested exclusively in men.
We are moving the church toward partnership in a Christ-centered,
Spirit empowered community of equals.
For some like the Catholic hierarchy women priests are a revolution.
For millions of people the time has come for a holy shakeup that will
bring new life, creativity and justice to the church and beyond.
6. Additional
resources: www.arcwp.org, www.brigitmarysblogspot.com,
Bridget Mary Meehan, arcwp,
co-presider at Mary Mother of Jesus Inclusive Catholic Community,
Sarasota, Florida
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