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PRESS RELEASE

The Apostolic Episcopal Synod

New York City, September 23, 2000

The Anglican Independent Communion signed a Concordat agreement with the Uniate Western Catholic (Orthodox) Church on Ember Day, September 23, 2000 A.D., in New York City, in the United States of America at the Synod of the Apostolic Episcopal Church, the Holy Eastern Catholic and Apostolic Orthodox Church.

Present for the Synod were clergy and laity from The Apostolic Episcopal Church, The Franciscan Order of St. Benedict the Moor, The Ethiopian Coptic Church, The African Orthodox Church, the Order of Corporate Reunion, The Anglican Independent Communion, the American World Patriarchates, The Belarus National Orthodox Church, and the Anglican Church in America.

Morning Prayer from the 1928 PECUSA Book of Common Prayer opened the Synod.

Bishop Wayne Ellis from the Anglican Church, Inc. led Morning Prayers, with the assistance of Canon R.H. Tregenza+ of the A.I.C. and Canon Cyril Kent+, of St. John's Episcopal American Church of Harlem.

Archbishop Francis Spataro delivered a spirited and historically detailed opening address entitled, "The Journey to Orthodoxy." He discussed the spiritual development and calling of the Holy Eastern Catholic and Apostolic Orthodox Church from +Arthur Books to +Bertil Persson.

The Synod, under the leadership of +Paget E.J. Mack, of the Order of St. Benedict the Moor and the A.E.C., then explored the main issue of the Synod, which was how to provide the proper Biblical and Spiritual education to support the Priestly calling and development of "holy men for Holy Orders."

Four Ecumenical Orthodox-Catholic Seminaries were present. St. George's Seminary, under +Mel Pickering of the Anglican Church in America, The Seminary of the People's University of America under + E.J. Ryzy, the Coptic University and Seminary under +P.J. Mack and the Atlantic Orthodox and Anglican Seminary under +Robert Samuel Loiselle.

The Anglican Independent Communion signed a Concordat agreement with the Uniate Western Catholic (Orthodox) Catholic Church under +Bertil Persson. Canon R.H. Tregenza of the A.I.C. stated that this was part of the ongoing development of an Orthodox Western Rite within the Anglican Independent Communion which was started with a recent Concordat with +Jerry Ryzy of American World Patriarchates.

Bishop E. Jerry Ryzy was also elected by Bishops there present and by letters of support, to be the new Archbishop for the Holy Orthodox Archdiocese of the Atlantic.

The Saturday session of Synod concluded by a closing address by +Paget Mack on the need for ecumenical cooperation without abandoning the Holy Scriptures and the True faith of the Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church.

1. The Synod agreed that the Holy Scriptures will be the focal point of all our religious instruction.

2. We will work together to provide home school /sunday school materials for each other on the internet.

3. The synod will accredit and recognize the four seminaries represented at the synod.

4. The synod will be held in even years.

5. We agree to support the cause of religious freedom for the Belarusan Orthodox National Church.

Evening Prayer followed from the 1928 BCP with a blessing from +Mack.

On Sunday, 9/24/2000 Holy Communion was celebrated at St. John's Episcopal American Church.

Later that day, the Bishops and Clergy from the Synod met with the Primate of the Ethiopian Coptic Church in America and a Concordat was signed between that Church and the Apostolic Episcopal Church.

Bishops +Ryzy, +Spataro and +Mack

R.H.T.+