We are called to be a part of the Church, Catholic and independent. We aspire to be an inclusive and compassionate fellowship, teaching the Love of Christ. The UACC believes and affirms that the Great Commandment is the fountain and norm from which all belief and structure is fed, grown, and strengthened.
 
The Lord our God, the Lord, is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these.”
                                                                                                           
Mark 12:29-31 (NIV)
 
We are called to go forth as expressed in the Great Commission of Christ, holistically developing hearts for God as well as minds for Truth.
 
Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.
 
                                                                                                         Matthew 28:19-20 (NIV)
 
We acknowledge the role of all in ministry through the Priesthood of all Believers.
 
But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.
 
                                                                                                         I Peter 2:9 (NIV)
 
And,
 
For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.…. Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.
                                                                                                           
                                                                                                    Matthew 25:35-36, 40 (NIV)
 
            And also,
 
Is anyone among you in trouble? Let them pray. Is anyone happy? Let them sing songs of praise. Is anyone among you sick? Let them call the elders of the church to pray over them and anoint them with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise them up. If they have sinned, they will be forgiven. Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.
 
                                                                                                    James 5:13-17 (NIV)
 
We acknowledge the presence of God in all religions and Christian denominations that teach compassion, love of God, and the peace that relationship brings.
 
Then Peter began to speak: “I now realize how true it is that God does not show favorites but accepts from every nation the one who fears him and does what is right.
                                                           
                                                                                                      Acts 10:34-35 (NIV)
 
and also,
 
Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one body, so it is with Christ. ¹³ For we were all baptized by^{[ a ]} one Spirit so as to form one body—whether Jews or Gentiles, slave or free—and we were all given the one Spirit to drink.
                                                           
                                                                                                     I Corinthians 12:12-13 (NIV)
 
Although we see these religions and denominations as pathways to God, we have chosen the Catholic heritage as our Way. We acknowledge the following as essential to our understanding of Faith:

1. The revelation of God and God’s Son, Jesus the Christ, as is received, understood, and taught by the UACC;
2. that Jesus loves all, unconditionally and through his life, death, and resurrection we are brought to new life;
3. the historic Creeds: the Apostle’s Creed, the Nicene Creed, and the Athanasian Creed;
4. the preaching and hearing of the Gospel of Christ, which calls us to love, forgiveness, and healing;
5. the acceptance of the Canonical Scriptures of both the Old and New Testaments as the Living Word of God, our understanding of which is guided by the Holy Spirit;
6. the faithful continuation of the Apostolic Succession of the Church of Jesus Christ for the preservation of valid sacraments;
7. the Seven Sacraments (Baptism, Eucharist, Confirmation, Reconciliation, Anointing for Healing, Matrimony and Holy Orders) as the sure means of grace, instituted by Christ, for our salvation;
8. that the consecrated elements of Holy Communion are the body, soul, and divinity of Jesus, the Christ;
9. the wisdom of sacred and living traditions of the One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church as they are received, understood and taught; and
10. freedom for the formation of individual conscience, allowing all peoples to worship and grow with God as the Holy Spirit leads them.

 
The UACC accepts the teachings of the seven Ecumenical Councils of the undivided church, (Excluding the judgmental and condemnatory decisions and statements about others in them):
a. the Council of Nicea in 325 AD,
b. Constantinople in 381 AD,
c. Ephesus in 431 AD,
d. Chalcedon 451 AD,
e. Constantinople II in 553 AD,
f. Constantinople III in 680-81 AD,
g. Nicea II in 787 AD.
 
The UACC additionally, declares its belief in the following:
 
That in accord with sacred tradition affirms its belief that the Bishops of the Church are each successors to the Apostles and hold the teaching authority granted to the apostles by Jesus Christ. This authority is not vested in any single bishop regardless of office or position but equally and jointly held by all bishops.
 
The UACC states definitively that:
 
The United American Catholic Church as a denomination is a fellowship of semi-autonomous ministries, governed by the collective voice of the laity and clergy of the General Synod, in cooperation with and under the guidance of the Bishops of the UACC.
 
We rely upon Sacred Tradition as an inspiration and guiding force of the Church. In the light of the Gospel, we accept reason as humanity’s attempt to interpret that which cannot be interpreted.
 
We believe that God is our sovereign Creator and Giver of Life and that the gift of life should be held as sacred at all times. We recognize that there are moral issues - such as abortion, euthanasia, suicide, and the death penalty – that tend to carry intense debate and divisions among the faithful. We realize that every situation is unique and when approached by one seeking pastoral care and guidance, the UACC commits to assisting that person in deep and prayerful discernment of their situation, exploration of their own conscience, consultation with medical and mental health professionals as needed, and seeking the most life-giving way to move forward. We embrace those who are discerning difficult decisions and those who struggle with past decisions with compassion and understanding. We bring our struggles and uncertainties to God, who knows all hearts and who does not condemn, but at all times offers forgiveness, healing, and peace to those in need.
 
We acknowledge the presence of the Christ in all things and therefore uphold the dignity of all people and responsible stewardship of our planet.
 
We are a Community of Believers committed to the task of building up the Body of Christ on this earth. The United American Catholic Church ordains qualified individuals without regard to gender, marital status, ethnicity, social status, citizenship, sexual orientation, or upper age. All persons are seen as Children of God and are welcome to worship with us and share the gift of the Sacraments, as appropriate.
 
 
 
Updated on May 27, 2020