About
Eric Michel Ministries International
Legal Existence Corporation Canada 895170-5
Recognized creed and form of worship
Definite and distinct ecclesiastical government EMMI Canon Law (Eastern Christianity Canon Law, Roman Catholic Canon Law)
Formal Code of Doctrine and Discipline for IAoC Association
Distinct religious history
Membership Third Order of Franciscans or the Ecumenical IAoC
Organization of ordained ministers and lay chaplains
Ordained ministers selected after completing prescribed courses of study at Footsteps of Jesus Seminary and Bible Academy
Literature of its own
Established places of worship
Regular congregations-parishes
Regular religious services
Sunday schools for the religious instruction of the young
Schools for the preparation of its members at the Canadian Harvestime Bible Academy
learning center for a degree: Seminary Footsteps of Jesus and Bible Academy
Classification: Protestant (Using Anglican Rite)
Orientation: Catholicism
Polity: Episcopal, the IAoC is Congregationalist
Region: As of 2020, Canada
Founder: Most Rev. Eric. M. Gagnon
Origin: 1978/79, Chaplaincy 2010
EMMI at Corporation Canada 2014
Location: Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
Members: 194 Total of Class A & B
Official website: https://www.ericmichelministries.org
"We accept any Christian who sincerely, seriously, and prayerfully regards themselves as Christian. If they honestly believe they follow Jesus of Nazareth's teachings as they understand them."
There are many ways of classifying the over 34,000 separate Christian groups in the world that consider themselves to be Christian, from the Amish to The Way.
Eric Michel Ministries International Catholic Chaplaincy is a Christian corporation headquartered in Ottawa, Ontario, and Halifax, Nova Scotia.The Church traces its founding to Jesus and the Twelve Apostles and regards the bishops as the literal successors of the Apostles, holding their keys of authority. Eric Michel Ministries International Catholic Chaplaincy is part of the One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic Church. While it derives its Apostolic Succession from the teaching of the Apostles, we are in communion with the Roman Catholic Church but differ from them theologically in several essential respects.
We are influenced by the Franciscans, the Jesuits (Society of Jesus), Thomas Aquinas, and Cristogenesis.
Beliefs
Sacraments
The Church recognizes the historic seven sacraments: Baptism, Confirmation, Holy Eucharist, Absolution, Extreme Unction, Holy Matrimony, and Holy Orders.
The Holy Eucharist is considered the most important and central sacrament in the life of the Church. The Church teaches that in the Holy Eucharist, the substance of the bread and wine become linked to the Life of Jesus of Nazareth and literal outposts of his life and consciousness. The EMMI does not restrict the Eucharist to its membership and allows all to partake. Note: On the way back from his papal trip to Hungary and Slovakia, Pope Francis responded to a question about denying communion to politicians who are pro-choice. Pope Francis comments from all his time as a pastor that he never, never, never denied communion to anybody who presented him or herself to receive the Holy Sacrament. Sep 16, 2021
Baptism may be performed by either immersion, affusion (pouring) or aspersion (sprinkling).
Confirmation is performed by a bishop.
Holy Matrimony is performed by either a bishop, priest or deacon.
Holy Orders include deacon, priest, and bishop. In Eric Michel Ministries International Catholic Chaplaincy, all clergy are allowed to marry, and ordination is open to both men and women.
Absolution is performed by either a bishop or a priest.
Extreme Unction is performed by either a bishop or a priest.
Paterology
The EMMI teaches the orthodox doctrine of the Holy Trinity. Paterology, or Patriology, in Christian theology, refers to studying God the Father. Both terms are derived from two Greek words: πατήρ (patḗr, father) and λογος (logos, teaching). As a distinctive theological discipline, within Theology proper, Paterology or Patriology is closely related to Christology (study of Christ as God the Son) and Pneumatology (study of the Holy Ghost as God the Spirit).
Creeds in the Eastern Church began with an affirmation of faith in "one God" and usually expanded this by adding "the Father Almighty, Maker of all things visible and invisible" or similar words. The Nicene Creed, which dates to 325 and 381, states that the Son (Jesus Christ) is "eternally begotten of the Father," indicating that their divine Father-Son relationship is not tied to an event within time or human history.
Soteriology
The EMMI teaches that we are all immortal, both before and after physical death; and everyone shall "one day reach His Feet, however far they stray." Universal reconciliation is an accepted doctrine of the EMMI, following the words of St. Paul: "Therefore just as one man's trespass led to condemnation for all, so one man's act of righteousness leads to justification and life for all." (Romans 5:18)
Ecclesiology
The EMMI teaches that the Holy Bible, the Creeds, and the Traditions of the Church are the means by which Christ's teachings have been handed down to his followers and that they are fundamental, true, and sufficient as a basis for right understanding and right conduct.
The EMMI teaches that all Christian worship is valid, of whatever kind, so long as it is earnest and faithful.
Ministries structure
Episcopal Polity
Constitution and canons
Its constitution and canons govern the EMMI.
Clergy
Its archbishop, Most Revd, currently leads the EMMI. Eric M. Gagnon, and the Symposium (General Assembly).
Laity
EMMI laypersons come from diverse backgrounds and all spiritual paths. Due to the open nature of the Multi-Denominational EMMI Chaplaincy, no layperson is required to accept any of the Church's more "formal" beliefs and is allowed to accept or reject them as they please, as Baptist, Catholic, Evangelist, Methodist, Presbyterian, Pentecostalist, or Christian Unitarian Universalist.
Seminary
Training for the clergy of the EMMI is through Footsteps of Jesus Seminary & Bible Academy, the only seminary of the Church. The seminary offers distance study courses for those seeking holy orders or working for the church.
Liturgy
The Church uses its liturgy, today known as the Anglican Rite.
History
The Archbishop
Certificates
Relations with other denominations
The EMMI seeks to work in amity with all other Christian denominations and is open to inter-communion agreements with other denominations. Open communion is a practice of the EMMI.
Franciscans of the Third Order
Religious Order
The Order of St. Francis Ecumenical is a semi-monastic Franciscan spiritual community. Autocephaly, meaning "property of being self-headed," is the status of a hierarchical Christian church whose head bishop does not report to any higher-ranking bishop. The term is primarily used in Eastern Orthodox and Oriental Orthodox churches. The status has been compared with the churches (provinces) within the Anglican Communion.
Our Ecumenical Order is a group of men and women devoted to following the examples of Saint Francis of Assisi and Saint Clare of Assisi in their life and understanding of the Christian gospel: sharing a love for creation and those marginalized.
An example of Christian ecumenism, the FAICL opens its membership to Christians of many different denominations, including Roman Catholics, Lutherans, Moravians, Anglicans, Methodists, Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox and Reformed Christians. The FAICL understands its charism to include not only ecumenical efforts and the traditional emphases of the Franciscans in general but also to help to develop relationships among the various Christian Denominations. It is open to any Christian who belongs to any church or denomination, or indeed none and is at least 18 years of age.
It was established under Charter # 04062022 of The Order of Franciscans of the Eucharist and is protected by an autocephalous church in the historic apostolic succession.
According to the New Advent Catholic Encyclopedia, "Third Orders signify in general lay members of religious orders, i.e. men and women who do not necessarily live in community and yet can claim to wear the habit and participate in the good works of some great order. Any Catholic may join a Third Order but may not at once belong to more than one, nor may he without grave cause leave one for another."
Here's the Code of Canon Law's definition: "Associations whose members share in the spirit of some religious institute while in secular life, lead an apostolic life, and strive for Christian perfection under the higher direction of the same institute are called third orders or some other appropriate name." (Can. 303)
Profession for seculars means they promise to live according to the rules of their orders; it does not consist of taking vows.
