With the recent Position Paper by +Stephan
A. Hoeller concerning the relation
of the Ecclesia Gnostica to Secret Initiatory Orders,
we felt is necessary to clarify our own position, thus
further alleviating any misconceptions pertaining thereto
which may be held in the minds of the public, or even
in the minds of those involved in organizations such as
the Ecclesia Gnostica, for whom we have the greatest respect.
It is, therefore, solely for edification, and certainly
not to be contrary, that we offer this statement.
While it is true that the Ecclesia Gnostica is the oldest
public sacramental Gnostic organization in the United
States, we should call to mind that the Eglise Gnostique,
as re-established by Jules Doinel and continued by Jean
Bricaud, is the oldest public Sacramental Gnostic organization
in the present era.
Bishop +Hoeller has stated the position of the Ecclesia
Gnostica, and calls to mind an awareness of certain differences
in "policy and procedure" which we feel necessary
to further elucidate from our own perspective and tradition,
since there are many variations one may encounter in searching
for organizations which use the name 'Gnostic' or some
variation thereof [see position paper on our relation
to Other
Churches].
We encourage you to read the Bishop
+Hoeller's position paper paying particular attention
to the sections concerning "What are Secret Initiatory
Orders?" and "The Secret Orders and the French
Gnostics". What follows now, is the official position
of the Eglise du Plérôme, on the section
entitled "The Present Situation and its Results".
While an association with the Martinist Order and with
certain forms of Freemasonry are still a part of our Tradition,
we wish to make perfectly clear that these are maintained
as just that - part of the Tradition, i.e. in addition
to or peripherally. Supplemental organizations exterior
to the official Church in which clergy and laity alike
may participate allow for a further development of a sense
of community among all Sisters and Brothers without the
perceived separation of clergy from laity. In addition,
while we cannot speak for other organization, particularly
since we also have seen the abuses of which Bishop +Hoeller
speaks, we of the Eglise du Plérôme earnestly
refute the practice of Ordination as a mere consequence
of having attained a particular degree within any Order
(or even as the unconditional "award" for the
completion of some course of study). While there may be
similarities in ritual function, the Initiatory Orders
and the Priesthood of the Church are wholly separate entities,
neither automatically conferring nor implying anything
other than what each is of its own accord. Our clergy
participate merely as part of their formation
because of the historical connection, however, these initiatory
orders are not the formation in and of itself, as one
might find elsewhere.
We agree strongly with Bishop +Hoeller that the Church
should never be perceived as
a subsidiary activity of any other organization, and we
also concur that the faculties required of those called
to the Clergy are not improved by mere involvement
in one or more secret orders. While the position held
by our esteemed brother is such that "today the Gnostic
Church has all the information it needs about Gnostic
teachings and thus has no need of teachings that are present
in some of the secret initiatory orders...," we endeavor
to maintain a relationship with the historically affiliated
bodies, most notably that of Martinism, and we will continue
to encourage participation in part to maintain the historical
relations, and in part to broaden the perspectives and
experiences of both the clergy and the laity outside of
the atmosphere of the traditional Church. With complete
freedom to worship being (at least relatively) established
in the United States, there may no longer be the same
need for these Orders as they were once conceived, but
that does not necessarily imply or lead to their utter
demise. In regards to Martinism, for example, it is a
particular philosophy, albeit with strong ties to a sacramental
tradition, that is studied - and more specific to the
works of the four principal philosophers who influenced
Martinism than to those we would study within the Church
as the canon of sacred texts.
We may differ on policy and procedure, but that is merely
a consequence of location and tradition. There are those
among us who would argue fiercely against our stand on
this issue - and there are many more who will continue
practices with which neither of our ecclesia agree or
woud ever condone. It has long been a tradition in our
particular filiation that candidates for the priesthood
be at least 21, and preferably 25 years of age prior to
beginning the course leading
to Priesthood. Our particular Church has revised our seminary
program to assure that our clergy will acquire all the
knowledge required to function as professional clergy,
and are held to strict standards. Once again, let us emphasize
that clergy training and involvement in any affiliated
orders do not necessarily overlap - and one is certainly
no substitute for the other.
Again in the words of Bishop +Hoeller: "Today in
the United States we no longer need to disguise our Gnostic
interests and dedications by locking them behind sealed
portals... Our Church is open to all those who wish to
avail themselves of our sacramental ministrations, and
our teaching ministry offers its instruction to all who
wish to receive it." Our goals, as this quotation
evidences, are indeed one and the same, and we will endeavor
to preserve the integrity of our respective Ecclesiae.
T. Vincent II, in ecclesia
Eglise Gnostique
