It is with pleasure that we, the committee members, announce that Bishop Peter Hickman is willing to stand for re-election to the office. He has participated in the process developed by the Nominating Committee in accordance with our new Canon 68 which was enacted at our Synod in 2010.

The nominating committee group was formed in June 2011 and has been working through the creation and execution of a process which will serve for this election of a Presiding Bishop. It is a process that is in formation, and we hope will serve as a good basis for how the ECC can go about this work in future elections.

Our process began with a close examination of the canons, recognizing what is in the constitution (e.g., Canon 68 speaks to the election, Canons 1, 4, 5 and 8 speak to the role of Presiding Bishop) and what isn't. Additionally the committee was blessed with gifted individuals who willingly invested time and energy into proposing ideas and approaches to the work. The result was a survey which was distributed to the entire Communion, asking about hopes, dreams, concerns and desires of the people we serve and what they want to see in our next national episcopal leader.

Complete text: NPB final document (pdf)

Greetings to All the Sisters, brothers, and Friends of the Ecumenical Catholic Communion!

I am pleased to announce that on February 4 at 5:00 PM at Saint Matthew Ecumenical Catholic Church we will be celebrating the ordination of our beloved sisters, Mandy Bennett and Nancy Sladak, to the order of the diaconate. You are most welcome to attend as your presence would only add to the joy of this event and would be a great sign of solidarity to everyone present. A reception is to follow in the parish hall. Please remember both Nancy and Mandy in your prayers especially in your celebration of this Sunday's eucharistic liturgy.

We are planning the formation of a new ECC parish community in Claremont, CA later this year. Mandy Bennett will serve as pastor. This will occur soon after she is ordained priest which will probably take place sometime after Easter. She will be assisted by Michael Hoopes who will be graduating from Claremont School of Theology later this year. Mandy taught church history at the Claremont School of Theology and the prospective ECC parish in Claremont will focus on reaching out to the many college students who live in that city.

Nancy Sladak will be assisting the Rev. Martha Rogers as a deacon at Saint Junia House in Anaheim, CA as well as serving at Saint Matthew Church in Orange, CA. Nancy is currently serving the ECC as the coordinator for the upcoming Holy Synod of the Ecumenical Catholic Communion which will be convened in Orange, CA on October 23-25 of this year. Delegates from ECC communities throughout the world will be attending the Synod. Each member faith community of the ECC will have official delegations present for voting purposes but the Holy Synod is open to all who would like to attend as non-voting observers. During the Synod the three branches of our governing body will be in session: the House of Laity (HOL), the House of Pastors (HOP) and the Episcopal Council. Various workshops of interest will also be offered by some of our leading teachers on topics ranging from theological and ethical issues to practical ministry, spirituality, and liturgical matters. The synod experience will also be enriched through times of celebration in eucharistic and prayer liturgies throughout the three day Synod.