We look to the spirit of pre-Roman Christianity among the Celtic Peoples but interpret this in today's world. We are Inclusive in our community, welcoming L/G/B/T persons into the FULL life of the Church, not just some parts. L/G/B/T people may be ordained, hold any office, have their unions blessed in this church.
We believe that belonging comes before believing. That all theology is simply the way each generation tries to explain the interaction they have with God and God with them.
We believe that if you want to know who Jesus is, then do what Jesus did...then you'll know!
Roger Francis, from Tulsa, lector for the Pride Service
We believe that Church is more than just the ingathered community who meet week after week. Yet because we are small communities without the resources of larger established denominations, we must be more creative in our outreach. Thus ministry for us is very much a personal commitment to presence. You will find members of the ICEC ministering in places, more often than not, where other churches will not go. You will find us at Pride events, fund-raisers for many causes such as HIV/AIDS or at vigils such as those held for murdered sex-workers, victims of hate crimes, Transgender Days of Remembrance or rallies for same-sex marriage rights, for peace vigils to end the war in Iraq. We can be found in the bars, availalbe for pastoral counseling, we can be found in Panama working with the UNAIDS program or being present among indigenous peoples. We also, in the larger urban areas, encourage a one on one support for the homeless. Our cathedral congregation welcomes in the homeless for our services and for our hospitality hour afterwords. We have a program, in the winter to distribute warm clothing such as gloves and blankets. But above all else we believe in creating safe spaces for all those who come to us.
Bp. Rusty laying hands on Aaron, parishioner at St. Savior's, during confirmation
Aaron's partner, Anthony, acts as his sponsor.
We also believe in creating safe space to begin or renew a life in a faith community and thus have launched the Bridgid's Mantle Project which you can read about on this site. Church, to be authentic, must be about the person, the encounters, going where Jesus went, because it is through us that others will meet and see Jesus. We truly believe we are called to be Christ's hands and feet in the world.
So then, who are we? In an online interview on emergingchurch.info, Pete Collins, who is a member of a community called "Ikon" in Belfast, was asked to descibe who he thought his community was. He said the following: "Iconic, apocalyptic, heretical, emerging, failing." The ICEC would add "succeeding!" That is who the ICC is!
Ed, parisioner of St. Savior's, at the 2207 ICEC Church Council
The ICC began first with the establishment of the Church of St. Savior in San Francisco on November 24th, 2002 on the Feast known as Christ the King which we now refer to as the Feast of St. Savior. Just a little over a year later, upon the election of our bishop, we became the New Church - Inclusive Anglican Reform. Over the next 3 years we began to discover that we were more and more drawn to a contemporary Celtic Christian Spirituality. Over that time we began to grow beyond San Francisco due to those interested in our spirituality and the way we believed Church should be expressed. On May 16, 2007, the feast of St. Brendan, by majority vote, we changed the name of our denomination to the Inclusive Celtic Episcopal Church to better express where the Spirit was leading. In following that lead we have determined that we need not attatch the name of another denomination in order to express who we are. Thus we have now dropped Episcopal from our name and are simply The Inclusive Celtic Church.
Delegates to our 2007 Church Council, Pride Weekend San Francisco
Back Row Left to Right: The Rev. Kenny Ryan King (Episcopal Priest) - Panama & The Rev John Bell, Assoc. pastor St. Savior's , San Francisco (ICEC).
Front Row Left to Right: Ed Hammond - (St Savior's, SF), The Rev. Oonagh Ryan King - (Panama), The Rev. John Faires - (Tulsa, OK), The Rt. Rev. Rusty Clyma, Bishop, ICC - Pastor St. Savior's San Francisco, The Rev. George McCauslan, Deacon - St. Savior's, San Francisco. Not pictured, Roger Francis - Photographer - (Tulsa, OK).