Greetings and blessed salutations Ladies and Gentlemen and fellow Brothers and Sisters in Christ.
I would like to take a moment and clear up any misunderstanding as to myself taking the title of Patriarch. There are several individuals and church organizations that are attempting to cause division within the body of Christ. Meaning the Church of our Lord and Savior.
First let it be known that we do not attack publicly or privately any Church group or Organization. Be they Catholic or Protestant in denomination. And we see the attempts of a few individuals that are without understanding of our ministry structure trying to cause issues that do not pertain to them via our church and ministry. With that said I remind everyone that we are all called as Christians and followers of our Lord Jesus Christ to love one another as he loves us and to bear good fruit for His kingdom. We are all called to minister and are ordained by Him to do so.
Many in the world today seem to forget these little facts of calling ones-self a Christian and I wish to remind everyone that, that is what Christ wants and what we here at the CCFM will continue to do no matter what opposition arises. So with this said, let me set the record straight.
On March 3rd, 2009 I started this Ministry and Church of the Celtic Cross. Being ordained with the Universal Life Church and working within that structure through that ministry and Church was affiliated with International HQ., of Modesto California, the ULC Seminary of Elk Grove California, the ULC Monastery of Seattle Washington and left all of their affiliations and brought the CCM / CCFM into the ULC World HQ in Florida. Through these notifiable and internationally recognized ministries was appointed as Reverend Father, Monsignor and later Bishop. But do to theological and operational differences, left theses Church ministries.
In (I think it around) June of 2012 came under the Episcopal authority as an independent church and ministry with the Traditional Old Catholic and New Horizons Church in the United Kingdom and was granted full authority by the Archbishop and later Cardinal of that organization and elevated to Senior Bishop Primus and head of the CCM / CCFM. But again do to differences of Dogma, Theology and Church structure, left the organization.
In late 2013, I decided to come under the Episcopal authority of the Re-formed Old Roman Catholic Church of the United Kingdom which later merged with and with the help of our Celtic Church became one of 11 churches that re-established the original Holy See of Antioch after more than 700 years of isolation. Which in it’s self is an independent Sovereign Nation State under International law. Granted by the office of HH. Queen Elizabeth of England.
Through the Holy See of Antioch and the now Holy See of Antioch Old Roman Catholic Church United Kingdom was elevated to Archbishop. But yet again to differences of Dogma and Theology and, having my resignation from the HSA declined, am for all intensive purposes still a founding member within it and an active member of Clergy. (Personally). Though do to those differences I pulled the CCM / CCFM away from the organization in order to protect the CCM / CCFM Church and it’s Clergy from any leadership that would cause them undo-rest by having to follow Canon and Dogma, that does not follow the whole and infallible word of God.
In a further explanation to this fact, My Cardinal showed me the Documents via Skype and video conferencing, those documents which “INFERRED” the elevation to Archbishop and signed by my Cardinal and the head of the Holy See of Antioch himself.
In (I believe it to be) June of 2015, made this maneuver with the blessings of my Cardinal with the HSA. Who personally holds all records pertaining to the events that have brought us to this final statement.
During the months that followed, there was an attempt by a very, very large international Catholic Church denomination (not the Holy See of Antioch), to insert by their authority on an individual, elevate them to Cardinal. Which, if were accomplished, would have made that individual the head of the CCM / CCFM. And since this denomination was NOT affiliated with us, I did what I had to do and took the issue of events to our four Councils that govern and oversee the CCM / CCFM as a Church and Ministry. And under special dispensation of OUR Canon Law #132, was unanimously elevated to Cardinal and head of the CCM / CCFM and now the Old Catholic and Protestant Celtic Templar Rite of Churches and Ministries, nationally and internationally.
So by the authority vested in me granted by Christ Jesus, I accepted the responsibility of overseeing any and all operations within the CCM / CCFM globally.
But do to the fact that I personally have never had hands laid upon me at any point in my ministry to serve our Lord and His flock, I dropped the title of Cardinal and accepted the title of Patriarch as I have with the help of God, our Lord Jesus Christ and their Holy Spirit, along with individuals that do and still have Apostolic lines which they bring into the CCM / CCFM. I am rightfully the 1st Patriarch of the Old Catholic and Protestant Celtic Templar Rite of Churches and Ministries and all offices, agencies, divisions, subdivisions and departments of the Celtic Cross Ministry and the Celtic Cross Foundation of Ministry.
Because of what mankind has done and said in public and private and, because our Church recommending it, I dropped the title of Cardinal (in hopes that this would curve and silence our critics), so as to lessen any confusion by man (individually or collectively) or any Organization or Group of denomination be they Catholic or Protestant.
They have zero authority over the Celtic Rite, the CCM or the CCFM and we are a legal Church established in the United States of America. Never once have I personally claimed to have Apostolic Lines or Hands laid upon me, though many have promised to do so. (And they know who they are). There by using us (the CCM / CCFM) to get what they wanted. And not holding up to their promises. Yet that is okay and all is forgiven. But God will not forget.
But such is life and our Lord Jesus Christ states in the Scriptures that “you will know them by their fruits”. We as a collective of national and international members of the cloth, have and will continue to do just that. Bear Good Fruit for the Kingdom of Heaven.
I apologize for any misunderstanding but, keep in mind that we are not governed by any other denominations law or canons but by our own and are in the right to do so by standing firmly on the whole word of God.
I am sure that this message will incite many emotions that would be to long to list here yet, some of them good and some bad. It does not matter to me what mankind thinks but, only what our Lord Jesus Christ thinks. Which He must be thinking good of us because of the Good Fruit of the harvest, we have earned thus far for his kingdom.
So I leave you with one final thought, that being, the intent of an individual or group that tries to do the work of Satan and man, claiming to be who and what they are and trying to tear down what God, Christ and the Holy Spirit has built. Our Lord Jesus Christ called me to minster back in 1986, it took me until 2009 to accept His calling and though I was happy to be just a little sidewalk preacher reaching whom I could and bring them to the Cross of our Lord. He had other plans for me and the vision he put into me. His plan has grown to be this beautiful Ministry that serves Him, no matter what mankind thinks, say’s or does. He is the Head of the CCM / CCFM and this Church and Independent Old Catholic and Protestant Celtic Templar Rite. I am but His servant doing the absolute best I can with others that feel the same way. We are not in Ministry to make money and get rich off the backs of others. We are trying to survive and grow in a world that desperately needs help and the unadulterated word of God in their lives. I look at these attacks as personal and yet, I do not faultier in leading this band of Brothers and Sisters up a lighted path that God has placed in my heart.
I do however, question the intent that theses individuals and groups are perusing. And look upon it and their actions as ungodly and not fitting of a person who claims to be Christian, let alone a man or woman of the Holy Cloth of Christ. But workers and doers of the evil one, Satan. We have never and will never personally attack another person or group for any reason other than, for not holding to the whole word of God our Father in their lives. That is, as we do to any person in this world that does not hold to the infallible truth of the Holy Scriptures contained in the Holy Bible.
We do not challenge anyone except to look deep inside themselves, searching their own heart and soul for the answers which they seek. For what comes out of mans mouth and through their actions, says a lot about them and their ability to lead others. One day (and I hope in the not to distant future) official hands will be laid upon me, personally by qualified members of Clergy. Maybe within our own body of Christ or not. But one day it will happen.
Keep in mind that our Lord Jesus Christ called me and you, out of our personal desert in this world. He calls on ordinary people to do extraordinary things and as written in the Scripture of the Holy Bible, “He who has not sinned, cast the first stone”. We try our best each and every day to do the Lords work in His fields around the nation and around the world. I see nothing wrong in that and, though we have a strict code of Canon, Ethics and Morality governing each one of us within the CCM / CCFM it is only placed as the foundation which all Churches and Denominations should stand on when serving His flock.
Trust and Transparency are a corner stone to this ministry as well as the God head. I maybe the leader of our band of Brothers and Sisters and Flock, but I am just as you are. Or at least should be. That being lowly in heart, loving and forgiving, faithful and tolerant, yet never compromising what is instilled by God in ones heart. One question to be thought about before acting is to which God one is listening. Satan is the master of deception and all have been for warned via the Holy Scripture to be on guard, watchful and careful and even slow to act. Proving ones self worthy of having hands laid upon them. This I have shown and will continue to show through my leadership and on my watch.
We will all stand accountable before the Father and, we will be judged on what we did and did not do while here on earth. “We are not human beings going through a spiritual experience. We are spiritual beings going through a human experience”. (Author Unknown). I believe this with my whole heart and I want you all to know that if I have done anything wrong, than tell me. But I have never lied, deceived or manipulated anyone to bring the CCM / CCFM to the place it is today in the world. But only done as God lead me to do in such a short period of time (almost 7 years).
I will always love even those that attack us, those that hate and envy us and I will always pray for those individuals and groups that do the work of Satan, even if they think they do the will of God.
There will be no further discussion on this matter for this statement stands as a testament of who I am, who we are and our purpose to continue to do our Lords will over that of a disgruntled individual or group. It is their issue, not that of ours.
We are fully independent of any an all denominations. Never once have I claimed to be “Pope” or even “His Holiness”. But rather a poor sinner and maybe even the Master Chief of all Sinners at that. I have repented of my sins and confessed them before God and Mankind publicly. I have been atoned of my sin by our Lord Jesus Christ and I and the members of Clergy of the CCM / CCFM choose to follow the ways of Christ and His path “for us”. Question remains what about them? Whom will they follow? Time will tell and the truth will be revealed. I personally would do as the Scriptures say and that is to tie a milestone around my neck and cast myself into the sea, lest I cause one of His little ones to stumble and fall. How about you?
If you feel this way than stand with us. If not, than get out of the way. And stop trying to create controversy where there is none. The fight is with Satan, the world and his demons, not us and we stand with God and those that “prove” they to, are doing the same.
Sincerely IHS and yours, with malice towards none, and love and prayer for all,
H.E. Patriarch +++Andrew M. B. Patrick, Head of the Old Catholic and Protestant Celtic Templar Rite of Churches and Ministries and the, Celtic Cross Foundation of Ministry and Celtic Cross Ministry Globally
http://www.celticcrossministry.com