Preface

As a member of the original committee that drafted the constitution of the Ecumenical Catholic Communion, I am privileged to write this short review of the foundations and the vision (the ecclesiology and polity) of the constitution of the Ecumenical Catholic Communion. A number of us worked for the duration of a year to formulate the canons that were submitted to the constitutional convocation in 2003. At that time the chancellor of the ECC was Allison Sansone. Her talent came from the business world and our Presiding Bishop, the Most Reverend Peter Hickman, recognized her unique abilities for the organization and promotion of the Communion. She and Rev. Giovanna Piazza worked tirelessly to edit draft after draft of revisions to the constitution based upon the continuing work of the entire constitutional committee, which labored for 12 months. The original three parishes of the Communion grew to eight communities by the time the convocation met in October of 2003 to adopt the constitution.

Since October of 2003, the constitution has been amended to address the needs of the Communion - starting with the amendments of the Synod of 2005. It is a living document that reflects both the discernment of the Communion's Synodal representatives and the growth in member communities of the Ecumenical Catholic Communion. The constitution is the written expression of a profound commitment of the communities and members of the ECC. Ours is a commitment to the Gospel of Christ, celebrated in the rich Catholic heritage of Word, Sacrament and Apostolic Tradition. It is also a commitment to the life of prayer and compassion, a continuous call to justice and peace, and a quest to discover the divine presence in everyone and to affirm that dignity.

Such a commitment may sound overwhelming. But Christians are reminded that "My yoke is sweet and my burden is light." (Matthew 11:30) To be a Catholic Christian is to take on this yoke and burden that feels like no burden when we are fed and nourished by a community alive in this Catholic identity. Rev. Giovanna Piazza - a valuable member of the committee that drafted the constitution - said it well when she stated that Catholicism is "in our DNA." Catholicism is so much a part of our heritage and in the fiber of our minds and hearts that the feeling of burden comes when we attempt to leave our Catholic heritage or when we experience the exploitation and abuse that threaten to destroy this beautiful and nourishing Catholic heritage.