The Official Website of
The United Holy Caribbean Apostolic Church
The Patriarchate of The West-Indies

CANON 1 – Originally, the entirety of the Catholic Church did not hold to the notion that there were a set number of sacraments. The United Holy Caribbean Apostolic Church, therefore, places no limit to the number of sacraments of the Church. We agree with the standard of accepting the sacraments of Holy Baptism, Holy Eucharist, Chrismation, Absolution and Confession, Holy Orders, Holy Unction or the Anointing of the Sick, Holy Matrimony, the Holy Leaven, and the Holy Sign of the Cross, while embracing the power of God to work in others.

 

CANON 2 - God instituted for Holy Baptism to forever set apart believers for His glory and service. Holy Baptism shall forever be known as a sacrament within the Church. Water baptism is the baptism into Jesus Christ, which is the entryway to the great and holy death, burial, and resurrection into eternal life. We are truly buried and arise with and in Him. Everyone is encouraged to be convinced in their own mind as to identify by faith with Christ through baptism for the saving of one’s soul. The participating and authoritative parties of the sacrament of baptism shall be Christ Jesus Himself, the one dedicated believer, and the Clergy serving as the authoritative conductor and witness of the sacrament.

 

CANON 3 - A person who has made the profession of faith in Christ Jesus as being Savior and who earnestly desires to lead an obedient life to Christ as Him being Lord, and God, and the Son of God, and who has never been baptized will be baptized. Such a person should present themselves before the local Congregation to profess his/her faith and to request baptism. If a person finally becomes a Christian but who was previously been baptized according to the proper faith of the Church, the baptism may stand firm as a witness before God and man, Nevertheless, a “second baptism” may be performed for the sake of the Faith of the believer. If baptism was previously administered by what is deemed a heretical minister or group, the true baptism at our hands is required, for the original was not done by the Lord’s faithful, and therefore, such a baptism was into the Synagogues of Satan.

 

CANON 4 - The Apostolic Tradition, beginning with the Sacred Scriptures, historically supports baptism by way of full immersion, and if necessary, the sprinkling of water. The Minister of the baptism by immersion is to use consecrated water by way of a lake, Church pool, or running stream. It will by no means be frowned upon, however, if the sacred rite is performed in a common body of water, for Philip the Apostle and Evangelists baptized the Ethiopian Eunuch in common waters. Therefore, it is to be understood that once consecrated and cleansed by God, it shall no longer be considered common. Such rite must be approved by the Bishop beforehand or immediately afterward.

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CANON 5 - Baptism shall be administered by the Apostles, the Bishops, the Presbyter(a)s, with assistance from the Deacon(ess). If the Apostles, Bishops, and/or the Presbyter(a)s are not available to baptize, those who as Deacon(ess) will assume the responsibility in serving the baptism. If no ordained Clergy are available, the members are to go and seek out Ministers and/or Churches that are approved by the Caribbean Patriarchate, worthy servants of the Lord’s Church, or if necessary, perform said baptism themselves.

 

The Minister, in accordance with Ecumenical Canon Law, shall baptize the new believer with a three-fold immersion “in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, amen”. If by sprinkling, it will be a three-fold sprinkling of water over the head of the new believer.

 

CANON 6 - It is the job of the Clergy to instruct new believers on the rite and meaning of the baptism before performing the sacred act, for Christ instructed us in said order to first make disciples of men, then baptize. We will not have members ignorant of the work of the Lord. A baptismal document shall be presented by the Clergy signed by their Bishop to the believer the day of the ceremony, and the baptism shall be logged in the records of the Caribbean Patriarchate.

 

CANON 7 - Members of this Church are to dedicate their children to God by baptism as soon as possible, as is commanded in Sacred Scripture.

 

CANON 8 - Since God instituted it in the beginning with the first Adam and Eve, Holy Matrimony shall forever be known as a holy sacrament within this Church. The participating and authoritative parties of the sacrament of Marriage shall be Almighty God Himself, one consenting husband, and one consenting wife. The Clergy shall serve as the authoritative witness and conductor of the sacrament. As a sacred sacrament, the marriage of members of this Church shall not be performed or regarded without being done with the permission and guidance of the trusted Clergy who serve as shepherds to sheep of God our Father. Marriages performed by the state may be counted as legal before the eyes of men but shall not be regarded by this Church as being before God. A proper Christian ceremony will therefore be conducted accordingly.

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CANON 9 - Saint Ignatius, the third Bishop of the city of Antioch and disciple of Apostle John, commanded us “Be ye subject to the Bishop as to the Lord, for he watches for your souls, as one that shall give account to God…It is therefore necessary, whatsoever things ye do, to do nothing without the Bishop. And be ye subject also to the Presbytery, as to the Apostles of Jesus Christ, who is our hope, in whom, if we live, we shall be found in Him. It behooves you also, in every way, to please the Deacons, who are [ministers] of the mysteries of Christ Jesus; for they are not ministers of meat and drink, but servants of the Church of God.”

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CANON 10 - As a sacrament of the Church, the Clergy reserve the right to reject any and all marriage requests that are not discriminated upon by race.

 

CANON 11 - The Ministers of this Church or any in brotherhood with it will not ever marry homosexual couples or “bless same-sex unions” of any sort. It is an orthodox Christian belief that homosexuality is an abomination to God, as stated in the Bible. Therefore, this Church will not aid in or participate in such an abomination in any part of this ministry in any way. If any such act is performed, the marriage shall be considered null and void, all Clergy present shall be considered deposed, and all in supportive attendance shall be excommunicated.

 

CANON 12 - Marriage ceremonies will be performed after a series of no less than seven counseling sessions conducted by the Pastor of the couple. The couple must be of legal age for marriage in said country and Christian culture. A marriage license shall be presented by the Clergy signed by their Bishop to the couple the day of the ceremony, and the marriage shall be logged in the records of the Caribbean Patriarchate.

 

CANON 13 - As a sacrament of the Church, marriages shall not be done for a charge, lest the Clergy be guilty of simony. A donation to the Church for the use of the Ministry shall only be accepted, at the discretion of the Clergy led by their Bishop. Any amount would be considered a “thank you gift.” This shall not be an occasion for the people to rob the Church of God however, “for the workman is worthy of his hire”.

 

CANON 14 - Marriages performed outside of the Church are to be examined by the Presbytery. If said marriage is found to be acceptable, a marriage rite shall not be necessary.

 

CANON 15 - The Lord’s Supper, which is also known as the Eucharist, and Holy Communion, once consecrated, is the real presence of the body and the blood of Christ and the resulting fellowship of believers according to 1st Corinthians 10:16, 17 and 1st Corinthians 11:23-32. Therefore, when members of this Church speak of the Eucharist as a “symbol”, we by no means say that it stands powerless. We view the sacred Eucharist as becoming the real body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ which died on the cross and was broken for our redemption after consecration.
 

CANON 16 - Participation in the Lord’s Supper shall be reserved only to those Trinitarian-baptized Christians who genuinely confess Christ as Savior and Lord (1st Corinthians 11:27-32), at the full discretion of the Minister of the Eucharist. Concelebrating the Eucharist with Clergy of other Churches is allowed at the discretion of the Minister of the Eucharist and their Bishop. The known heretic and the excommunicated will be barred from the Eucharistic table.

 

CANON 17 - The Lord’s Supper shall be administered at the end of every liturgical service by Ministers of the Church. Apostles and Bishops are the chief celebrants of the Lord’s Supper and shall be assisted by Deacons or others as required. Presbyter(a)s may administer the Lord’s Supper with permission from their overseer and shall be assisted by Deacons or others as required.

 

CANON 18 - Since God instituted it in the beginning with the first Ministers, beginning with the Prophets, then the Temple Levites, and again the Holy apostles of the Lord, Holy Orders (also known as Ordination/Consecration) shall forever be known as a holy sacrament within this Church. The participating and authoritative parties of the sacrament of Holy Orders shall be the All-Holy Ghost Himself, at least one consenting and obedient servant set apart for the work of the ministry, and the ordaining Apostle or Bishop serving as the authoritative witness, conferrer, and conductor of the sacrament.

 

CANON 19 - According to the Apostle Paul of Tarsus, one’s holy orders are in fact tied in with their saving faith, telling Titus that he was “a servant of God, and an Apostle of Jesus Christ, according to the faith of God’s chosen, and the acknowledging of the truth which is after godliness; in the hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, before the world began” (Titus 1:1-3). If a person was once ordained as a Deacon, member of the Presbytery, or consecrated as an Apostle and/or Bishop validly, then it shall stand as such and remain sufficient so long as they remain in the services of the Lord Jesus Christ within this Church and within that particular assignment. After examination of the act, any man re-consecrated to the same position that they were already properly and canonically set in shall be deposed.

 

CANON 20 - Apostolic Succession is the possession of the Church, for it is centered in and depends upon the doctrine of the faith once delivered unto the saints, being guarded and taught by the Deacons and Presbyter(a)s with the Apostles and Bishops serving as the leaders of the Church. Therefore, just as there is no salvation apart from the Church, there is no true Apostolic Succession without the communion of the Church. If any should question the validity of their succession and holy orders within the bounds of this Church, let them refer to Apostle Paul’s sacred words in 1st Corinthians 1:10: “Now I say, that every one of you says ‘I am of Paul’, and ‘I am of Apollos’, and ‘I am Peter’, and ‘I am of Christ’. Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul?” The question of validity therefore should not be so within this Church. If one has such doubts, let them settle themselves with the faith our Lord, or let them step down from their position, for that one will feed their doubts to the sheep, and God will not prosper them.

 

CANON 21 - Based upon the leading of the All-Holy Ghost, as well as the understanding of sacred Scripture and Apostolic Tradition, the Church shall ordain and consecrate females into all positions within the Holy Orders of the Church that God guides us to place them within. We hold true to this authority within our Apostolic jurisdiction per the fourth and sixth canon of the first Nicene Council.

 

CANON 22 - All Clergy can marry both before and after ordination. For women, if she be married, she shall adhere to the rules set for marriage, honoring her husband as before, or face canonical punishments. The husband of Deborah the Prophetess allowed for and respected the position of authority given to his wife. It shall likewise be so with the husband of a woman ordained to the Lord’s service, lest he shame and endanger his own household and life before God and man.

 

CANON 23 – According to Canon 27 of the Roman Catholic Fourth Council of Constantinople (869-870 A.D.), “We decree that the customary signs or marks (liturgical vestments) that characterize the various ecclesiastical orders be retained in each province and locality. Bishops to whom the pallium has been granted shall wear it only at certain times and places and not indiscriminately to satisfy a spirit of self-love and a desire for vain glory. Monks who have been raised to the episcopal dignity must retain the monastic habit, and no one is permitted to lay it aside without becoming a violator of his own agreements. Every bishop, therefore, who wears the pallium outside the times prescribed, or lays aside the monastic habit, if he does not submit to correction, let him be deposed.” We, while not adopting the entire Council itself, shall adopt the same said individual canon.

 

CANON 24 - The Church requires its clergy to wear clerical dress and to use appropriate vestments when celebrating the sacraments, leading the liturgy, or officially representing the Church. Clergy wear clerical dress not to indicate their status but as witness to their vocation. Wearing clerical dress is itself a form of ministry. Not only do those who wear it bear witness to the fact that they are a working and authoritative citizen of the Kingdom of God, but they also present themselves to the world as people who can be approached when people are in need of the love of Christ. At ordination, clergy are set apart and their very beings aligned with Christ in a special way precisely so that He might touch the world through us and use us as a catalyst for His grace. It is therefore logical that they should look different and be easily identifiable as people who stand “in persona Christi” as well as stand “in persona Ecclesia”. Therefore, in accordance with Ecumenical Canon Law from the Council of Trullo, the Church requires that its Clergy be dressed properly at all times of public representation of the Church.

 

CANON 25 – The clerical attire of the clergy of the Church shall be the properly allowed vestments of this Patriarchate according to the decrees of the Holy Synod. The proper and official Clerical attire shall be the following:

• the grey or the black Cassock for all Clergy.

• Red lining within and on the grey or red cassock shall be reserved for the Bishops and Apostles.

• The pectoral cross shall be for Prelates and allowed Deacons and Presbyter(a)s. The single Panagia shall be reserved for the Prelates.

• During the celebration of the Eucharist, the Prelates and Presbytery shall wear an alb, with a stole around the neck over it, and a chasuble over the stole according to the liturgical seasonal color. The deacons shall wear an alb with a stole across their chest.