A Brief Overview of Our Beliefs and Stance on Social Issues.
Core Doctrines
We believe in the Holy Trinity: one God, existing eternally in three persons—the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost. This foundational mystery of our faith informs our understanding of God's love and his relationship with humanity.
We affirm baptismal regeneration as the gracious means by which God incorporates believers into Christ and His Church. In keeping with the ancient practice of the undivided Church, we prefer to omit the filioque from the Creed and we prefer baptism by full immersion where pastorally appropriate.
We hold to the Real Presence of Christ in the Holy Eucharist. As orthodox Anglicans, we believe that the bread and wine, once consecrated, are truly the Body and Blood of our Lord Jesus Christ, providing spiritual nourishment for the faithful.
We hold to the classic Anglican ‘branch theory’ of the Church, recognizing the one, holy, catholic, and apostolic Church as subsisting in the historic branches of Orthodoxy, Catholicism, and Anglicanism.
We hold unwaveringly to the dogmatic teaching of the first three Ecumenical Councils, and we generally receive the first seven Ecumenical Councils as faithful expressions of the one, holy, catholic, and apostolic faith.
We Affirm
- The authority of the Holy Scriptures as the Word of God.
- The Authorized KJV is our standard Bible for all services.
- The three ancient Creeds: Apostles', Nicene, and Athanasian.
- The seven Sacraments.
- The Apostolic Succession of the historic episcopate.
We hold to the Affirmation of St. Louis as a core document that shapes and guides our faith and teaching.
Historical Context
St. Raphael’s Anglican Catholic congregation represents the enduring legacy of the Continuing Anglican movement, preserving the orthodox and catholic faith rooted in the 1928 Book of Common Prayer. Our origins are tied to a deep-seated commitment to maintaining apostolic succession and traditional liturgy in the face of modern theological shifts. By adhering to the ancient creeds and the historic episcopate, we offer a spiritual home for those seeking the unchanging truths of the Gospel.
In Duluth, our mission serves as a visual and liturgical anchor for the region, being the only orthodox and catholic Anglican presence. Our journey is one of faithfulness and mission, as we merge the rich traditions of the Missouri Valley Diocese with the global reach of the Anglican Catholic Church. This historical continuity provides us with a distinct identity, fostering a sense of belonging among a community dedicated to a disciplined life of prayer, study, and compassionate service.
Social Stances
In our commitment to the unchanging truths of the Holy Scriptures, we maintain several key positions on critical social issues of our day with pastoral warmth and clarity.
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We are steadfastly pro-life, believing in the sanctity of all human life from conception to natural death.
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We uphold the traditional understanding of marriage as the union of one man and one woman.
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We are pro-family, recognizing the home as a primary place for spiritual formation and love.
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Whilst we all struggle with sin, we do not affirm or condone any lifestyle of sin. Without judgment, we compassionately seek to love all people and call everyone to repent and turn to Christ.
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We remain committed to traditional Christian morals and ethics as taught by the Church for centuries.