NationStates Jolt Archive

From the Holy Synod of the Church of Waffen SS-Ostland, to the Christian nations of the world:

Since our Papist bishops refused to sign the Oath of Succession, acknowledging the sovereign as Head of the Church, and then went into exile,
our Church has no bishops. We have found a worthy man to be Archbishop of Kreuzhaven, The Mosr Reverend Jakob Bauer, Abbot of Ostendorf. He can then consecrate other bishoips as needed, however there is no one in our nation with valid lines of apostolic succession to consecrate him.
We call upon any and all bishops of the Anglican, Eastern Orthodox, or Old Catholic traditions, who would be willing to come to Kreuzhaven and consecrate our new Archbishop, to please assist. This invitation does not extend to Roman Catholic bishops as we have no desire to return our nation to the bondage of Popery.

The apostolic succession question had raised much consternation in the Synod. Some members wondered why, as head of the Church, the Grand Master did not simply consecrate the Abbot as Archbishop himself. Others wanted to abolish the episcopacy entirely as a relic of Papist domination, and move the Church toward a more Calvinist/Presbyterian rule of faith and governance. The wishes of the Grand Master had, however, prevailed.
The truth was that, although Grand Master Wilmerding had broken with Rome and did not believe it possible to return to the papal fold in his lifetime, he did not want to close the door to this for any possible successor. He had kept the Church as close to Roman Catholic practice as possible, including the seven sacraments and a celibate male clergy, and had forcefully resisted attempts at change. Apostolic succession would keep a link to tradition and
would not be a stumbling block to future unity.