International Community of St John the Divine

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Please improve this article if you can. (January 2008)

The International Community of St John the Divine is a not-for-profit inter-faith community founded in 1993 in Bournemouth, England.

Comprising (in January 2008) over 300 independent clergy in every continent on the globe. It is headed by the Patriarch and Moderating Bishop; (The Rt Rev Dr Barry Rathbone DD(hons) Dip LSR KGCSJ(OM)), and the Dean and Chapter of Clergy and House of Laity.

The Community is also known by the acronymn "ICSJ". It is a collective for independent (ie non-affiliated) ordained and pastoral clerics and their lay members from a number of spiritual bodies, from Liberal Catholic to Buddhist, Pagan to Spiritualist. They work together for the collective growth of spiritual awareness, following their own inherent traditions but working together to break down barriers through social inclusion and pastoral outreach. Recent additions to the body have included a charitable orphanage project in India, a homeless feeding programme in Manchester and Bournemouth, a pastoral counselling service and online prayer and healing chapel.

Within the worldwide community they have large representation from those adhering to the liberal Catholic approach to faith, under their autocephalous jurisdiction: The Order of the Holy Knights of St John the Divine. Further there is a strong representation on the floor of Synods and General Congress by faith communities expressing distinctly non Christian backgrounds, on a totally equalitous basis with their Christian counterparts. The ICSJ is one of only a few interfaith bodies to have successfully integrated all sections of the faith divide.

Unlike many small to medium sized clerical faculties to be found on the internet, the ICSJ's clergy members in the vaste majority operate genuine, physical sacerdotal ministries based in varying locations from home groups to hired community centre 'church in a bag' etc. The ICSJ encompasses a vision of total inclusivity, permitting membership from anyone in good standing, regardless of race, gender, sexual orientation, creed or colour. They actively promote the acceptance of openly presenting homosexual clergy, female priests and ministers. They offer training and ongoing CPD for all in house clergy for free, and offer similar for persons from other bodies for a nominal donation to one of their charitable supports.