User:Fatherroblyons/CCSST

As I have noted before, I am not aware of a ton of references to the Synod or her clergy offsite, but here are a few that I found, pertaining to Bishop Chuck Huckaby, a bishop in our Synod who is also a Presbyterian pastor:

http://www.onlineopinion.com.au/author.asp? http://www.fatherdave.org/article/article_54.html?PHPSESSID=4b40bf858916155ea0af6c04b674eb91 http://www.firstlawrenceburg.org/ (click on the photo of the sign, you will see his name) http://www.sex-ring-eucharist.com/testimonials-page.htm http://soulfriend.org/

Here is a viewpoint article I wrote for the religion section of my local newspaper. http://www.heraldbulletin.com/story.asp?id=11562

One of our congregations is even listed in a local phone book (All Saints Church, Rome, GA) http://yp.bellsouth.com/yp.dyn?state=GA&city=ROME&heading=CHURCHES&srch=X

As I noted before, we haven't really gone out and started making tons of news. I don't know what would constitute the proof of existence that you seem to want.Father Rob Lyons

Original text of the Synod article, with link to AfD

The Christian Church – Synod of Saint Timothy is a small Christian ecclesiastical jurisdiction that was born out of the Society of Saint Timothy (a religious order) in 2004. 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. Decisions are usually made by consensus.

The Synod is socially and morally conservative and does not ordain women to the Presbyterate or Episcopate, though women are actively encouraged to discern vocations to the ministry of Deaconess. The Ignatian model of the episcopate is employed: bishops serving as local pastors with deacons, deaconesses, and presbyters assisting as needed. A presiding bishop is elected at each Episcopal Council to serve as the chairman of meetings of the Council and to speak publicly on behalf of the Synod. In 2005, Bishop Craig Davis of Hagerstown, Indiana was elected as Presiding Bishop.

The Synod has clergy and congregations worshipping in both Western and Eastern Rites, and has developed its own liturgies (one in honor of Saint Timothy, one in honor of Saint Titus). The Synod is currently working on a revision of the Lectionary and Christian Year, as well as other liturgical materials.

In addition, a book entitled The Book of Common Life is in preparation. This book will include the ancient Creeds that the Synod subscribes to, the Synod’s Articles of Religion, its governing guidelines and moral standards, and the final forms of the Liturgies for common use. The book is scheduled for publication in 2007.

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.

Congregations and ministries of the Synod exist in Indiana, Tennessee, and Texas as of August 2005. The Synod is also a member jurisdiction of the Ecumenical Orthodox Catholic Communion, and maintains close friendships (though not formal concordats of intercommunion) with other small Catholic jurisdictions.

The Bible

The Synod adheres to the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments as the central focus of study, using the witness of the Ante-Nicene Fathers and others of blessed memory to aid in the understanding of the Scriptures. Clergy, at their ordination, profess that they believe that the Bible contains all things necessary for salvation.

The English Standard Version is the preferred translation of the Bible and is considered the official Bible of the Synod, though other translations such as The Jerusalem Bible, The New American Bible, and the New King James Version are also used by individual congregation.

While liturgical use is made of the deuterocanonical books of the Old Testament, the Synod permits a variety of views on these books, preferring to leave decisions on their status to individuals.

Basic Theological Positions

The Synod dogmatically subscribes to the Apostle's Creed and the Nicene Creed as baseline statements of orthodoxy. The doctrinal and disciplinary basis of the Synod is laid out in the Articles of Religion, which themseves are an adaptation of the Anglican Thirty-Nine Articles of Religion.

As such, the Synod is Trinitarian, believes in the Virgin Birth, the redemptive suffering of Jesus Christ, his literal resurrection, ascension, and awaits his return in glory at the last day.

The Synod is sacramental, celebrating the same seven mysteries (sacraments) as the Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox Churches (though with some changes in names).

Saints and blesseds are remembered at the Divine Liturgy (frequently called Mass or Holy Eucharist), but their invocation is not an article of faith.

Moral Positions

The Synod holds to a moral stance similar to the Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox Churches. Marriage is held to be between one man and one woman and homosexual activity is viewed is incompatible with the New Testament, and abortion is viewed as the taking of a human life. There are some varying viewpoints on war, capital punishment, and political involvement.

Worship: Liturgical Practices of the Synod

The Synod has published several trial-use editions of the Divine Liturgy for use until 2008 when work is scheduled to be completed on the Book of Common Life, which will contain all of the Liturgies (as well as theological and governance documentation) of the Synod.

Two unique forms of the Divine Liturgy are celebrated within the Synod:

• The Divine Liturgy of Saint Timothy (Timothean Rite)
• The Divine Liturgy of Saint Titus (Titusian Rite)

Since the Synod is a meeting of both east and west, both liturgies show influence from other sources. The Synod requires an explicit epiclesis in all sacramental rites, thus the Timothean Rite (Western) shows eastern influence in this regard, as well as in the omission of the controversial Filioque clause in the text of the Nicene Creed. The Titusian Rite (Oriental/Eastern) reflects some western practices with a simplification of rubrics, an explicit absolution in the initial penitental rites, and the transfer of the preparation of the gifts from a point near the beginning of the Liturgy to a position immediately following the recitation of the Creed.

Both liturgies provide for the dismissal of the catechumens, excommunicated, and non-communicants, though in some places, such individuals would remain in the Church while those who intended to recieve Communion would gather around the Altar.

The liturgical norms of the Synod also provide for a degree of extemporaneous prayer and praise on the part of the presiding minister, though the plethora of resources that are avaliable to support the celebration of the Liturgy do not necessitate the regular use of extemporaneous prayer.

In addition to these Synodically developed liturgies, local congregations are at liberty to select other liturgies that conform to the basic doctrinal guidelines as the Timothean and Titusian Rites. The usage of the historic Book of Common Prayer is most notable. Regardless, all ordinations and consecrations of clergy within the Synod must employ the Synod's form for ordination.

In addition to Eucharistic liturgies, and forms for the administration of the other mysteries (sacraments), a form exists for the celebration of the Divine Office known as the Liturgy of the Hours. The Office marks the passage of time, consecrating the day and night to God. Following the eastern tradition, the day begins at sunset. The prayer hours in the Timothean/Titusian Rites are:

• Lucernarium (Lamp-lighting, offered before the evening meal or just prior to sunset)
• Vespers (Evening Prayer, offered in conjunction with Lucernarium, after the evening meal, or at some convinent time in the evening)
• Compline (Night Prayer, offered in conjunction with Vespers or just before retiring for the night)

• Matins (Prayer upon waking, offered when one awakes or combined with Lauds)
• Lauds (Morning Praise and Prayer, offered in conjunction with Matins, or later in the morning before beginning the days work)
• Diurnium (Midday Prayer, offered during the workday, or sometimes combined with Lauds)

in addition, an Office of Readings is also provided for those who desire to spend lengthy time meditating upon Scripture or the Patristic Fathers.

Liturgical Year

The Liturgical Year observed by the Synod is based on a melding of Eastern and Western Sources, and runs from Trinity Sunday through the season of Kingdomtide.

Trinity Sunday - Commemoration of the Holy Trinity, held as a 'week outside of time' but in practice the first week of the new Christian Year. This feast is always celebrated on the fifth Sunday before Christmas. Liturgical Color: White or Gold

Advent - A season of preparation for the celebration of Christ's birth. Liturgical Color: Blue (Violet is a permitted alternative)

Christmastide - A season of celebration and thanksgiving for the birth of Christ, beginning at sunset on December 24 with the First Vespers of the Nativity and concluding on Shrove Tuesday before sunset. This season also includes the feasts of the Circumcision and Presentation of Jesus (First Sunday after Christmas), Mary the Theotokos (January 1), Epiphany (Second Sunday after Christmas), The Holy Innocents (Monday after Epiphany), The Holy Family (Third Sunday after Christmas), Christ's Baptism (Fourth Sunday), the Miracle at Cana (Fifth Sunday), and the Transfiguration (Sunday before Ash Wednesday). Liturgical Color: White or Gold

Lent - A season of penance and preparation for the Solemnity of Easter. Begins on Ash Wednesday and transitions into Holy Week on Palm Sunday. Fasting and abstinence are traditionally practiced during this season. Liturgical Color: Violet

Holy Week - Not really a full week, though the term is often used to describe the entire week from Palm Sunday to Holy Saturday. The Proper for Holy Week includes readings for Palm Sunday and Monday through Wednesday. Liturgical Color: Scarlet/Oxblood/Red

Paschal Triduum - The Great Three Days of the Church Year Maundy Thursday (also called Holy Thursday) is the celebration of the institution of the Lord's Supper (the Holy Eucharist) and a commemoration of the servant-nature of the priesthood through the observance of the Maundy (washing of feet). Liturgical Color: Scarlet/Oxblood/Red (white is permitted, but the Gloria is not sung). Good Friday is the celebration of the redemptive sacrifice of Christ on the cross. Liturgical Color: Scarlet/Oxblood/Red (black is permitted, and the Eucharist is not administered except to the dying) Holy Saturday is a day of waiting at the grave of Christ. The Eucharist is not offered, only the daily offices are prayed.

Pascha - A season of great celebration surrounding the Resurrection and Ascension of Jesus and the Descent of the Holy Spirit. Pascha begins with a solemn vigil after sunset on Holy Saturday night and continues through the day of Pentecost. In the Timothean Rite, the feast of the Ascension may be celebrated on a Thursday in addition to its fixed celebration on the Seventh Sunday of Easter. Liturgical Color: White or Gold, Bright Red or White for Pentecost

Gracetide - A season of growth and spiritual nurture that runs between Pentecost and Kingdomtide. Liturgical Color: Bright Red for Sundays, Green for Weekdays not observed as Feast Days

Kingdomtide - The final four weeks of the Church Year, commemorating all the saints and the calling of God upon his people into eternal fellowship in his kingdom. Liturgical Color: Blue

Ecumenical Relations

The Synod is a full member of the Ecumenical Orthodox Catholic Communion. In addition, the Synod, while differing on a few essential matters (such as the ordination of women to the priesthood) maintains a close friendship with the Antiochian Catholic Church in America.

Web Resources

Official Home Page: http://www.christiansynod.org