Teachings
Theology and Praxis: Our Educational Resources
Erasmus House provides educational resources that bring together theological understanding and lived Christian practice. These materials are offered through our blog, The Pilgrim’s Correspondence, and are intended to support careful study, thoughtful reflection, and the steady formation of a life shaped by the teachings of Christ. Rather than separating belief from action, the mission approaches theology and praxis as belonging together, each informing and strengthening the other.
The resources found here include essays, teachings, and instructional materials grounded in the historic life of the Church and oriented toward everyday application. They are written to be accessible without losing depth, offering guidance to those who seek to grow in clarity, discipline, and faithfulness. In this way, Erasmus House seeks to provide not only knowledge, but a framework for living that knowledge out in concrete and meaningful ways.
What We Believe
Erasmus House understands itself as a Christian mission rooted in the faith of the early Church and expressed through the historic life of Christian tradition. Our beliefs are grounded in the Nicene Creed in its Western form, including the Filioque, which we receive as a faithful summary of the Church’s understanding of God, Christ, and salvation. We confess one God, the Father Almighty; one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom all things were made; and the Holy Spirit, the giver of life, who proceeds from the Father and the Son. We affirm the one holy, catholic, and apostolic Church, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come.
Our theological orientation reflects the historic catholic tradition as preserved and expressed within the Union of Utrecht of the Old Catholic Churches. In continuity with this tradition, we affirm the sacramental life of the Church, the importance of apostolic continuity, and the centrality of the Eucharist in the life of the faithful.
We receive the seven sacraments, Baptism, Eucharist, Confirmation, Reconciliation, Anointing of the Sick, Holy Orders, and Matrimony, as part of the Church’s historic and spiritual inheritance. Erasmus House is affiliated in a lay capacity with the Apostolic Old Catholic Mission, and our theological formation is shaped by its continuity.
While we do not exercise sacramental authority ourselves, we uphold the importance of valid sacramental ministry and refer individuals to authorized clergy for participation in the sacramental life of the Church. In matters of doctrine and practice, we hold to a high-church understanding of Christian life. This includes reverence for liturgy, continuity with the historic episcopal tradition, and a sacramental worldview in which material reality is understood as a means through which God’s grace is made known.
At the same time, we recognize that the Church is encountered wherever Christ is present, and we maintain a spirit of openness and charity toward all who seek to follow him in sincerity and truth. Our spiritual outlook is deeply shaped by the Franciscan tradition. Following the example of Francis of Assisi, we emphasize simplicity of life, humility, care for the poor, and reverence for all creation.
We understand the Christian life as one of ongoing conversion, turning continually toward God through prayer, service, and the cultivation of peace. In this spirit, we seek to live gently in the world, to serve without distinction, and to recognize the image of Christ in all persons, especially the poor and the marginalized. We also affirm the importance of Scripture as a primary witness to the life and teaching of Christ, read within the context of the Church’s living tradition. Teaching, formation, and discipleship are therefore central to our work, not as abstract pursuits, but as means of shaping a faithful and thoughtful Christian life.
Finally, Erasmus House maintains a clear distinction between its role as a lay mission and the sacramental authority of the Church. While we teach, prepare, and accompany, we do not administer the sacraments. Instead, we work in cooperation with clergy who are entrusted with that responsibility, ensuring that those we serve are supported both pastorally and sacramentally within the wider life of the Church. In all things, our aim is simple: to follow Christ faithfully, to live in continuity with the historic Church, and to serve others with humility, clarity, and love.
Erasmus House: Identity and Purpose
Our Ecclesial Foundation
As a ministry of the Apostolic Old Catholic Mission, Erasmus House shares a common theological DNA rooted in the historic Church:
- Catholic Heritage: We uphold the faith of the undivided Church, affirming the Nicene Creed and the continuity of the seven sacraments.
- Old Catholic Tradition: We stand in the lineage of the 1870 Old Catholic movement. We embrace a synodal, local approach to governance and decline the doctrine of papal infallibility, choosing instead a collegial path of leadership.
- Apostolic Continuity: While Erasmus House is a lay-focused ministry, we are grounded in valid apostolic succession. We operate under the spiritual covering of the Mission, whose clergy are ordained by bishops in the historic line of succession.
- Radical Inclusion: We believe the dignity of the person is non-negotiable. Erasmus House offers its community life and resources to everyone, regardless of gender, sexuality, marital status, or previous religious background.
- Pastoral Agility: Because we are unburdened by heavy institutional bureaucracy, Erasmus House is free to apply the Gospel to modern challenges with creativity and directness.
Distinctions: Who We Are Not
Erasmus House is not a private club, a self-styled sect, or an independent religious venture.
- Not Roman Catholic: While we share a deep sacramental history, we are not in communion with the Roman Pontiff. However, our sacramental life provided through the Apostolic Old Catholic Mission and St. Marks Episcopal Church in Hazard, Kentucky maintains the valid form, matter, and intention. (cf. Dominus Iesus, §§17–18).
- Not the Union of Utrecht: While we respect the 1889 Declaration of Utrecht, we are an independent jurisdiction outside that specific federation and are not bound by its synods.
- Not a Standalone Church: Erasmus House is a parachurch ministry. We are a local expression of the Church’s mission, authorized to carry out pastoral and educational functions within the framework of the Apostolic Old Catholic Mission. Furthermore, we maintain active ecumenical partnerships with various local congregations outside the Old Catholic tradition. This includes collaborative efforts with Episcopal churches in Southeastern Kentucky, as well as associated Protestant ministries dedicated to food security and service outreach. While our core identity remains uniquely Old Catholic, our practice is intentionally ecumenical in honor of the undivided Church.